I haven’t written about how things are going with my Foster Youth kid in a while. I’ve been working with him for 6 months. The available metrics indicate that he’s making progress. His GPA has risen almost a full point (to 3.5) this past semester, his attitude is getting a little more positive, and his focus is improving. Although I am unwilling to take much credit for his improvement, I sometimes think that –perhaps– I’m inspiring him positively.
About a week ago, I was asked by the Court to administer his Educational Rights. I accepted. Unfortunately, the State is very limited in their goals for Foster kids. All the State wants is for the kid to graduate high-school and turn 18. There are some bridge programs and scholarships, but it is a patch-work quilt at best. Without the guidance they need to negotiate the complicated youth-to-young-adult transition, an outrageous amount of these former foster youth end up immediately homeless– and even more face homelessness down the road.
Which brings me to my goals and how I can help him. I want him to graduate college, in a respectable timeframe, with a decent GPA, and a useful major.
The first step on the path to those goals is the prepping for college applications and helping him decide where to apply. There’s a lot to consider. He needs a school with a dorm that stays open during holidays. He also needs a low (or free) college tuition. Yes, he’s eligible based on financial need… but all that paperwork will be daunting, so I don’t want to get him into a situation where there’s a lot of unnecessary complication.
I just spent a couple of hours watching TV and looking up info about colleges. I’m overwhelmed. Let me put that in italics so that you can understand my amazement: I’m overwhelmed. Wow. Colleges are expensive, hard to get into, and very few have year-round dorms. Yeah… this will be difficult.
I did find one school that intrigued the heck out of me, but I don’t know that he’ll be interested. Ever heard of Deep Springs College? About 15 boys are admitted each year to this 2-year alternative college. They live and work the ranch, which has a reputation as a feeder school to the country’s most prestigious colleges.
It will be challenging for me to guide him through conversations in an attempt to figure out the best place for him to thrive and flourish. Wish me luck!
Update: I met with him today and chatted about all this. He’s thankful for my guidance, but we have a lot to do.