1. Preparing Foster Youth for College:
A Timeline
Presenters:
Sarah Levels, Emancipation Supervisor
Rayshawn Parnell, Foster Youth Alum and Student at Central State University
Deric Cobb, Adoption Caseworker
Chuck Cochran, Volunteer Coordinator, College Bound Mentor Program
Neshaun Coleman, Emancipation Caseworker
“Protecting Children by Strengthening Families”
http://www.franklincountyohio.gov/children_services/

2. Introductions
• Name
• Agency/Organization and Position
• What do you hope to learn from this
workshop?
• Questions for Rayshawn

3. College Preparation Timeline
• Freshman Year
• Sophomore Year
• Junior Year
• Senior Year
– Fall
– Winter
– Spring
– Summer

4. Freshman Year
• Connect with high school guidance counselor
• Learn about college requirements
• Explore Careers
– Talk with youth about their interests
– Ohio Career Information Systems (OCIS) www.ocis.org
– Link with someone in community
• Develop your four-year high school curriculum
• Encourage youth to start strong! Colleges look at
cumulative GPA
• Get involved in your community and school and develop a
resume
• Link with a College Bound Mentor

5. FCCS College Bound Mentor Program
• Strong support can make all the difference for youth in
transitioning to post secondary education.
• Adult Support in the form of regular phone, e-mails, or
in person is most effective.
• Help students problem solve issues, identify career
interests, encourage academic success , complete
financial aid and application materials for admissions.
• Develop connections and build relationships with
individuals who have had similar experiences.
• Provide Shadowing Opportunities
• Seek out Friend/ Family member/ Peer at college to
provide mentoring for youth.

6. Sophomore Year
• OGT test
– Testing begins their Sophomore year
– Coach youth to work with teachers and guidance counselor to prepare for the test
– Prep classes are provided as electives
– Free online preparation called Plato system
• Take the “Plan Test”, administered through ACT, in the fall
– The PLAN® program helps 10th graders build a solid foundation for future academic and career
success.
– It is a comprehensive guidance resource that helps students measure their current academic
development, explore career/training options, and make plans for the remaining years of high
school and post-graduation years.
– PLAN can help all students—those who are college-bound as well as those who are likely to
enter the workforce directly after high school.
• Continue researching colleges online
• Look closely at careers and the college requirements for careers
• Modify your high school curriculum, if necessary
– Encourage youth to take challenging courses i.e. AP and Honors classes
• Talk with your high school guidance counselor

7. Junior Year
• Take the PSAT test in the fall
• Attend College Fairs and Tours in the fall and spring
– Kiwanis of Columbus College Fair at Aladdin Shrine Temple in early fall
• Visit with college representatives at your high school
• Participate in formal college campus visits
• Motivate youth to attend ACT/SAT prep classes
• Take the ACT and/or SAT
• Explore Financial Aid, scholarships and grants
• Talk with your high school guidance counselor
– About planning first semester Senior class schedule
– Youth should take challenging courses that would appeal to colleges
• Encourage youth to find part-time employment and save!

8. Senior Year: Fall
• Link with an FCCS Emancipation Worker
• Meet with your guidance counselor
• Take ACT/SAT again
• Narrow your college choices – attend additional college visits
• Apply for any and all scholarships – be mindful of deadlines! Most are at
the end of December and some are in early Spring
– www.fastweb.com
– www.collegeboard.com/student
• Complete your college applications by the required deadlines
– Early deadline falls in December
– Most colleges want to receive applications by mid March
– Any applications received later, you risk losing housing and financial aid
• Obtain letters of recommendation, ask supporters early!
• Keep copies of everything!

9. Top 10 College Application Mistakes
1. Misspellings and grammatical errors
2. Applying online, but the application is not submitted
3. Forgotten signatures
4. Not reading carefully
5. Listing extracurricular activities that do not count
6. Not telling your high school guidance counselor where
you applied
7. Writing illegibly
8. Using an email address that friends laugh about but
colleges won’t
9. Not checking your email regularly
10. Letting parents or other adults fill out your application

10. Senior Year: Winter (Jan-Feb)
• Complete the FAFSA or Free Application for
Federal Student Financial Aid.
http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/
• Attend any college financial aid informational
sessions, i.e College Goal Sundays
• Understand the difference between
grant, subsidized loan and unsubsidized loan

11. FAFSA
• FCCS coordinated a “FAFSA DAY”
• First come, first serve!
• Independent Student
• PIN, make sure youth remember this
• Remember to collect personal financial and tax
information
• If youth is going to file taxes for previous year,
this must be complete before completing the
FAFSA
• EFC or Expected Family Contribution = $0

12. Senior Year: Spring (Mar-Apr)
• Look for college acceptance letters, share your success
with guidance counselors, teachers, emancipation
worker and college bound mentor
• Review financial aid award letter with emancipation
worker and college bound mentor
• Finalize your college choice
• Return acceptance forms for admission and financial
aid
• Submit appropriate fees to the college you plan to
attend (i.e. enrollment fee, housing deposit fee)
• Be sure to accept financial aid

13. Senior Year: Late Spring (May)
• Complete follow-up paperwork for your
college, such as scheduling an orientation
session, housing selection and
deposit, medical exam, immunizations, etc.
• Notify your high school guidance counselor
about your college choice and request a final
transcript be sent to the college in June

14. Senior Year: Summer
• Receive and review information on the
orientation session, scheduling and housing from
your college
• Option to decline college health insurance, why?
– Emancipating foster youth are eligible to receive
Medicaid until 21 years old.
• Write thank you notes to all those who wrote
recommendation letters for you and other
awesome supporters!
• Complete ETV or Education Training Voucher
application on or after July 1st

15. Senior Year: ETV
• ETV provides up to $5000 per academic year for
college and vocational training
• Eligibility:
– Were in foster care on your 18th birthday and aged our
– Your foster care case will be closed between the ages
of 18 and 21
– Your were adopted from foster care with adoption
finalization AFTER your 16th birthday
• Website: www.statevoucher.org

16. Youth Perspective:
Rayshawn, Central State University
• How did your adult supporters help you
prepare to attend Central State?
• Knowing what you know now, is there
anything to prepare for college that you would
have done differently?
• What mistakes have you seen your peers
make in this process?
• What kind of support system do you have
now?

17. Keep in Mind…
• Start having conversations with youth as early
as possible
• Never say never to your youth
• Know that you make a difference
• Research programs at colleges to help expose
youth to higher education
• Ohio = 120 colleges and universities!
Possibilities are endless!

18. THANK YOU!!!!
Questions or Comments?