Online Course Helps Resource Parents Support Youth in Preparing for Postsecondary Education

June 16, 2021

Eugene, OR — It has been proven time and again that achieving some form of postsecondary education, like graduating from a trade school or a 2- or 4-year college, is related to future well-being. Benefits include job stability, improved health, and, of course, increased earnings. Through no fault of their own, youth in care face unique challenges to obtaining a postsecondary education, with about 8% graduating from a 2- or 4-year college by age 26. A recently produced online course, Preparing Teens for Postsecondary Education, was specifically designed to help foster, kinship, and adoptive parents (also known as resource parents) provide an environment that helps prepare youth for success in higher education.

The production is a collaboration between John Burton Advocates for Youth (JBAY) and the training website FosterParentCollege.com. JBAY works to improve the lives of youth in California who have been in foster care or homeless by advocating for better laws, training communities to strengthen local practices, and conducting research to inform policy solutions. Foster Parent College specializes in interactive web-based training designed specifically for foster, adoptive, and kinship families.

This course is led by Jessica Petrass, LCSW, a Senior Project Manager for JBAY, and Theresa Reed, MEd, author, educator, and former foster youth herself. Together, they provide the information needed for resource parents to encourage youth to plan and prepare for higher education, including college, trade school, or apprenticeships.

“For youth to succeed in postsecondary education and become independent, they need encouragement and help preparing early on,” explains Ms. Reed. “We believe resource parents have the opportunity to provide this, and middle school—if possible—is a good time to begin.”

More than just a video, this interactive online training features six former foster youth who are currently succeeding (or have succeeded) in obtaining a postsecondary education. The youth provide wisdom throughout the course with their insights into their challenges and successes. The youth also provide parents with recommendations of what works.

This training helps resource parents inspire and encourage youth in grades 6 through 10 to plan for a career. It also helps parents understand the many postsecondary pathways that are available and the educational milestones they can help their youth achieve.

Co-written and produced by Foster Parent College, the course utilizes its innovative approach to adult online learning and joins over 70 other courses (in English and Spanish) on the FosterParentCollege.com website. The site is research based and used throughout the United States to provide both pre-service and in-service training for resource parents.

To watch a short preview of the course, Preparing Teens for Postsecondary Education, visit fosterparentcollege.com/course-info/college-readiness.