HESC is Partnering to Help Foster Kids Head To College

Joe Gorman

For the several years, HESC has targeted foster care professionals in New York, providing information and conducting regional training about ways to finance a college education.

In 2008, at the urging of Commissioner Gladys Carrion, OCFS (Office of Children and Family Services) asked HESC to participate in their first statewide training effort, known as OCFS “Education Forums”. These forums included speakers from the Orphan Foundation of America, HESC, local colleges, and others. (click on flyer from last year.)

For 2009, Joseph Gorman of HESC was asked to join OCFS’ Education Committee. This multi-agency group is actively planning the 2009 Education Forums. OCFS has committed to holding six regional education forums around the state. The theme for the forums is “From the Classroom to Careers,” with their primary focus on career training.

In support of its activities with OCFS, HESC has partnered with financial aid representatives from the various regions to provide more in depth information to foster care professionals. In encouraging these two groups to work together, two goals are accomplished. First, foster care counselors get critical information they need to know to help kids in care and, second, relationships are established between counselors and college financial aid experts that can help more students coming out of foster care attend and be successful in college.