FosterEd, A Compassionate Education Initiative in Arizona
Our FosterEd initiative in Arizona envisions a future in which each every child involved in the child welfare system is able to graduate from high school with the widest array of possibilities for their future.
Resources for Champions, Families, Social Workers and Educators to Support Students In Foster Care in Education
- Education Champion Guidebook
- This resource serves as an “onboarding manual” of sorts for anyone new to supporting youth experiencing foster care with their education. Our team has taken our very own training manual and turned it into something that anyone can utilize in support of youth in care.
- FosterEd Toolkit
- A comprehensive compendium of laws, policies and guidance for educators, social workers and other advocates working to support the educational success for young people in foster care.
- Action Steps for Allies of Students Experiencing Foster Care
- This easy-to-read and downloadable guide is based on the most frequently asked questions our team receives from the public and from the Department of Child Safety.
- Factsheet: School Discipline & Students Experiencing Foster Care
- A factsheet on codes of conduct and discipline practices in Arizona schools and how they impact students in foster care.
- Factsheet: Arizona Schools and Choosing the Right Fit for Youth Experiencing Foster Care
- A factsheet on Arizona's "types" of schools and how to find the right fit for youth in foster care.
- Factsheet: Education & Foster Care 101
- A two-page factsheet containing must-know baseline information for supporting the educational needs of youth in foster care.
- Presentation: Education 101 for Youth Experiencing Foster Care
- A template presentation deck for professionals and advocates for use in training others in the key laws, practices and resources most critical for supporting the educational needs of youth in foster care.
- Resource List
- A resource list for students, parents, social workers, education professionals, and advocates working to support young people in foster care on their educational journeys.
About FosterEd's Work in Arizona
FosterEd Education Liaisons worked with students in foster care and their caregivers in Arizona to ensure the youth had:
- Education champions – preferably caregivers – who are supported, informed, knowledgeable, empowered, and active in support of their student’s education.
- A well-coordinated team of professionals across multiple systems working in concert with each student’s family and support network; and,
- An education plan that is centered around their strengths, needs, and goals for the future.
FosterEd has been committed to a rigorous monitoring, evaluation and learning framework, resulting in several large-scale reports to assist in understanding the impact of the work, progress made and lessons learned. Here are some of those reports featured:
- FosterEd Cumulative Progress & Impact Report 2025
- A report highlighting the cumulative progress and impact of FosterEd in Arizona since statewide expansion launched in 2017.
- Co-Location Evaluation Report 2024
- A qualitative evaluation to understand the impact of FosterEd staff operating in co-located settings within DCS offices across Arizona.
- Youth Survey Qualitative Report 2023
- A survey of youth experiences of FosterEd from the student perspective.
- Research Paper: Arizona Statewide Foster Youth Education Outcomes 2022
- A statewide research report reviewing education outcomes for youth in care across the state.
- Qualitative Evaluation Report 2021
- Understanding the impact of FosterEd in Arizona from the perspective of students and stakeholders.
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