Overview

How do youth placed in foster care aspire to and access college? This book chronicles the lives and experiences of 49 college students navigating the challenging terrain of the United States’ foster care system. Through in-depth interviews, Johnson provides insight into the harsh realities of how our nation’s educational and welfare systems often intertwine in ways that diminish the potential and opportunities for these young people. Yet amidst the adversities, these stories resonate with themes of hope, resistance, and possibility. Guided by resilience theory and other asset-based concepts, Johnson sheds light on the protective mechanisms that enable postsecondary access and success, even in the face of towering barriers. Beyond providing an exposition, this book serves as a clarion call to educators, school and university leaders, and child welfare champions to stand tall and act decisively. The goal? To transform the precarious circumstances of young people in foster care and dismantle the obstacles that thwart their educational pursuits and dreams. Book Features: Employs critical and asset-based theories and concepts that recognize the agencies, desires, and possibilities of youth in foster care. Brings attention to the intersectionality of identities and social structures that shape students’ educational pathways. Identifies system failures across education and child welfare sectors and how they interact with one another. Presents findings from empirical research about risks and protective factors that influence success at critical junctures along the college-going pipeline. Offers recommendations for various stakeholders who seek to improve the educational experiences and outcomes of youth in foster care.

Full Product Details

Author:   Royel M. Johnson ,  James A. Banks ,  Tyrone C. Howard
Publisher:   Teachers' College Press
Imprint:   Teachers' College Press
Dimensions:   Width: 15.60cm , Height: 0.60cm , Length: 22.90cm
Weight:   0.170kg
ISBN:  

9780807786062

ISBN 10:   0807786063
Pages:   120
Publication Date:   25 October 2024
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print  
This item will be ordered in for you from one of our suppliers. Upon receipt, we will promptly dispatch it out to you. For in store availability, please contact us.

Table of Contents

Contents Foreword Tyrone C. Howard  ix Series Foreword James A. Banks  xiii Acknowledgments  xix 1.  Introduction  1 Setting the Stage  1 Purpose and Scope  4 Conceptual Scaffolding  5 The Students  6 More than an Intellectual Exercise: My Journey to this Work  8 Reading From Foster Care to College  9 Person-Centered Language: A Note About Terms  12 Chapter Overview  12 2.  System Failure: Navigating and Resisting Foster Care  14 The Foundations of American Foster Care  15 In Their Own Words: Life in Foster Care  20 Common Threads: The Challenges of Stability, Care, and Safety  24 Navigating Systemic Failures with Resilience  28 Conclusion  29 3.  “A Hope in the Unseen”: Navigating K–12 Education and Fostering College Dreams  31 K–12 Educational Challenges  32 Fostering and Sustaining College Dreams: Barbie’s Story  39 Conclusion  43 4.  Choosing College as a Matter of Belonging  45 College Choice as a Matter of Belonging  46 Transitioning to College: Navigating New Beginnings  51 Conclusion  55 5.  “Bridges” to Postsecondary Retention, Persistence, and Success  57 Dylan’s Story  58 Conclusion  68 Conclusion  69 1.  Ensure Placement Stability and Decrease School Mobility with Attention to Equity  71 2.  Extend Foster Care Nationally  72 3.  Prepare K–12 Educators to Support Youth in Foster Care  72 4.  States Should Appoint Ombuds Officers for Children and Families  73 5.  Implement Early College Awareness and Preparation Programs  73 6.  Provide Year-Round Campus Housing  74 7.  Invest in Campus Support Programs for Youth in Foster Care  75 8.  Address Family Privilege and Educational Traditions  75 Final Thoughts  76 Appendix: An Overview of the Study  77 References  83 Index  89 About the Author  93

Reviews

Author Information

Royel M. Johnson is associate professor of education and social work at the University of Southern California and director of the National Assessment of Collegiate Campus Climates in the USC Race and Equity Center.

Tab Content 6

Author Website:  

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

No review item found!

Add your own review!

Countries Available

All regions