From Foster Care to College

How do youth placed in foster care aspire to and access college? Through insightful, in-depth interviews, this book chronicles the lives and experiences of 47 college students navigating the challenging terrain of the United States' foster care system.

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How do youth placed in foster care aspire to and access college? This book chronicles the lives and experiences of 47 college students navigating the challenging terrain of the United States' foster care system. Through insightful, in-depth interviews, Johnson offers insight into the harsh realities of how our nation's education, welfare, and other social 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 exposition, this book is 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.