DEI Timeline of important events for foster youth throughout history
Accesss TO Higher Education for foster youth in the u.s.
2010
2003
2001
1999
1986
In 2001, a program called the Education and Training voucher was created, adding on to the Chafee Foster Care Independence Act to help foster youth succeed in postsecondary education and vocational training. This program provides both current and former foster youth with up to $5,000 per year to cover educational expenses. Although overall graduation rates for foster youth remain low, evaluations show that students receiving the ETV are more likely to enroll in college and persist towards graduation, which is an accomplishment in itself. This program was marked the first federal initiative to support the higher education goals of young adults who have faced the foster system. (Hanson et al., 2022)
The GSB program started in 2003 as a “give-back” initiative because the founder, Bob Carr, had received a small grant nearly 40 years earlier and promised to one day pay it forward. Since then, he has donated over $100 million for scholarships, many of which are aimed primarily at foster youth. GSB has created countless opportunities for students and, in 2017, partnered with Chapman University to provide full-ride scholarships to eligible students. (Give Something Back Foundation, n.d.)
Education and Training Vouchers
Foster Care Independence Act
In 2000, Celeste Bodner started FosterClub. Her main objective was to give the foster care children what they required. For example, youth-friendly information, peer support, and materials to help them develop both in care and after care. The organization was the first ever to be started at the national level solely for educating foster youth on their rights, services available, and potential to attend college. FosterClub's innovative model was centered on youth leadership and peer mentoring and provided foster youth with the skills and assistance needed to overcome difficulties in school, employment, and adulthood. Over time, FosterClub evolved to become a national advocate for equitable access to college and career opportunities for youth with lived experience in foster care.
In December of 1999, congress passed the FCIA to make improvements to the previous (ILI. They increased federal funding for youth aging out of foster care. Unlike the earlier program, it allowed states to provide support through age 21, including room and board, educational aid, and even extended Medicaid coverage. The Chafee Act also emphasized youth voice by requiring that young people themselves help shape their own transition plans.
Independent Living Initiative
Give Something Back Foundation
In October of 1986, congress passed the first public law that focused on helping youth transition out of foster care. The main goal of the (ILI) is to encourage young adults to succeed in their personal and professional futures. They offered basic independent living skills such as job training and peer counseling, but it was limited in funding. (Hardin, 1987).
Foster Club
DEI Timeline of important events for foster youth throughout history
Accesss TO Higher Education for foster youth in the u.s.
*AI Created
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
In 2021, Charity Chandler-Cole became the new CEO of CASA LA, marking a historic moment as becoming the organization’s first Black leader. Charity faced adversity in her younger years and was a former foster youth in Los Angeles County. She brings a deeply personal understanding of the foster care system and is strongly committed to bringing awareness to social justice and racial equity. Her goal is to address systemic inequities and inspire transformative change within the child welfare system. Chandler-Cole states that CASA/LA volunteers play such an important role in showing children that they are not alone and that their lives matter and they have as equal a right to pursue their goals as any other student has. Another goal of hers is to recruit volunteers who have similar life experiences with the children they are working with so that they are more empathetic advocates. With Charity's extensive experience in nonprofit management and social justice work, making her CEO represents a step forward in advocating for foster youth. (O’Keefe, 2021).of foster care. The main goal of the (ILI) is to encourage young adults to succeed in their personal and professional futures. They offered basic independent living skills such as job training and peer counseling, but it was limited in funding. (Hardin, 1987).
