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Spotlight Feature
Mentoring and Other Supports Increase Education Gains
for Youth in Foster Care
Stacey Kline (left) with her mentee, Alicia.
Stacey Kline's father was in prison, and her mother was unable to care for her. For most of her life, she lived with her aunt but has been fending for herself since age 14. Stacey worked two jobs in high school and often was homeless and without food. She attended seven or eight high schools in Detroit and finally graduated in April 2003 from a Job Corps high school completion program.
"I've faced so many obstacles," says Stacey, an Opportunity Passport ™ participant in Wayne County (Detroit), Mich. "I didn't have any confidence or self-esteem. I was beaten down as a child. I didn't think I was good enough to attend college."
Today, Stacey is 22 and attends Wayne County Community College District, and credits her mentor, Lynda J. Naylor, student services administrator and counselor, with helping her to get and stay on track. Wayne County Community College hired her to work in the college's student services department. "Mrs. Naylor took me under her wing and has helped me so much," says Stacey. "It's so good to know I have someone who genuinely cares, supports and loves me with all my flaws."
Because she knows first-hand the obstacles older youth in foster care must overcome to get an education, Stacey today serves as a mentor for a current high school student. It's all part of a new program started by the Michigan Youth Opportunities Initiative called the DREAM Academy, which stands for Dreams Realized through Education and Mentoring.
Initiatives by Jim Casey sites, such as the DREAM Academy, are aimed at improving education outcomes by young adults aging out of foster care. New data shows encouraging progress in that critical outcome area. Among Opportunity Passport™ participants not attending high school, the percentage with a high school diploma or GED rose from 80 percent to 89 percent, according to surveys the participants completed between 2002 and 2006. Almost all participants with a high school diploma or GED were enrolled in or completed education or training beyond high school. That increased from 91 percent of Opportunity Passport™ participants to 93 percent, the surveys show.
"Untitled" by Alex Watson
The data also show that those participants who purchased assets have higher levels of employment and high school completion – an important finding because savings and assets are key ingredients to economic success. Of the 715 assets purchased: 119 were for education expenses. The matched savings accounts help keep some students on track with school. In Tampa, for instance, Opportunity Passport™ participant Alex Watson used his matched savings to buy a camera for his photography class An art major at a local community college, Alex has had his photographs displayed in magazines and has won several scholarships since his camera purchase.
Realizing that only a small percentage of young adults who age out of foster care finish high school, Michigan Youth Opportunities Initiative officials decided to start a mentoring program focused on 17 and 18-year-olds. "We're trying to catch the window of opportunity when juniors and seniors might be thinking about dropping out and getting a GED," says Kelly Ruffing, director of Educational and Career Planning for MYOI in Wayne County.
The program is being piloted with 20 young adults and 10 adult mentors who were recruited by Mary Macias, director of community partners for the Wayne County site. The mentors' enthusiasm and commitment keep youth returning. The mentors come from diverse backgrounds: several work for Pepsi Bottling Group; two are artists; two, including Stacey, are on the administrative staff at Wayne County Community College, one works at Planned Parenthood; one works for a training and employment program for youth in foster care and one is an attorney.
The mentors help youth complete the structured activities within the program and provide career development and academic guidance based upon their own experiences growing up. The program focuses on educational support and advocacy. "We're available to help youth advocate with school staff and we offer a lot of support," says Ruffing. "A lot of them are having a heck of a time getting through high school."
Career and life planning are important focuses of the academy. "We want them to see high school as a stepping stone to something bigger," says Ruffing. "We want them to have a bigger incentive. Let's make your future career something you love and are passionate about and something that will bring you some money."
Ruffing also says she wants to work with students on their emotional intelligence to help them develop the interpersonal skills to succeed in life. Early on, she asked the young adults in DREAM Academy to name a challenge they face in high school. One young lady said, "My biggest thing is not cussing out my teachers." Another said, "I got moved to another high school because I fought my principal all the time." Says Ruffing: "They need to work on the important decision-making skills that help you learn to work well with others. Many of these young people are understandably mistrusting of others, and we hope to work with them on their interpersonal skills."
Stacey Kline says she is helping her mentee, Alicia, get tutoring and a laptop computer because she is taking three online classes. "She has a full load, and we are trying to get her through school and work on college prep classes," says Stacey. "I didn't have a mentor until later in life, and I think a lot of things I've gone through could have been prevented with a mentor. I hope that will happen for Alicia."
