The College Choice program from ACS pays great dividends

Despite some of the challenges I’ve faced in my lifetime, including as a young person in foster care, I am proud to share that I’ve just received both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from CUNY’s John Jay College of Criminal Justice. This major accomplishment is thanks in part to New York City’s steadfast commitment to supporting youth in foster care.

As a young immigrant from Nigeria, adjusting to life in a brand new country was difficult, and my mother, sister, and I faced a lot of challenges. When I was 16-years-old I was placed in foster care. I didn’t know what my future held until, in 2017, my foster care agency case worker told me about a program that would provide me with year-round housing and academic supports if I attended a CUNY college.

Although the college application process sounded daunting, I was told that I’d have a coach supporting me every step of the way — including while at college so that I’d stay on track to graduate. The program offered a number of extra supports like coaching, tutoring, career counseling, and even a financial stipend.

Today, because of my hard work and this program offered by the NYC Administration for Children’s Services (ACS), my dream of pursuing immigration law is one step closer to becoming a reality. After earning an associate’s degree in criminal justice with honors, I went on to an accelerated baccalaureate/master’s degree at John Jay, a rigorous program that provides exceptional students the opportunity to complete two degrees in five years.

Maintaining the 3.5 GPA necessary for participating in the program was challenging, but my caseworker, coach, and stipends motivated me to be the best I could be. Since enrolling in college, I’ve opened my first bank account, moved into my own apartment, and I am now submitting applications for law school — all with the help and support of ACS and my case worker.

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Last year, ACS took its college assistance program a step further and created what is now referred to as College Choice. College Choice pays college tuition for all students in foster care no matter which school they attend; whether it’s private, public, a large university or a small liberal arts school, the financial support follows the student down whichever path they choose to go.

In addition, students receive a $60 daily stipend per year, including for up to six months after graduation (which will be incredibly helpful to me as I await law school acceptance letters). Today, approximately 300 youth in foster care are currently enrolled in the College Choice program. This support is in addition to the Fair Futures program, which provides hundreds of youth in foster care with dedicated coaches and tutors. ACS also recently extended this program so that youth like me can keep their coach until age 26, which will help me as I transition to law school.

What makes the College Choice program so unique is that it was created in response to direct feedback from young people. Youth with experience in foster care told ACS about the distinct challenges they faced in persisting in college, including the high cost of room and board as well as the incidental expenses that every student incurs day-to-day.

Now that I’ve seen firsthand how powerful youth-informed programs can be, I joined the ACS Youth Leadership Council, which provides a voice and platform for young people to participate in the planning, policy development, and decision-making that impacts us and our communities. Every year, we host the Annual Youth Summit to garner even more feedback from other young people and discuss topics like trauma-informed care and ways that foster care agency staff can best support us in achieving our goals.

As a new college grad looking towards the future, it is my hope that other cities across the country follow New York City’s lead so that more and more youth in foster care are provided with the tools they need to become successful, independent adults.

I believe I am a testament to the fact that wherever you come from, with the right resources and support, you can follow your dreams and become a healthy, thriving adult. As a Black woman, I know that my identity group is historically underrepresented in college. I am grateful that I live in a city that values the importance of investing in all young people and it is my hope that other jurisdictions see College Choice as the right choice when it comes to supporting youth in foster care.

Adebiyi graduated from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice on June 2.