Charity Chandler-Cole Becomes CEO of CASA
The FAFSA Simplification Act made it easier for foster youth and homeless students to access federal financial aid for college. The law allows foster students to be considered independent, meaning that they do not have to provide their parents information and they do not have to reverify each year. This is important because many foster youth do not receive any aid from their parents and are placed with temporary foster homes who usually will not pay college expenses. It also requires faster determinations, more officials authorized to verify eligibility, and adds a simplified question on homelessness to the FAFSA. These updates help remove financial barriers and support college access for youth with foster care experience. (FAFSA Simplification Act, 2021–2022)
California State Senate Bill 307 was introduced in 2023 by Senators Mike McGuire and Angelique Ashby to expand the Middle Class Scholarship Program (MCSP) to foster youth and former foster youth attending community colleges. The bill would decrease equity gaps by helping foster youth cover the full cost of college expenses like tuition, housing, and other necessities when earning an associates degree or career technical education. SB 307 also created a new section of the MCSP called the "Fostering Futures Program," where foster youth could be exempt from being penalized by typical income or educational progress expectations and could redeem awards for up to eight years. While the bill did not become law in the 2023–2024 session, it was a huge step toward educational equality and recognition of the financial barriers foster youth face in pursuing higher education. (Ashby & McGuire, 2023–2024)
FAFSA Simplification Act
A 2025 study revealed that foster youth are significantly more likely to experience grade retention, disciplinary actions, and special education placement. The findings also indicated that foster youth are less likely to graduate from high school and attain a bachelor's degree compared to their peers. These disparities underscore the need for targeted interventions to address the unique challenges faced by foster youth in the education system.
On September 26, 2024 Governor Gavin Newsom signed into legislation Assembly Bill 2508.This law expanded access to the California Kids Investment and Development Savings (CalKIDS) program for foster youth. CalKIDS is a state-subsidized entity to help children save towards college or career training after graduating from high school. Under the new legislation, beginning in the 2025-26 fiscal year, all foster youth between 1st through 12th grade will receive a $500 CalKIDS account deposit. The funds can be used at accredited colleges, universities, and vocational schools towards any education related expenses such as tuition, books, and room and board. The extended foster youth eligibility will remain in place until January 1, 2029. (AB 2508 Fact Sheet, 2024)
Research Highlighting Educational Challenges and Progress
AB 2508 Expands CalKIDS
California SB 307
Accesss TO Higher Education for foster youth in the u.s.
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DEI Timeline of important events for foster youth throughout history
Accesss TO Higher Education for foster youth in the u.s.
2010
2003
2001
1999
1986
In 2001, a program called the Education and Training voucher was created, adding on to the Chafee Foster Care Independence Act to help foster youth succeed in postsecondary education and vocational training. This program provides both current and former foster youth with up to $5,000 per year to cover educational expenses. Although overall graduation rates for foster youth remain low, evaluations show that students receiving the ETV are more likely to enroll in college and persist towards graduation, which is an accomplishment in itself. This program was marked the first federal initiative to support the higher education goals of young adults who have faced the foster system. (Hanson et al., 2022)
The GSB program started in 2003 as a “give-back” initiative because the founder, Bob Carr, had received a small grant nearly 40 years earlier and promised to one day pay it forward. Since then, he has donated over $100 million for scholarships, many of which are aimed primarily at foster youth. GSB has created countless opportunities for students and, in 2017, partnered with Chapman University to provide full-ride scholarships to eligible students. (Give Something Back Foundation, n.d.)
Education and Training Vouchers
Foster Care Independence Act
In 2000, Celeste Bodner started FosterClub. Her main objective was to give the foster care children what they required. For example, youth-friendly information, peer support, and materials to help them develop both in care and after care. The organization was the first ever to be started at the national level solely for educating foster youth on their rights, services available, and potential to attend college. FosterClub's innovative model was centered on youth leadership and peer mentoring and provided foster youth with the skills and assistance needed to overcome difficulties in school, employment, and adulthood. Over time, FosterClub evolved to become a national advocate for equitable access to college and career opportunities for youth with lived experience in foster care.
In December of 1999, congress passed the FCIA to make improvements to the previous (ILI. They increased federal funding for youth aging out of foster care. Unlike the earlier program, it allowed states to provide support through age 21, including room and board, educational aid, and even extended Medicaid coverage. The Chafee Act also emphasized youth voice by requiring that young people themselves help shape their own transition plans.
