Abstract
This qualitative study explored the perspectives and perceived experiences of former foster care students enrolled in the Former Foster Care Support Program (FFCSP) at a predominantly Hispanic-serving, public, Research Tier 1 university in South Florida. The primary aim was to investigate the impact of participation in the FFCSP on students’ academic success, college persistence, and overall university experience. Eleven former foster youth participated in in-depth, semi-structured interviews, offering rich narratives about how the program shaped their educational trajectories.
Through thematic analysis, six major themes emerged that offer a nuanced understanding of the unique challenges, institutional support systems, and transformative moments former foster youth encounter in higher education. Based on this analysis, a theoretical model, Resilient Pathways to Academic Success: The Interplay of Support Systems, Personal Agency, and Socioeconomic Navigation for Former Foster Youth, was developed to illustrate the dynamic factors contributing to academic success and college persistence. This model highlights the vital role of comprehensive support structures in enabling foster youth to overcome systemic barriers and achieve success in college.