College Bound!

Bringing the dream of a higher education within reach for Hephzibah foster teens.

By Susan Reich

According to the National Foster Youth Institute, young people in foster care “face a special set of challenges outside the classroom that have a serious impact on their academic performance.”

More than 40% experience educational difficulties and half never finish high school. Only about a third make the leap to higher education, compared to 63% of all recent high school graduates nationwide.

Those who do continue on to college are often unprepared for the academic rigors of higher education and the complexities of college life. Despite their courage and determination, fewer than 5% of the foster teens on our nation’s college campuses complete their bachelor’s degrees.

Hephzibah recently began working with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) to change that dismal statistic—one foster teen at a time.

“If teens in our foster care program have college aspirations, we help them apply to the DCFS Youth in College Program, which provides monthly stipends to cover on-campus room and board or off-campus rent and utilities, as well as personal expenses,” explains Hephzibah Assistant Director of Family Based Services Patty Gross. “Then we help them complete their applications for federal student aid so that they can qualify for scholarships, grants or work-study programs to cover their tuition and fees.

“Three of our foster teens were accepted into the Youth in College Program in 2023,” says Gross. “They are now college freshmen living on campus at Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago, Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais and Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville.”

Gross is quick to point out that these foster teens need more than financial support and guidance as they navigate the maze of college admissions and financial aid applications. They also need emotional support as they adapt to the unfamiliar rhythms and demands of college life.

“That’s where Hephzibah steps in,” she notes. “Our caseworkers accompany college-bound foster teens to orientation sessions, help them register for classes, purchase personal items for their dorm rooms and physically help them move into their campus housing. We bring them computers and school supplies and rolls of coins so that they can do their laundry. We also teach them how to budget their monthly stipends so they don’t run out of money.”

Hephzibah caseworkers hit the road once a month to check in on their young charges. The rest of the time, they’re just a call or text away if these college students need a pep talk or a helping hand.

Like most college freshmen, Hephzibah foster teens learn a few lessons at the school of hard knocks.

“One of our students swiped her Youth in College debit card a few too many times and ran out of funds before the end of the month, so we helped her out with grocery-store gift cards,” says Gross with a chuckle. “We are always there to help with day-to-day issues—and provide emotional support when our foster teens feel stressed or overwhelmed—so they never feel alone on their college journeys.”