This is a story of triumph. Dominique Cleveland, now 19, escaped from an abusive mother, entered California's foster care system and still, against almost impossible odds, managed to become a successful college student.
How difficult were the odds Dominique faced? While 70 percent of foster youth express a desire to attend college, only 10 percent actually enroll, and only 4 percent earn a degree or certificate. In contrast, within a couple of years after aging out of the foster care system, 40 percent will experience homelessness, spend time in jail or become dependent on public assistance.
MiraCosta College faculty and staff are determined to change those odds, at least for the 100 former foster youth enrolled at the college, with support services designed to ease their pathway to academic achievement.
"I am the first person in my family to attend college and the first person in my family to have a job," says Dominique, who is now in her second year at MiraCosta College, and works in the college's Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS) office and has a paid internship with the county's Workforce Academy for Youth. "The staff and faculty at MiraCosta College have made sure that I don't get lost in the system. They have helped me when I didn't have food or even rent. They genuinely care about me?they have given me hope."
Dominique can attest to how difficult it is to break away from the past and start working toward a college degree. She shares that she and her brothers suffered constant verbal and physical abuse throughout childhood and into their teen years.
"My Mom put a pillow over my face and hit me," she said. "I managed to get away and jumped through a window. A neighbor called the police."
Shortly after, at age 16, Dominique landed at the Children's Shelter at Casa de Amparo, an organization with which MiraCosta College proudly partners. There, she reclaimed her self-esteem and finished high school. "When I graduated from high school, they had a big cake waiting for me and gifts like a suitcase I could use instead of the garbage bags I came with."
While many graduates rejoice over new computers, cars or gift cards, Dominique was very happy with her celebration and appreciated the suitcase for its practicality as well as significance: at age 18, foster youth age out of the system and are expected to live as independent adults.
Fortunately, a network of local organizations, which includes MiraCosta College, works to fill the void left by family dysfunction and assists former foster youth transition to self-reliance.
"I now have a nice apartment and food on the table," says Dominique. "I reflect every day and count my blessings. One day I hope to be a counselor and help others discover paths to new and better lives."
MiraCosta College is taking on the foster youth challenge through a multifaceted approach that combines counseling, skills coaching and networking. It is called Resources and Assistance for Former Foster Youth, or RAFFY, and it depends on community support. The program hosts a Foster Youth College Orientation Connection Day in which 100 students experience college for a day. They learn about vocational and academic courses, how to sharpen learning skills and about financial aid. Students are given an idea of how to plan a strategy that will lead to a degree or certificate or prepare them to transfer to a college or university offering a four-year degree.
Funding for the program is dependent on community support. The Leichtag Foundation has awarded the college a challenge grant for the program enabling all gifts for the program to be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $25,000. Gifts will be used to help these young adults achieve their dream of attending college and forge a better life through education.
To make a gift to help former foster youth in your community attend college, go to foundation.miracosta .edu. If you have questions about the program please contact Linda Fogerson, the college foundation's executive director, at 760-795-6775.
How difficult were the odds Dominique faced? While 70 percent of foster youth express a desire to attend college, only 10 percent actually enroll, and only 4 percent earn a degree or certificate. In contrast, within a couple of years after aging out of the foster care system, 40 percent will experience homelessness, spend time in jail or become dependent on public assistance.
MiraCosta College faculty and staff are determined to change those odds, at least for the 100 former foster youth enrolled at the college, with support services designed to ease their pathway to academic achievement.
"I am the first person in my family to attend college and the first person in my family to have a job," says Dominique, who is now in her second year at MiraCosta College, and works in the college's Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS) office and has a paid internship with the county's Workforce Academy for Youth. "The staff and faculty at MiraCosta College have made sure that I don't get lost in the system. They have helped me when I didn't have food or even rent. They genuinely care about me?they have given me hope."
Dominique can attest to how difficult it is to break away from the past and start working toward a college degree. She shares that she and her brothers suffered constant verbal and physical abuse throughout childhood and into their teen years.
"My Mom put a pillow over my face and hit me," she said. "I managed to get away and jumped through a window. A neighbor called the police."
Shortly after, at age 16, Dominique landed at the Children's Shelter at Casa de Amparo, an organization with which MiraCosta College proudly partners. There, she reclaimed her self-esteem and finished high school. "When I graduated from high school, they had a big cake waiting for me and gifts like a suitcase I could use instead of the garbage bags I came with."
While many graduates rejoice over new computers, cars or gift cards, Dominique was very happy with her celebration and appreciated the suitcase for its practicality as well as significance: at age 18, foster youth age out of the system and are expected to live as independent adults.
Fortunately, a network of local organizations, which includes MiraCosta College, works to fill the void left by family dysfunction and assists former foster youth transition to self-reliance.
"I now have a nice apartment and food on the table," says Dominique. "I reflect every day and count my blessings. One day I hope to be a counselor and help others discover paths to new and better lives."
MiraCosta College is taking on the foster youth challenge through a multifaceted approach that combines counseling, skills coaching and networking. It is called Resources and Assistance for Former Foster Youth, or RAFFY, and it depends on community support. The program hosts a Foster Youth College Orientation Connection Day in which 100 students experience college for a day. They learn about vocational and academic courses, how to sharpen learning skills and about financial aid. Students are given an idea of how to plan a strategy that will lead to a degree or certificate or prepare them to transfer to a college or university offering a four-year degree.
Funding for the program is dependent on community support. The Leichtag Foundation has awarded the college a challenge grant for the program enabling all gifts for the program to be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $25,000. Gifts will be used to help these young adults achieve their dream of attending college and forge a better life through education.
To make a gift to help former foster youth in your community attend college, go to foundation.miracosta .edu. If you have questions about the program please contact Linda Fogerson, the college foundation's executive director, at 760-795-6775.