Independent Living Initiative
Give Something Back Foundation
In October of 1986, congress passed the first public law that focused on helping youth transition out of foster care. The main goal of the (ILI) is to encourage young adults to succeed in their personal and professional futures. They offered basic independent living skills such as job training and peer counseling, but it was limited in funding. (Hardin, 1987).
Foster Club
DEI Timeline of important events for foster youth throughout history
Accesss TO Higher Education for foster youth in the u.s.
*AI Created
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
In 2021, Charity Chandler-Cole became the new CEO of CASA LA, marking a historic moment as becoming the organization’s first Black leader. Charity faced adversity in her younger years and was a former foster youth in Los Angeles County. She brings a deeply personal understanding of the foster care system and is strongly committed to bringing awareness to social justice and racial equity. Her goal is to address systemic inequities and inspire transformative change within the child welfare system. Chandler-Cole states that CASA/LA volunteers play such an important role in showing children that they are not alone and that their lives matter and they have as equal a right to pursue their goals as any other student has. Another goal of hers is to recruit volunteers who have similar life experiences with the children they are working with so that they are more empathetic advocates. With Charity's extensive experience in nonprofit management and social justice work, making her CEO represents a step forward in advocating for foster youth. (O’Keefe, 2021).of foster care. The main goal of the (ILI) is to encourage young adults to succeed in their personal and professional futures. They offered basic independent living skills such as job training and peer counseling, but it was limited in funding. (Hardin, 1987).
Charity Chandler-Cole Becomes CEO of CASA
The FAFSA Simplification Act made it easier for foster youth and homeless students to access federal financial aid for college. The law allows foster students to be considered independent, meaning that they do not have to provide their parents information and they do not have to reverify each year. This is important because many foster youth do not receive any aid from their parents and are placed with temporary foster homes who usually will not pay college expenses. It also requires faster determinations, more officials authorized to verify eligibility, and adds a simplified question on homelessness to the FAFSA. These updates help remove financial barriers and support college access for youth with foster care experience. (FAFSA Simplification Act, 2021–2022)
California State Senate Bill 307 was introduced in 2023 by Senators Mike McGuire and Angelique Ashby to expand the Middle Class Scholarship Program (MCSP) to foster youth and former foster youth attending community colleges. The bill would decrease equity gaps by helping foster youth cover the full cost of college expenses like tuition, housing, and other necessities when earning an associates degree or career technical education. SB 307 also created a new section of the MCSP called the "Fostering Futures Program," where foster youth could be exempt from being penalized by typical income or educational progress expectations and could redeem awards for up to eight years. While the bill did not become law in the 2023–2024 session, it was a huge step toward educational equality and recognition of the financial barriers foster youth face in pursuing higher education. (Ashby & McGuire, 2023–2024)
FAFSA Simplification Act
A 2025 study revealed that foster youth are significantly more likely to experience grade retention, disciplinary actions, and special education placement. The findings also indicated that foster youth are less likely to graduate from high school and attain a bachelor's degree compared to their peers. These disparities underscore the need for targeted interventions to address the unique challenges faced by foster youth in the education system.
On September 26, 2024 Governor Gavin Newsom signed into legislation Assembly Bill 2508.This law expanded access to the California Kids Investment and Development Savings (CalKIDS) program for foster youth. CalKIDS is a state-subsidized entity to help children save towards college or career training after graduating from high school. Under the new legislation, beginning in the 2025-26 fiscal year, all foster youth between 1st through 12th grade will receive a $500 CalKIDS account deposit. The funds can be used at accredited colleges, universities, and vocational schools towards any education related expenses such as tuition, books, and room and board. The extended foster youth eligibility will remain in place until January 1, 2029. (AB 2508 Fact Sheet, 2024)
Research Highlighting Educational Challenges and Progress
AB 2508 Expands CalKIDS
California SB 307