Impact of Postsecondary Education on Current and Former Foster Youth: A Scoping Review

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Wednesday 2:30 pm Four Seasons Ballroom 4
  In Roundtable Session: Empowering Voices: Equity and Agency in Higher Education (Table 3)

Abstract

This scoping review examines existing publications to assess the state of research about the impacts of postsecondary education on current and former foster youth. Results revealed that between 2000 and June 2024, 59 quantitative studies identified one or more postsecondary outcome areas related to enrollment, academic, developmental, and post-program effects for current and former foster youth. Findings indicate the need for updated consolidated evidence on several topics regarding how postsecondary education impacts current and former foster youth, as well as increased specificity and uniformity in the foster youth population identifiers used for welfare status, age, gender, race, and ethnicity.

Authors

• Kara Graham, The Ohio State University

• Charis Stanek, The Ohio State University