What are some of the unique challenges that youth in foster care face?
Youth in foster care are more likely to experience higher rates of special education enrollment, school interruptions, placement disruptions, low reading ability and poor grades—all factors that severely limit postsecondary access and success. Many youth in foster care are diagnosed with serious mental or emotional conditions that significantly compromise their ability to be successful in school. Unlike many college students, most youth from care will have to work full time in order to survive since they do not have a safety net of parental support to fall back on. It is difficult for these youth to make long-term plans since their lives have been so unstable, especially since others have controlled the lives of youth from care for a long time. Some youth have difficulty being self-sufficient, acquiring and maintaining employment, finding adequate transportation, balancing work and school, budgeting their time and money, and putting into play other basic life skills. Financial aid form
