FOSTER CARE AGENCY PSI FAMILY SERVICES II
GOES THE EXTRA MILE WHEN IT COMES TO PROMOTING ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT FOR FOSTER CHILDREN

PSI Creates Unique Staff Position of Educational Liaison
PHILADELPHIA, February 2003
Reversing a negative trend is not easy, especially when it runs rampant nationwide. That is certainly the case when it comes to foster children, the group of kids least likely to complete school and reach their full academic potential. But to leading Philadelphia foster care agency, PSI Family Services, II, bucking this trend is feasible by devoting resources and making it a priority.

For example, PSI has gone above and beyond the typical academic cheerleading by creating the position of Educational Liaison. In September 2002, Patience Lee, a PSI caseworker with an exceptional record, was selected to take on this unique role. Now, on a day to day basis, Lee, who is also pursuing a doctoral degree in Counseling Psychology, is charged with the mission of making sure that PSI’s foster children are receiving the academic support and direction that they deserve.

“Foster children tend to slip through the cracks of our educational system because they are subjected to so much moving around,” said John Sandy, Executive Director of PSI Family Services, II. “With the absence of that parent figurehead, there is no one person keeping that keen eye on schooling. That is why PSI has invested in an Educational Liaison, a full-time professional committed to guiding these kids along the proper academic path.”

Ms. Lee’s objectives in her role as Educational Liaison vary depending on the various age groups. But while the specifics might change for adolescents or pre-school children versus the gifted or those requiring special education, there are overall program goals including :

• To ensure that all PSI foster children are enrolled in school;
• To conduct surrogate parent training so that foster parents are able to represent the child’s best interests before the Board of Education;
• To conduct special educational activities for adolescents in order to encourage college enrollment;
• To find after-school enrichment activities in the home and community in order to bolster formal academic efforts;
• To maintain close contact with the Philadelphia Board of Education and local colleges as the representative of PSI;
• To help locate financial aid for foster children wishing to attend college through programs like work study, Pell grants, guaranteed student loans and state grants; and
• To develop and maintain a resource library for case managers and foster parents that provides information on educational issues such as financial aid, after-school programs, and special tutorial or enrichment programs.

The benefits of assigning an Educational Liaison are already evident. Last year, Ms. Lee organized a trip to the Philadelphia Convention Center in order for a group of 20 PSI foster children to participate in National College Day.

“This was much more than an on the bus – off the bus type of day,” said Ms. Lee. “We actually prepared for National College Day in advance by studying up on some of the more important issues. When these kids arrived at the event, they really knew what to look for. Then there was the follow-up, the most satisfying of all. Many of the children actually completed college applications. That’s what my position is all about.”

Typically, Ms. Lee is kept very busy. She distributes monthly calendars on educational activities and deadlines for registration. She also supplies PSI’s Resource Room with financial aid applications, tutorial programs, and educational opportunities for gifted and talented children. In addition, Ms. Lee conducts PSI Parent Surrogate Training throughout the year that helps qualify foster parents to make crucial educational decisions about special educational services.

Outside of PSI meetings, Ms. Lee also works closely with some of the foster parents as she conducts parent surrogate training. In addition, she visits community centers, colleges and the Board of Education to establish working relationships and obtain information for case managers.  She attends school conferences with PSI case managers as the educational expert.  She also identifies gifted and talented children who qualify for enrichment and then enrolls them in appropriate programs.

Other Unique Academic Incentives:
PSI finds ways to encourage all of their students to excel. For one, PSI gives each foster child $1.00 for every A or B grade in academic subjects on their report cards. “This is avery effective way for PSI to encourage and reward our foster children for remaining in school and studying,” said Sandy.

Also, each June, PSI holds a special graduation celebration for its foster children. The grand ceremony is attended by family, foster parents, and friends. This massive celebration starts with dinner, and then moves to entertainment, with the grand finale being the graduation march. “It is this feeling of accomplishment and pride that we count on to keep these children attuned to the importance of education,” said Sandy.

PSI also provides educational resources for its foster children. Its independent Living Center is open to adolescents, 13 years and older, as well as their foster and biological parents. This resource room is filled with information about job preparation, money management, nutrition, health and emotional well-being. For teen parents, the Independent Living Center also offers easy-to-understand and practical material on parenting, self esteem, birth control and risky sexual conduct.

“We want to help teen parents in our foster care program to delay that second pregnancy,” explains Lola Olaniyan, PSI Independent Living Coordinator. “We all know that if a teen has a second child, the future for both the teen parent and her children looks very bleak.”