Nationally, only 3 out of 100 foster youth graduate with a bachelor's degree by age 26. Recent legislation in some states aims to increase this number by covering the full cost of in-state college attendance. However, students with foster care experience need a tremendous amount of support beyond financial aid to thrive in college and beyond, in areas such as life skills, housing and finances, self-care, and dependable relationships with trusted adults. Scholars Kizzy Lopez and Nate Okpych join us to uplift the real barriers that foster youth face in accessing higher education, navigating college and campus life, and support programs that some campuses offer for foster youth.

How can we create better pathways for foster youth to attend college and support them through their college years?

Guest speaker 1: Kizzy Lopez, Director of Student Success, Basic Needs & Retention, Fresno City College; former Program Coordinator, Renaissance Scholars Program, California State University, Fresno

Guest speaker 2: Nate Okpych, Associate Professor, University of Connecticut School of Social Work

Interviewer: Audra Langley, Clinical Psychologist and Professor of Health Sciences, UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior and UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics; Director, UCLA TIES for Families; Co-Director, UCLA Pritzker Center for Strengthening Children and Families; Faculty Advisory Board member, UCLA Center for the Transformation of Schools

Among Us is a podcast by the UCLA Center for the Transformation of Schools. Geneva Sum is the host and Creative Director. Audra Langley is the Interviewer. Elizabeth Windom is the Supervising Producer. Julia Windom is the Editor. Caitlyn McAloon is the Production Coordinator. J Woodward is the Senior Producer. Among Us is produced by Windhaven Productions and Bluejay Atlantic.

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Show Notes:

• 3% of foster youth graduate with a bachelor’s degree by age 26
• Foster Youth Campus Support Programs in California
• UCLA CTS report, Foster(ing) Youth in the California State University: Understanding the Vital Role of Campus Support Programs
• John Burton Advocates for Youth
• Post-Secondary Education Experiences and Attainment Among Youth With Foster Care Backgrounds
• National Research Collaborative for Foster Alumni and Higher Education
• Californians For Justice

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