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Research Reports

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2022

Commonly Attended Colleges

2022 Commonly attended colleges.jpg

Okpych, N. J., Courtney, M. E., & Park, S. (2022). Memo from CalYOUTH: Colleges that are most frequently attended by older youth in California foster care. Chicago, IL: Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago.

1-Sentence Summary

This report investigates the types of colleges that youth in California foster care most commonly attend and describes characteristics of those colleges (e.g., one-year retention rates). 

2021

Early Look: Predictors of College Degree Completion at Age 23

8.Okpych et al. (2021) Early look at predictors of degree completion at age 23_COVER.jpg

Okpych, N. J., & Park, S. (Ethan), Courtney, M. E., & Powers, J. (2021). Memo from CalYOUTH: An early look at predictors of college degree completion at age 23 for foster youth. Chicago, IL: Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago.

1-Sentence Summary

This report investigates several factors that are associated with the odds of college students who were in California foster care earning a 2-year or 4-year college degree by age 23.  

Impact of EFC on Youth Outcomes at Age 23

7. Courtney et al. (2021) Impact of EFC on youth outcomes at age 23_COVER.jpg

Courtney, M. E., Okpych, N. J., & Park S. (Ethan). (2021). Report from CalYOUTH: Findings on the relationships between extended foster care and youths' outcomes at age 23. Chicago, IL: Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago.

1-Sentence Summary

This report estimates the impact of the amount of time youth spent in extended foster care (EFC) in California on their age-23 outcomes, including high school/GED completion and postsecondary education outcomes (e.g., enrollment, number of semesters completed, degree completion).  

2019

Early Look: Impact of EFC on Postsecondary Education Enrollment & Persistence by Age 21

6. Okpych et al. (2019) EFC and college enrollment and persistence_COVER.jpg

Okpych, N. J., Park, S., & Courtney, M. E. (2019). Memo from CalYOUTH: Early findings on the impact of extended foster care on foster youths' postsecondary education enrollment and persistence. Chicago, IL: Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago.

1-Sentence Summary

This report estimates the impact of the amount of time youth spent in extended foster care (EFC) in California on their likelihood of enrolling in postsecondary education and persisting through their first year by age 21. 

Youth and Caseworker Views on Youths' Educational Preparedness

5. Torres-Garcia, Okpych, & Courtney (2019) Youth and worker views on ed preparedness_COVE

Torrés-Garcia, A., Okpych, N. J., & Courtney, M. E. (2019). Memo from CalYOUTH: Youths’ and child welfare workers’ perceptions of youths’ educational preparedness. Chicago, IL: Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago.

1-Sentence Summary

This report compares the perceptions of youth in California foster care and their child welfare workers on how prepared the youth is to pursue postsecondary education, and examines which perception is a stronger predictor of youths' likelihood of actually enrolling in postsecondary education. 

2018

Impact of EFC on Youth Outcomes at Age 21

4. Courtney et al. (2018) Impact of EFC on youth outcomes at age 21_COVER.jpg

Courtney, M. E., Okpych, N. J., Park, S. (2018). Report from CalYOUTH: Findings on the relationship between extended foster care and youth’s outcomes at age 21. Chicago, IL: Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago.

1-Sentence Summary

This report estimates the impact of the amount of time youth spent in extended foster care (EFC) in California on their age-21 outcomes, including high school/GED completion and postsecondary education outcomes (e.g., enrollment, persistence).  

2017

Predictors of Educational Outcomes at Age 19/20

3. Okpych et al. (2017) Predictors of education outcomes at age 20_COVER.jpg

Okpych, N. J., Courtney, M. E., & Dennis, K. (2017). Memo from CalYOUTH: Predictors of high school completion and college entry at ages 19/20. Chicago, IL: Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago.

1-Sentence Summary

This report  examines a variety of youth characteristics as potential predictors of their likelihood of finishing high school/GED and enrolling in college by age 19/20. 

Impact of EFC on Youth Outcomes at Age 19

2. Courtney & Okpych (2017) EFC and youth outcomes at age 19_COVER.jpg

Courtney, M. E. & Okpych, N. J. (2017). Memo from CalYOUTH: Early findings on the relationship between extended foster care and youths’ outcomes at age 19. Chicago, IL: Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago.

1-Sentence Summary

This report estimates the impact of the amount of time youth spent in extended foster care (EFC) in California on their age-19 outcomes, including high school/GED completion and postsecondary education enrollment.  

2015

Youths' Education Status and Services at Age 17

1. Okpych et al. (2015) Youth and caseworker perspectives on education_COVER.jpg

Okpych, N. J. and Courtney, M. E. (2015). Youth and caseworker perspectives on older adolescents in California foster care: Youths’ education status and services. Chicago: Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago.

1-Sentence Summary

This report  draws on data collected from 17-year-olds in California foster care and child welfare workers who serve older youth in care to investigate youths' educational status, attainment, preparedness, and receipt of education-related services.  

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