College Transitions Framework

While California’s foster care system has made important strides in recent years for older youth, one area where it continues to struggle is post-secondary achievement. In recognition of this reality, the California legislature adopted Senate Bill 12 (SB 12), which went into effect January 1, 2018 and included a requirement of child welfare and juvenile probation agencies that the case plans of all foster youth aged 16 or older identify who will assist the youth with applications for college and financial aid. 

This College Transitions Framework is a practical guide for child welfare and juvenile probation agencies for how to implement the SB 12 requirement such that it has the maximum impact on foster youth educational outcomes. The guide additionally offers suggestions for how these agencies can adopt complementary college-going practices in addition to those required by SB 12 to transform practices even further to support college success outcomes among foster youth.