Brina Williams shares their experience transitioning into higher education as a young person with lived experience in foster care. They discuss the importance of campus-based support programs and how they provide holistic support in various life domains.
Brina also highlights the challenges and barriers that young people in foster care face when pursuing higher education, such as financial assistance and lack of support networks. They emphasize the need for more accessible resources and networks to help young people navigate the college application process and succeed in their educational goals.
The conversation explores the barriers and challenges faced by young people with lived experience in foster care when it comes to accessing higher education. The lack of knowledge about available resources and support is identified as a major barrier for both young people and professionals in the child welfare system. The importance of organizations like Fostering Success Michigan (FSM) and Fostering Academic Achievement Nationwide (FAN) in providing support and resources is highlighted. The need for collaboration and interstate cooperation is emphasized to improve access to education for foster youth.
The conversation concludes with a call to create quick guide sheets and fact sheets to help professionals navigate the resources available and support young people in their educational journey.
