by Maddie Aiken | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
It took time for Briana Beach to build up the courage to talk about her housing insecurities when she started her higher education journey at Carlow University last year.
But slowly, Ms. Beach did gain that courage — and now, the sophomore psychology major is part of the Oakland university’s new Community Scholars Program, which provides resources, community and support to students who have experienced homelessness or foster care.
Ms. Beach is one of about 30 students in the program that officially launched this year after a pilot program in 2023-24.
“When you’re in front of brand new people, you don’t always want to share the most vulnerable parts of you,” Ms. Beach said. “But [Carlow] was very welcoming. … Having this program is a move toward more inclusivity.”
The program aims to address the challenges that foster care and homeless youth face as they graduate high school and consider secondary education. Just 3% of former foster care youth earn a four-year degree, and homeless youth are about 30% less likely to attend college than their housed classmates.
In Allegheny County, about 3,100 students face homelessness and roughly 1,300 children and teens are in the foster care system.
“We came across that disparity, and it was something that we obviously wanted to respond to,” said Mollie Cecere, Carlow’s vice president of enrollment management.
The Carlow Community Scholars Program is open to enrolled students who self-identify that they were in foster care or have experienced housing insecurities.
Through the program, students can access academic and hygienic resources like backpacks, laptops and toothpaste. They receive weekly coaching from Carlow staff and graduate students, who check in on the students’ grades, mental health and employment opportunities.
These students can also enjoy a physical gathering space on campus with comfy seats and a stocked fridge, said Susan Dawkins, the program’s director.
“We strive to create a welcoming environment,” Ms. Dawkins said. “For students who might have been displaced multiple times, it’s nice to have a space that’s rooted.”
Published 09/07/24