Professional perspectives on postsecondary education supports for young adults with foster care experience: A concept mapping study
Using a concept mapping study with eight professionals, this research identifies six critical domains of support for young adults with foster care experience in postsecondary education and reveals significant gaps between the perceived importance of these supports—particularly in housing, transportation, and cross-system coordination—and their current availability.
Original paper licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). This is an AI-generated explanation of the paper below. It is not written or endorsed by the authors. For technical accuracy, refer to the original paper. Read full disclaimer
Imagine trying to climb a mountain, but you were handed a map that was half-erased, your backpack was missing a few essential tools, and the path kept changing every time you took a step. This is the reality for many young people who have grown up in the foster care system. While they often dream of going to college just like their peers, the journey is filled with extra hurdles. Scientists who study how people grow up and learn—known as child welfare and education researchers—have long known that these young adults face tough odds. They often have to deal with the emotional scars of past trauma, a lack of a stable family to lean on, and the sudden need to figure out how to pay bills, find a place to sleep, and manage a schedule all on their own. The big question isn't just whether these young people want to go to college; it's whether the world around them is actually set up to help them get there and stay there.
This study acts like a group of expert guides looking at that mountain path together. The researchers gathered eight professionals—people who work as teachers, judges, social workers, and college support staff—to map out exactly what these young adults need to succeed. They used a method called "concept mapping," which is like a giant, organized brainstorming session. The team took 77 different ideas about what helps (like "having a mentor" or "getting mental health therapy") and asked the experts to sort them into groups and rate them on two scales: how important they are, and how easy they are to actually find.
The results paint a clear, albeit slightly sad, picture. The experts agreed that almost everything on the list is incredibly important. However, when they looked at how available these things actually are, the numbers dropped significantly. It's as if the experts are saying, "We know you need a sturdy ladder to climb this mountain, but right now, we only have a wobbly rope." The biggest gaps weren't just about money; they were about the messy, complicated logistics of life. Things like having a reliable car to get to class, having your important documents (like birth certificates) ready when you turn 18, and having a safe place to live near campus were seen as critical needs that are currently missing.
Interestingly, the study found that some things are working better than others. Financial aid programs, like tuition waivers and help filling out college applications, are actually available and seen as helpful. It's like the mountain has a few well-marked rest stops where you can get water. But the path between those stops is still rough. The experts noticed that while young people are often very motivated and ready to take charge of their lives, the systems meant to support them are often fragmented. The child welfare system, the school system, and the housing system often don't talk to each other, leaving the young person to try to connect the dots alone.
The study suggests that to fix this, we can't just throw more money at the problem. We need to build a better "infrastructure" of care. This means making sure that when a young person leaves foster care, they don't just get a check; they get a coordinated team that helps them with housing, transportation, and mental health all at once. The experts believe that if we can smooth out these transition bumps and make sure the support systems actually work together, these young adults have a real shot at not just getting into college, but graduating and building the lives they deserve. The map is drawn, and the experts have shown us exactly where the holes are; now, the challenge is to fill them in.
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