Exploring the Intersectional College-Going Experiences of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Students With Foster Care Experience and Disabilities

• In Event: College Transitions and Decisions

Abstract

Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) make up over half of this nation’s foster care population. Although national statistics suggest that this population is disproportionately labeled with a disability, considerably little is known about their college trajectories. In this qualitative study, I investigated the contextual factors that influence the experiences and pathways of college-going students of color with lived experience in foster care and disabilities. Drawing upon in-depth interviews, I found three central themes:
1. struggles with cultivating social ties and belongingness on campus due to real or perceived stigmas associated with their intersectional identities,
2. challenges related to mental health and wellness, and
3. feeling discouraged from seeking counseling support on-campus due to waitlist and burdensome enrollment processes.

Author

• Mauriell H. Amechi, Foster Youth Empowered