Making College Success a Reality for New Yorks

Making College Success a Reality for New York’s Youth in Care Maximizing Financial Aid for Foster Youth July 14, 2020 MAKING COLLEGE SUCCESS A REALITY FOR NEW YORK’S YOUTH IN CARE Maximizing Financial Aid for Foster Youth

“Maximizing Financial Aid for Foster Youth” Webinar Presenters: 1. Welcome and Introductions 2. Why We Need to Make College Success a Reality for New York’s Youth in Care • The College Success Resource Guide 3. Supporting Students from Foster Care Jessica Maxwell • Common Student Eligibility Scenarios • Foster Youth Identification and Outreach • Available Child Welfare Funding ‣ FYCSI vs. Education Training Vouchers ‣ Room and Board Payments Kenneth Kirton MAKING COLLEGE SUCCESS A REALITY FOR NEW YORK’S YOUTH IN CARE Maximizing Financial Aid for Foster Youth

“Maximizing Financial Aid” Webinar Agenda (continued) Presenters: 4. Financial Aid 101 • • Customer Service Considerations FAFSA Process Cost of Attendance Financial Aid Packaging Students to Meet COA Dzelika Daniel 5. Improving Access to Financial Aid • Foster Youth College Success Initiative • FYCSI Packaging Strategies and Templates 6. Q&A Osei Agyeman MAKING COLLEGE SUCCESS A REALITY FOR NEW YORK’S YOUTH IN CARE Maximizing Financial Aid for Foster Youth

Why We Need to Make College Success a Reality for New York’s Foster Youth MAKING COLLEGE SUCCESS A REALITY FOR NEW YORK’S YOUTH IN CARE Maximizing Financial Aid for Foster Youth

NEW ONLINE TOOL: The College Success Resource Guide Presented in Partnership https: //www. fysany. org/college-success-guide

Claiming Independent Student Status for Financial Aid Qualifying Definition: “FOSTER YOUTH” • Students who spent any time in foster care after age 13 ‣ Includes students who were subsequently reunified with their birth families, OR were adopted after their 13 th birthdays *Special Note about Funding for the NYS Foster Youth College Success Initiative (FYCSI): Students who are without lawful immigration status or who fall within a category of individuals outlined in Section 661(b)(i) of the NY Education Law are eligible for FYCSI MAKING COLLEGE SUCCESS A REALITY FOR NEW YORK’S YOUTH IN CARE Maximizing Financial Aid for Foster Youth

Common Student Eligibility Scenarios SCENARIO: FOSTER CARE/WARD OF THE STATE SCENARIO: KINSHIP GUARDIANSHIP Additional Student Eligibility Scenarios for foster youth are available in Chapter 3 of the College Success Resource Guide. MAKING COLLEGE SUCCESS A REALITY FOR NEW YORK’S YOUTH IN CARE Maximizing Financial Aid for Foster Youth

Tips & Strategies: Foster Youth College Success Initiative Funding • Gain awareness around eligibility requirements for FYCSI funds • Identify eligible foster care students EARLY • Include a Foster Care Identification Question on the College Admissions Application • Financial Aid Information (FAFSA Form Question 52) • Implement targeted communication efforts to reach identified foster care students MAKING COLLEGE SUCCESS A REALITY FOR NEW YORK’S YOUTH IN CARE Maximizing Financial Aid for Foster Youth

Available Child Welfare Funding: FYCSI and ETV Age Requirements: Foster Care Experience: Adoption Status: Citizenship Status: Participating Institutions and Eligible Programs: Foster Youth College Success Initiative (FYCSI) ü No age requirements to access funding ü Apply before 21 st birthday ü Receive funds until year they reach age 23 ü Spent time in foster care after 13 th birthday ü Left foster care after 14 th birthday ü Adopted after 13 th birthday from foster care ü Adopted after 16 th birthday ü U. S. Citizen, Green Card, or Undocumented ü U. S. Citizen or Green Card ü Students pursing degrees, enrolled in a post-secondary certificate or other accredited program at a college, university, or technical vocational school ü Award amount is based on student’s financial need as determined by the cost of attendance at the eligible higher education institution ü Up to $5, 000 awarded per student annually ü Students are eligible to receive funding for up to 5 years ü Awards are determined by students’ financial need as determined by cost of attendance ü Awards are paid directly to students or institutions of attendance ü New York State Education Department (SED) ü New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) and Welfare Research, Inc. (WRI) Students are not required to complete an application, but must submit an eligibility consent form to the college ü Access funds through financial aid officers at eligible schools ü Students must submit an annual application, which includes certification from institutions of attendance for each semester the student is enrolled ü Students enrolled at CUNY, SUNY, and Independent, Private Colleges with Higher Education Opportunity Programs (HEOPs) ü Students pursuing associate or bachelor’s degrees Funding: Administration: Application: Education Training Vouchers (ETV) ü

