A Phenomenological Study of College Students With Foster Care Experience During COVID-19

• In Event: Centering the Educational Experiences of Post-Traditional Students

Abstract

COVID-19 has disrupted the lives and educational experiences of many students in the U.S., contributing to a heightened sense of anxiety, instability, and uncertainty. While researchers have sought to assess the impacts of COVID-19 through public polls, little is known qualitatively about how college students with foster care experience (FCE) are coping with the consequences of the pandemic and economic crisis. Drawing upon 25 in-depth, multi-round interviews regarding the pandemic and its impact on their educational experiences, preliminary findings show that college students with FCE are severely affected by COVID-19 due to remote learning, and challenges meeting their basic needs and mental and physical health.

Author

• Mauriell H. Amechi, Foster Youth Empowered, LLC