Supporting Foster Youth in Career Technical Education

Career Technical Education (CTE) policies under Perkins V focus on supporting foster youth. This group, defined as individuals currently in or who have aged out of the foster care system, often faces significant challenges in education and employment. Perkins V aims to improve their access to and success in CTE programs, recognizing their lower rates of high school graduation, postsecondary enrollment, and career fulfillment compared to their peers.

Effective approaches include proactive communication from CTE educators to ensure continuity and support for foster youth, especially during placement changes. Encouraging self-disclosure at enrollment can help connect these learners with necessary resources. Local support structures, including school counselors and financial aid specialists, play a crucial role in addressing needs such as housing and transportation. Standardizing course sequences across institutions helps foster youth transition smoothly and maintain academic progress despite frequent relocations. 

CERRITOS COLLEGE RESOURCES

FOSTER AND KINSHIP CARE EDUCATION

LINC/NEXTUP

Effective Practices for Foster care individuals

Los Angeles Harbor College, Foster Care and Kinship Education Program

This program aims to support foster and adoptive parents, particularly Spanish-speaking foster families, and to increase foster children's access to post-secondary education. It provides resources such as parenting classes, a food bank, and internet-enabled computers for parents to find support and participate in courses, including a "build a computer" class. The program has improved foster parent retention and foster children's success, with events like the "Excellence in Partnership" conference and peer support systems contributing to its effectiveness.

Santa Barbara City College, Job City USA

Job City USA is designed to provide economically disadvantaged foster youth with hands-on experiences to learn essential soft skills for employment. Through a series of one-day events, students participate in activities like setting an alarm clock, sewing a button, and tying a tie, earning small rewards for mastering each task. The program includes field trips and mock interviews, and while there is no direct job-placement follow-up, staff report that youth in Santa Barbara are excelling in securing employment.

Effective Practices for Special Population Students in California's Community Colleges

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