Purpose

The purpose of this exploratory paper is to define the characteristics of foster youth, discuss the impacts of trauma on their lives, present results from a foster youth survey conducted at a university in the Midwest to assess the needs of former foster youth and discuss the ways universities can support this vulnerable population of students. Several themes emerged from the study. The financial need emerged at the top. The number of essential needs was striking. For example, more than half of the respondents did not have their basic needs met. These needs included food, medical/dental services, clothing and transportation needs.

Design/methodology/approach

Faculty researchers who were part of a university task force developed a survey to assess the needs of former foster youth who were enrolled in classes at the time that this research was conducted. The survey was developed and disseminated through Qualtrics, a software that distributed survey links via email in a confidential manner. The survey consisted of a variety of general questions related to participants’ background and demographic information, as well as the specific needs and services that they were interested in receiving. The survey was sent out one-time peer week for three weeks in the late fall semester.

Findings

Findings indicated that 9% of respondents (n = 4) ranked the greatest areas of need as being financial assistance for school supplies, medical/dental care and financial aid advice. Similarly, 7% of respondents (n = 3) expressed the greatest needs as being affordable housing, housing during semester breaks, financial support for a laptop, financial counseling, counseling services, emergency financial assistance and internship and career counseling.

Research limitations/implications

Limitations of this research include the use of a small and homogenous participant sample size, with data collected from one university campus. Therefore, results do not necessarily generalize elsewhere and replication is necessary for other geographical regions that include additional participants from varying backgrounds. Because data were not collected from a control group of nonfoster students, it is also unknown whether the identified student needs from this research substantially differ from the general population.

Practical implications

All students do not need the same support, so a menu of services should be provided. These services could include care packages that include basic academic necessities (e.g., laptops, school supplies, book vouchers, health and beauty supplies), financial literacy training, mentorship opportunities, a one-credit course on independent living skills, providing connections to community resources (e.g., childcare, housing, employment) and targeted advising for this specific student population, many of which who are from the first generation and low-income backgrounds. Another opportunity is to provide, possibly mandate, professional development for faculty and staff on the characteristics and needs of these vulnerable students.

Originality/value

Institutions have an opportunity, and arguably an obligation, to identify these students as early as possible. This can be done through collaboration with state human service departments, high school counselors and using demographic data found in the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form. Recruiting, retaining and supporting this population of students are critical because many have needs similar to other marginalized populations that the authors are so intensely focused on.

中文翻译：

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顽强的人口：在高等教育中支持前寄养青年

目的

这篇探索性论文的目的是定义寄养青年的特征，讨论创伤对他们生活的影响，介绍在中西部一所大学进行的寄养青年调查的结果，以评估前寄养青年的需求并讨论大学可以支持这一弱势学生群体。研究中出现了几个主题。财务需求出现在最高层。基本需求的数量惊人。例如，超过一半的受访者的基本需求没有得到满足。这些需求包括食物、医疗/牙科服务、衣服和交通需求。

设计/方法/途径

作为大学工作组成员的教员研究人员开展了一项调查，以评估在进行这项研究时就读班级的前寄养青年的需求。该调查是通过 Qualtrics 开发和传播的，Qualtrics 是一种通过电子邮件以保密方式分发调查链接的软件。该调查包括与参与者的背景和人口统计信息相关的各种一般性问题，以及他们有兴趣获得的特定需求和服务。该调查在深秋学期一次性发出，为期三周。

发现

调查结果表明，9% 的受访者（n = 4）将最需要的领域列为学校用品、医疗/牙科护理和经济援助建议的经济援助。同样，7% 的受访者（n = 3）表示最大的需求是负担得起的住房、学期休息期间的住房、笔记本电脑的经济支持、财务咨询、咨询服务、紧急经济援助以及实习和职业咨询。

研究局限性/影响

这项研究的局限性包括使用小而同质的参与者样本量，以及从一个大学校园收集的数据。因此，结果不一定在其他地方推广，并且对于包括来自不同背景的其他参与者的其他地理区域来说，复制是必要的。由于数据不是从非寄养学生的对照组收集的，因此也不知道从这项研究中确定的学生需求是否与一般人群有很大不同。

实际影响

并非所有学生都需要相同的支持，因此应提供一系列服务。这些服（例如，儿童保育、住房、就业）并针对这一特定学生群体提供有针对性的建议，其中许多人来自第一代和低收入背景。另一个机会是根据这些弱势学生的特点和需求，为教职员工提供（可能是授权）专业发展。

原创性/价值

机构有机会，也可以说有义务尽早识别这些学生。这可以通过与州公共服务部门、高中辅导员合作并使用联邦学生援助免费申请表中的人口统计数据来完成。招募、留住和支持这群学生至关重要，因为许多人的需求与作者非常关注的其他边缘化人群相似。