The term ‘foster care’ means:
24-hour substitute care for children placed away from their parents or guardians and for whom the State agency has placement and care responsibility. This includes, but is not limited to:
• placements in foster family homes;
• foster homes of relatives;
• group homes,
• emergency shelters;
• residential facilities;
• childcare institutions; and
• pre-adoptive homes.
The term ‘age out’ refers to:
the time frame after which a foster care child is eligible for state services. Eligibility for
state services varies depending on the state in which the child resides. Transitioning out
of the child welfare system may occur as early as 18 or as late as age 23.
Why Do Children Come Into Foster Care?
Children come into foster care because of abuse, neglect or dependency. Abuse, neglect, and dependency are caused by a variety of factors ranging from a parent’s illness to drug addiction, domestic violence or mental health concerns. Some children come from stressful situations where they have been abused physically, emotionally and or sexually. When the county Department of Social Services finds that a child cannot be cared for safely by their birth family they obtain permission from the court to take the child into custody and place them in foster care.
Average number of living arrangements during first foster care stay: 2.8
Percent of foster youth who change schools when entering care: 56%-75%
Percent of 17-18 year-olds who have experienced 5+ school changes: 34%
Average reading level of 17-18 year-olds: 7th grade
Likelihood of being absent from school: 2xs that of other students
Likelihood of receiving special education services: 2.5-3.5x that of other students
Likelihood of 17-18 year old receiving out-of-school suspension: 2xs that of other students
Percent of foster youth who complete high school by age 18 is only 50%
Percent of foster youth who graduate from high school and attend college: 20%
Percent of 17-18 year old foster youth who want to go to college: 84%
Optimistic studies show just 6% will earn their bachelor’s degrees.
Foster care children and youth represent some of the most vulnerable groups of in the United States. Compared to their peers, children in foster care can experience:
*More traumatic events
*More unscheduled school changes
*More delays in school enrollment
*Lower graduation rates
*Lower academic achievement
*Higher rates of grade retention, chronic absenteeism, suspensions and expulsions
1. Remain in the same school (School of Origin, SOO) unless there is a determination that it is not in his or her best interest to attend the school of origin.
2. Ensure that children in foster care needing transportation to the school of origin will promptly receive transportation in a cost-effective manner.
3. When not in the child’s best interest to remain in the SOO, immediate enrollment in the new attendance area school even if the child is unable to produce records normally required for enrollment.
4. The enrolling school shall immediately contact the school last attended by any such child to obtain relevant academic and other records.
References:
http://www.fostercareandeducation.org/AreasofFocus/EducationStability.aspx
https://www.waketech.edu/student-life/fostering-bright-futures
https://hopecenteratpullen.org/
https://www.mhfc.org/services/higher-education/
http://www.wakegov.com/humanservices/children/links/Pages/default.aspx
https://www.dpi.nc.gov/districts-schools/federal-program-monitoring/foster-care-education
https://www.michigan.gov/documents/mde/Special_Populations__Secondary_Executive_Summary_662327_7.pdf
https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/social-services/child-welfare-services/adoption-and-foster-care
https://wakeconnect.wcpss.net/sites/social-work/SitePage/6759/foster-care