ALBION - Experts in higher education and foster care will be looking for solutions to provide former foster youths access to higher education at a Foster Care-Higher Education Summit later this week.

Department of Human Services Director Marianne Udow and Supreme Court Justice Maura Corrigan will provide the opening address April 19 at Starr Commonwealth in Albion. Director Udow and Justice Corrigan co-chaired a 45-member task force in 2006 charged with developing an action plan to address the needs of Michigan youths aging out of foster care.

"One of the key recommendations we hear from foster youths is the need for added support to pursue higher education," Udow said. "I'm very hopeful that, by working collaboratively, we can develop real solutions for foster youths. Advanced training and higher education helps them successfully transition to successful adults."

Last year, approximately 500 youths in Michigan left foster care, or "aged out" at age 18. According to national and state research, these young adults are at greater risk for poverty, homelessness, unemployment and other negative outcomes. A study of aging out foster youths by Wayne State University in 2006 indicated that only 25 percent of former foster youths reported attending higher education since leaving care. This is much lower than the national rate of 67 percent for young adults aged 18-24.

In 2005, the DHS' Foster Youth Advisory Board developed 15 recommendations the youths wanted addressed. Among these recommendations was a request for free tuition at any state college or community college. Acting on these recommendations, a 45-member task force developed a set of recommendations in 2006 to aid youths aging out of foster care obtain access to financial aid and other higher education resources.

The summit partners include the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Michigan, ConnectMichigan Alliance, Mentor Michigan, Michigan Campus Compact, the Michigan Community Service Commission, Michigan Nonprofit Association, the office of Justice Maura Corrigan, the Presidents Council of State Universities of Michigan, Starr Commonwealth and the state departments of Education and Human Services. For additional information, please contact Anita Peters at 517-241-6679.