STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Youth in the foster care system had the opportunity to browse CUNY and SUNY colleges on Monday with the NYC’s Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) staff in an effort to experience a variety of career pathways and inspire them to further their education.
ACS is also offering internship programs that expose potential candidates for careers in public service.
The full-time positions offer $15 per hour for undergraduate students and $23 an hour for graduate students who also learn about other mentoring and college support programs, which include, the Year-Up Program, Foster Care Initiative, Youth Matter and ACS/CUNY Dorm Project.
Each program is designed to provide services for college-bound youth in foster care through peer-to-peer support, academic counseling, career development and housing assistance.
“ACS is committed to expanding opportunities for youth in foster care by putting them on a path to academic success and economic independence," ACS Commissioner David A. Hansell said.
“The Spring College Tour encourages youth in foster care to pursue a higher education by allowing them the opportunity to better visualize what it would be like to attend college,'' he said. “After sitting in college classrooms and walking around college campuses, it is our hope that youth will be encouraged to reach their full potential.”
This initiative seeks to increase college enrollment and graduation rates, especially among those who have limited educational resources.
In 2017, ACS launched a new program in partnership with First Star CUNY Staten Island that is designed to support a group of rising ninth-grade students successfully through high school to college, promoting educational and life skills.
Colleges on the tour included the Borough of Manhattan Community College, SUNY at Old Westbury, City College of New York and Rutgers University in Newark, N.J.