| The purpose of this thesis project was to develop and fund a scholarship program that provides comprehensive financial and social supports for current and former youth in foster care to be able to successfully complete postsecondary education. An exhaustive literature review was conducted to understand the needs of youth in foster care and how their functioning post-emancipation might be improved. Information and current needs were also gathered from existing scholarship programs operating in California, notably the Guardian Scholarship Program. The Mark S. Taper Foundation was selected as the funder for this project.;The proposed program, Dare to Dream, will work collaboratively with California State University, Long Beach, to provide current and former youth in foster care, ages 16-24 a supportive educational environment. The program will provide full tuition, housing, mental health services, mentoring and outreach for all participants. The actual funding and/or submission of this grant were not requirements for successful completion of this academic project. |
