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November 2012Vol. 13, No. 10Postsecondary Education Factsheet

A new factsheet from the Rhode Island Foster Parent Association presents facts and statistics about postsecondary outcomes for youth in foster care. According to the factsheet, approximately 70 percent of youth in care in the United States desire a college experience, roughly 40 percent complete some form of postsecondary education by their mid-20s, and only 9 percent earn a college degree. The factsheet also highlights a number of barriers to secondary education faced by youth in out-of-home care.

The factsheet was just one resource presented at a recent summit in Rhode Island featuring members of the State's Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) and the secondary and postsecondary education communities. The summit featured remarks from Governor Lincoln Chafee, the Director of DCYF, Dr. Janice DeFrances, and members of the General Assembly and Family Court. Work groups at the summit discussed solutions to college readiness and access, financial aid, and postsecondary supports for youth in care.

Postsecondary Access, Retention, and Graduation Among Former Foster Youth is available on the Rhode island Foster Parent Association website:

http://library.constantcontact.com/download/get/file/1101005513463-179/Postsecondary+Fact+Sheet+PDF.pdf  (515 KB)