Article 2025

Post-Secondary Educational Aspirations Among Young Adults With Foster Care Experience: A Focus on Vocational Education

CM
Collins, Mary Elizabeth
 TH
Taussig, Heather N.
Child and Family Social Work
Journal
Abstract

Post-secondary educational outcomes for young people with care experience are poor. Studies have typically been limited to those who have aged out of care and have typically examined college/university attendance. Non-college educational options have potential for gaining credentials to secure productive employment, but these options have received less investigation. Using data from the Fostering Healthy Futures (FHF) study, which included a broader range of care-experienced young people (not just those who aged out), this study describes post-secondary educational aspirations and plans in young adulthood with a specific focus on vocational education. We provide descriptive findings on young adults' educational and career goals, plans for achieving those goals and intent to apply and attend post-secondary vocational education. Findings identify a range of planned paths, a significant percentage of which are vocationally focused, and the importance of work to many respondents. The findings offer implications for better supporting the care-experienced population in achieving their educational and career goals. © 2025 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Keywords

Author Keywords

Vocational education educational aspirations care-experienced young people post-secondary education transition age youth

Index Keywords

Employment adult female human male Article young adult Vocational education controlled study major clinical study aspiration foster care
Author Affiliations
Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
University of Denver, Denver, CO, United States, University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
Funding & Acknowledgements
Kempe Foundation
This project was supported in part by Grant # 2013\u2010VA\u2010CX0002 (H. Taussig, PI) funded by the National Institute of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, US Department of Justice. The project also received funding from the National Institute of Mental Health (K01 MH01972, R21 MH067618 and R01 MH076919, H. Taussig, PI), as well as from the Kempe Foundation, Pioneer Fund, Daniels Fund and Children's Hospital Research Institute. The opinions, charges and conclusions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Department of Justice or the National Institutes of Health. Funding:
National Institute of Justice, NIJOJP
This project was supported in part by Grant # 2013\u2010VA\u2010CX0002 (H. Taussig, PI) funded by the National Institute of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, US Department of Justice. The project also received funding from the National Institute of Mental Health (K01 MH01972, R21 MH067618 and R01 MH076919, H. Taussig, PI), as well as from the Kempe Foundation, Pioneer Fund, Daniels Fund and Children's Hospital Research Institute. The opinions, charges and conclusions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Department of Justice or the National Institutes of Health. Funding:
Children's Health Research Institute, CHRI
This project was supported in part by Grant # 2013\u2010VA\u2010CX0002 (H. Taussig, PI) funded by the National Institute of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, US Department of Justice. The project also received funding from the National Institute of Mental Health (K01 MH01972, R21 MH067618 and R01 MH076919, H. Taussig, PI), as well as from the Kempe Foundation, Pioneer Fund, Daniels Fund and Children's Hospital Research Institute. The opinions, charges and conclusions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Department of Justice or the National Institutes of Health. Funding:
Office of Justice Programs, OJP
This project was supported in part by Grant # 2013\u2010VA\u2010CX0002 (H. Taussig, PI) funded by the National Institute of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, US Department of Justice. The project also received funding from the National Institute of Mental Health (K01 MH01972, R21 MH067618 and R01 MH076919, H. Taussig, PI), as well as from the Kempe Foundation, Pioneer Fund, Daniels Fund and Children's Hospital Research Institute. The opinions, charges and conclusions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Department of Justice or the National Institutes of Health. Funding:
U.S. Department of Justice, USDOJ
This project was supported in part by Grant # 2013\u2010VA\u2010CX0002 (H. Taussig, PI) funded by the National Institute of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, US Department of Justice. The project also received funding from the National Institute of Mental Health (K01 MH01972, R21 MH067618 and R01 MH076919, H. Taussig, PI), as well as from the Kempe Foundation, Pioneer Fund, Daniels Fund and Children's Hospital Research Institute. The opinions, charges and conclusions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Department of Justice or the National Institutes of Health. Funding:
National Institute of Mental Health, NIMH
Grant: K01 MH01972, R21 MH067618, R01 MH076919
This project was supported in part by Grant # 2013\u2010VA\u2010CX0002 (H. Taussig, PI) funded by the National Institute of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, US Department of Justice. The project also received funding from the National Institute of Mental Health (K01 MH01972, R21 MH067618 and R01 MH076919, H. Taussig, PI), as well as from the Kempe Foundation, Pioneer Fund, Daniels Fund and Children's Hospital Research Institute. The opinions, charges and conclusions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Department of Justice or the National Institutes of Health. Funding:
National Institute of Mental Health, NIMH
This project was supported in part by Grant # 2013\u2010VA\u2010CX0002 (H. Taussig, PI) funded by the National Institute of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, US Department of Justice. The project also received funding from the National Institute of Mental Health (K01 MH01972, R21 MH067618 and R01 MH076919, H. Taussig, PI), as well as from the Kempe Foundation, Pioneer Fund, Daniels Fund and Children's Hospital Research Institute. The opinions, charges and conclusions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Department of Justice or the National Institutes of Health. Funding:
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