March 25, 2022: FYCSI 101 for NYS Legislators
During this session the Fostering Youth Success Alliance (FYSA) shared information with the NYS Legislature about how the Foster Youth College Success Initiative (FYCSI) supports young people with a foster care background in attending college and thriving while there. We also heard directly from some of our FYSA Youth Advocates about the impact of the initiative in their lives.
FYSA Testimony: February 10 2015 Higher Education Joint Hearing Budget Testimony
Highlight: Mayor de Blasio signs laws regarding data collection and reporting related to youth in care.
Bill Language: According to the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS), in Fiscal Year 2013, 1,078 youth aged 18 and older transitioned out of New York City’s foster care system. Numerous studies demonstrate that youth who age out of foster care tend to experience worse outcomes than their peers in a variety of critical areas such as education, employment, income security, housing, and criminal justice involvement. There has not been a comprehensive analysis of outcomes for foster youth in New York City to date. While ACS has begun collecting data about this population, these efforts are still in their nascent stages and there is no current mechanism for regular, public dissemination of this information. Such data would assist the Council and the public in evaluating how successful ACS is in fulfilling its mandate to adequately prepare youth who age out of foster care for stable and independent living, and in evaluating the need for policy changes.
Int. 0104-2014
Int. 0187-2014
Int. 0137-2014
FYSA Testimony: Oversight: Youth Aging Out of Foster Care – Int. 0187-2014, Int. 0104-2014, Int. 0137-2014. June 2014.
FYSA testified at the General Welfare Committee’s Oversight hearing on youth aging out of foster care on June 16, 2014. This hearing focused on the needs of youth in foster care and on three proposed local laws that would require the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) to report to the City Council on a variety of key indicators related to outcomes for youth in foster care.
Higher Education Access and Success for Homeless and Foster Youth Act: On Nov. 21, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA), and Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) introduced the Higher Education Access and Success for Homeless and Foster Youth Act. The legislation would remove some of the barriers to higher education faced by homeless and foster youth. The legislation which would change the Higher Education Act, due for reauthorization, by requiring colleges and universities to improve outreach, resources, and policies for homeless and at risk youth. Included would be changes that would affect housing options between terms, in-state tuition, and new staff requirements designated for homeless and foster youth outreach.