Available Child Welfare Funding: Room and Board Payments Youth currently in foster care eligible to receive child welfare funding to assist in covering some of the cost of room and board while attending college. There is NO standard rate for students in NYS, instead payments are based on: • Student’s County of Care and Custody • County Foster Care Rate • LDSS can pay up to the NYS-approved Foster Care Rate TIP: Use the Room and Board Template Form (College Success Resource Guide Chapter 3) to help collect information and payments from child welfare agencies MAKING COLLEGE SUCCESS A REALITY FOR NEW YORK’S YOUTH IN CARE Maximizing Financial Aid for Foster Youth

Supporting Youth in Care Customer Service Considerations: • Acronyms Usage • Referrals to Support Programs • “Soft Transfers” MAKING COLLEGE SUCCESS A REALITY FOR NEW YORK’S YOUTH IN CARE Maximizing Financial Aid for Foster Youth

Initiating the Financial Aid Process FAFSA Process: • Student completes the FAFSA answering “Yes” to question #52 • Independent Status ‣ Verification MAKING COLLEGE SUCCESS A REALITY FOR NEW YORK’S YOUTH IN CARE Maximizing Financial Aid for Foster Youth

Cost of Attendance Overview • Students are assigned a Budget based on independent status • Tuition and Fees • School expenses, dorm, fees, medical insurance, food • Professional Judgment performed by Financial Aid Office for special circumstances: ‣ Unemployment ‣ Medical Expenses MAKING COLLEGE SUCCESS A REALITY FOR NEW YORK’S YOUTH IN CARE Maximizing Financial Aid for Foster Youth

The Real Cost of College: Packaging Aid For Foster Youth Average Cost of Attendance* Expense Category • Tuition CUNY SUNY Private College (NY region) 6, 930 7, 070 42, 000 475 1, 710 1, 100 12, 123 13, 720 12, 000 • Books and Supplies 1, 364 1, 350 1, 100 • Meals 3, 454 included 4, 230 • Transportation 1, 088 1, 130 930 • Personal Expenses 4, 416 1, 670 1, 073 $29, 850 $26, 650 $62, 433 • Fees (average) • Housing TOTAL COA: 1. Housing • Consider the student’s yearround living arrangements 2. Personal Expenses • Foster Youth are more likely to have more/higher expenses than the average student 3. Transportation • Cover moving in/out expenses and cost of commuting 4. Emergency Situations *Based on the 2019/20 COA MAKING COLLEGE SUCCESS A REALITY FOR NEW YORK’S YOUTH IN CARE Maximizing Financial Aid for Foster Youth

Financial Aid Packaging and Methodology • Full time students are packaged for entitlement aid (such as Pell) FIRST • State residents receive TAP grant and other NYS scholarships (such as Excelsior) • Students are packaged for additional aid based on the discretion of the campus • Self Help Aid: ‣ Federal Work Study ‣ Direct Loan MAKING COLLEGE SUCCESS A REALITY FOR NEW YORK’S YOUTH IN CARE Maximizing Financial Aid for Foster Youth

Student Awarding Example #1: Non-Dorming Student

Student Awarding Example #2: Dorm Project Student

Completing College: Common Barriers for Youth in Care Key Factors and Challenges: • Transition Out of Care • Food Security (Intersession) • Uncertainty • Acclimating to Student Life (To Identify or Not Identify) (Community) • Health (Mental/Physical) • Lack of Parental/Guardian Support • Financial Barriers • Stable Housing (Intersession) MAKING COLLEGE SUCCESS A REALITY FOR NEW YORK’S YOUTH IN CARE Maximizing Financial Aid for Foster Youth

