Pathways to Success: A Systematic Review of Pre-college Programs for Foster Youth
摘要
While postsecondary educational outcomes and college support for youth in foster care have been the subject of systematic reviews, there are no systematic reviews that examine the outcomes of participating in pre-college programs tailored specifically for youth with lived experience in foster care. This review addresses this significant gap by examining peer-reviewed studies published until 2023 and relevant grey literature. Following the PRISMA methodology, we identified six peer-reviewed articles and six grey literature reports that met inclusion criteria. Results show pre-college programs vary in duration, from one-day events to two-year events and are primarily held on college campuses with many employing former youth in foster care as mentors. Findings suggest these programs enhance college preparedness, attendance, and retention while increasing self-efficacy. Despite these positive short-term outcomes, long-term degree attainment remains challenging. To improve college access for youth in foster care, there is a need to conduct further methodologically rigorous research of pre-college programs across diverse higher education institutions.