FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Rita Mack
FosterEd Project Manager
Indiana Youth Institute
317-413-9581
Jesse Hahnel
FosterEd Director
National Center for Youth Law
510-835-8098 x 3003
Ann Houseworth
Director of Communications
Indiana Department of Child Services
317-234-3924
Sept. 6, 2011 - NCYL’s Foster Youth Education Initiative (FosterEd) launched a program today to improve the educational outcomes of the approximately 1,700 foster children in Marion County, Ind., which includes Indianapolis. The Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS), the Indiana Youth Institute, and Child Advocates announced the launch of FosterEd: Marion County at a kick-off event in Indianapolis.
"One of the struggles for many children in foster care is the lack of a focused educational plan," said James W. Payne, DCS Director and keynote speaker for the event. "DCS makes every effort to minimize the disruption these children undergo, but even when placed close to their home the children may have to transfer to a new school district with new teachers and lesson plans. This lack of continuity takes a toll on their overall educational experience."
National statistics paint a bleak future for children in the child welfare system: three-quarters of foster children are behind at least one grade level, and foster children are twice as likely to drop out of school as their peers. Only 1.8 percent of former foster children complete a bachelor’s degree, compared to 24 percent of the general population.
Studies have also shown that without educational success, foster youth are ill-equipped to support themselves as adults: more than 22 percent of former foster children experience homelessness, and almost 25 percent are incarcerated within two years of leaving the child welfare system.
FosterEd: Marion County is a pilot focused on improving educational and life outcomes of foster children through increased communication and collaboration between DCS, the Marion County Juvenile Courts, local school districts, and community organizations.
"It is important for us to support these children who, through no fault of their own, have found themselves removed from everything they know," said Payne. "By cultivating education as a priority for these children and providing supports to help them access these opportunities we provide them a chance to create an education plan they want and need to achieve their goals and dreams."
FosterEd is a project of the National Center for Youth Law that works to improve the educational outcomes of foster children. This is accomplished through three strategies:
- Ensure every foster child has an educational champion, whenever possible a biological parent;
- Identify the educational strengths and needs of foster children and their champions; and
- Provide foster children, educational champions, and biological parents the supports and services they need.
FosterEd: Marion County is a partnership with Marion County Department of Child Services, Child Advocates, and the Indiana Youth Institute.
"There are a number of reasons foster children fail to succeed in school," said Jesse Hahnel, Founder and Director of FosterEd. "One of the primary causes is that many don’t have an adult in their life supporting their educational success the way a parent normally does. This includes monitoring their educational progress, instilling high educational expectations, enrolling them in appropriate schools and classes, and advocating on their behalf. FosterEd is focused on ensuring every foster child has such an educational champion supporting school success."
Statewide partners include the Indiana Department of Child Services, the Indiana Department of Education, and Indiana’s Supreme Court, Division of State Court Administration, Office of GAL/CASA.
Collaborators include a broad array of local organizations, such as Indianapolis Public Schools, the Marion County Juvenile Courts, the Indianapolis Bar Association, About Special Kids, INSOURCE, Connected by 25’s Education Success Program!, Disability Legal Services of Indiana, and Youth Law T.E.A.M.
Over $325,000 in support of this project has been generously provided by The Mind Trust, Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust, Central Indiana Community Foundation, Community Crime Prevention Grant, and USA Funds.
