Youngstown State University has earned the Ohio Reach Postsecondary Designation for their efforts to support foster care-connected students. The designation was awarded by the Ohio Department of Higher Education and the Ohio Children’s Alliance. 

YSU’s Office of the Dean of Students received a $2,500 grant in conjunction with the designation, which recognizes its efforts to support students with experience in foster care or kinship.

The grant will fund the new YSU Fostering Penguins Program, which will provide a designation for foster-connected students to receive post-secondary support in a university setting. Fostering Penguins will guide this unique population of students through the tedious steps that are necessary throughout post-secondary education, thereby helping to eliminate anxiety and intimidation. The goal of Fostering Penguins will be to help each student identify those barriers and not give up on the process. The program will work using best practices to ensure students are connected to resources efficiently and effectively, allowing them a feeling of belonging.

To obtain the designation, campuses must meet “foster friendly” criteria, such as naming a designated campus liaison, champions across several departments, community-building opportunities, targeted outreach and staff training for working with alumni of foster care.