40°
The Westchester Institute for Human Development is at 20 Hospital Oval, West Valhalla. A college education is often unattainable for youths in foster care because of a lack of financial resources and the supports needed to navigate the complexities of higher education institutions. "For foster youth, school and education provide both consistency and the opportunity to succeed,” said Assemblywoman Shelley Mayer, D-Yonkers. “New York state needs to find ways to ensure our foster youth get the assistance they need so they can attend and graduate college, and have the chance to succeed and prosper in adulthood." At this event, current and former foster youths will talk about the challenges they faced in trying to get a college education as part of a statewide campaign to raise awareness of these issues. Experts and advocates will explain some of the barriers to college and what can be done about them. “These young people routinely face financial gaps of thousands of dollars in trying to pay for college,” said Westchester County Family Court Judge Kathie Davidson. “Very often they don’t have the support of a family to help them persevere, so I think it’s upon us to serve as their support.” This event is being sponsored by the Youth in Care Coalition, led by The Children’s Aid Society in conjunction with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Zeta Nu Omega Chapter, Family Ties of Westchester Inc., Westchester Institute for Human Development and Westchester Department of Community Mental Health. For additional information, call Anthony Ramos at 212-949-4938 or 917-204-8214, email anthonyr@childrensaidsociety.org or visit www.childrensaidsociety.org.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Mount Pleasant and receive free news updates.