How FYCSI Assists Students from Foster Care Foster Youth College Success Initiative (FYCSI) funding can be used to support the cost of attending college including, but not limited to, these expenses: • Tuition and Fees • Technical Equipment • Books • Personal Expenses • Transportation • Housing (Recess Housing) • On-Campus Tutoring (Explore altering the COA formula for foster youth as their needs are much different from a regular admit) • Medical Expenses (i. e. , Primary Care, Behavioral Health, Vision, and Dental) MAKING COLLEGE SUCCESS A REALITY FOR NEW YORK’S YOUTH IN CARE Maximizing Financial Aid for Foster Youth

Foster Youth College Success Initiative Packaging Strategies Although there is a general formula, each campus has its own packaging methodology. Here a few suggested cost of attendance/budgeting strategies that are tailored to meet the unique needs of students from foster care: 1. Increase budgets for additional expenses often incurred by youth from foster care ✳Costs of Attendance, Academic Support, Supplemental Housing/Meals during intersession 2. Factor in other student expenses that are usually higher than what is allocated in the college’s cost of attendance ✳Personal, Technology, Medical, Food and Housing ✳REMINDER: Housing costs may vary on campus or off campus, as well as regionally 3. Consider potential expenses a student may incur while on winter/spring breaks ✳Students from foster care often have limited resources when school isn’t in session MAKING COLLEGE SUCCESS A REALITY FOR NEW YORK’S YOUTH IN CARE Maximizing Financial Aid for Foster Youth

FYCSI Packaging Strategies (continued) 4. Ask students to submit a list of their fall/spring semester expenses ✳Students sometimes submit their expense budget after the beginning of the semester when they have a better idea of their unanticipated or incurred expenses ✳Colleges can provide a template form for students to list estimated/anticipated expenses 5. Consider other funding sources for the student besides FYCSI ✳Overview of Scholarships and Grant Opportunities - College Success Resource Guide, Ch. 3 6. If you have the flexibility of increasing the budget for additional expenses during the academic year, it would be helpful for students ✳Some additional sources of aid are designated for specific expenses (such as room and board), while other funding can be used for outstanding balances or toward the COA 7. Reduce or replace student loans with FYCSI funds, when possible MAKING COLLEGE SUCCESS A REALITY FOR NEW YORK’S YOUTH IN CARE Maximizing Financial Aid for Foster Youth

Webinar Evaluation ________ Open Discussion Q & A MAKING COLLEGE SUCCESS A REALITY FOR NEW YORK’S YOUTH IN CARE Maximizing Financial Aid for Foster Youth

Resource Guide Promotion: Help Spread the Word! • Feature the Link on Your Website • Share on Social Media Platforms • Issue an E-alert to Stakeholders • Post an Intranet Announcement • Write a Newsletter Story • Promote the Webinar Series • Host Presentations and Workshops • Webinar Referrals: Link Graphic https: //www. fysany. org/college-success-guide fysa@Childrens. Aid. NYC. org MAKING COLLEGE SUCCESS A REALITY FOR NEW YORK’S YOUTH IN CARE Maximizing Financial Aid for Foster Youth

FYSA College Success Webinar Series REGISTER NOW: www. fysany. org/making-college-success-resource-guide-webinar-series • Guide Navigation for Higher Education Staff Highlight content of interest/importance to this audience • 60 min. • July 29, 2020 • 3: 00 pm (ET) Previously recorded modules are available for viewing: www. fysany. org/college-success-guide • Using the College Success Resource Guide • The Foster Youth College Success Initiative • Guide Navigation for Parents, Caretakers, Child Welfare Staff, and Students MAKING COLLEGE SUCCESS A REALITY FOR NEW YORK’S YOUTH IN CARE Maximizing Financial Aid for Foster Youth

Making College Success a Reality for New York’s Youth in Care Maximizing Financial Aid for Foster Youth July 14, 2020 MAKING COLLEGE SUCCESS A REALITY FOR NEW YORK’S YOUTH IN CARE Maximizing Financial Aid for Foster Youth