FOSTER YOUTH AND HIGHER EDUCATION

In this study, 10 former/current foster youth were interviewed about their foster care experiences by examining factors that contributed them from pursuing higher education and factors that may have influenced them from not pursuing higher education. Data collection occurred throughout Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. The results of the study found that there were four themes, which presented to be factors that are influential in foster youth pursuing or not pursuing higher education. These themes are centered on the environment, support factors, the foster youths drive and types of services that they received while in foster care. The results of the study imply that there are significant barriers to foster youth pursuing higher education and there are influential factors that foster youth experience in pursuing higher education. This study recommends that there should be an expansion of the research conducted to continue to access which areas can influence foster youth to pursue higher education.