College-bound Ohio foster youths face barriers accessing resources

Foster youths transitioning to adulthood are being left behind when it comes to college degree attainment and resources. New data from the Annie E. Casey Foundation shows that in 2021, 12% of youths with experience in foster care in Ohio were enrolled in college or technical school - and just 4% accessed financial assistance, far less than the national average. Director and chief of police at Wright State University Kurt Holden is a former foster youth. He said graduating college and receiving a master's degree was a difficult but rewarding journey - one he feels the state should help make easier for foster youths as soon as they start filling out Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) forms.