The State of Research on (Former) Foster Youth in Higher Education: A Systematic Review of the Literature

• In Event: New Directions for the Study of Foster Youth Alumni in Higher Education

Abstract

As national momentum for improving postsecondary education completion for underserved students grows, the time seems ripe to take stock of what we know (and do not know) about the condition of foster youth in higher education, so as to raise the specter about their experiences, call to action education policymakers and practitioners, and chart new directions for educational research. The purpose of this systematic review was to provide a synthesis and critical review of research on youth in foster care and alumni in college. A single research question guided this review: What factors are associated with foster care alumni success in college? Among the 112 studies initially identified only 21 met the final criteria for inclusion in the review. Drawing on Rendon’s (2005) model of student success as a conceptual framework, findings from these studies are reviewed and discussed. This paper closes with a critical assessment of the state of research on foster youth alumni and offers recommendations to guide future investigations.

Author

• Royel Johnson, The Pennsylvania State University