NATIONAL RESOURCES

This page will highlight products and resources from our National Working Group on Foster Care and Education partners, as well as for other national organizations that have created helpful materials on this important topic.

Mythbusting: Breaking Down Confidentiality and Decision-Making Barriers to Meet the Education Needs of Children in Foster Care Author: Kathleen McNaught Description: Mythbusting is an online, searchable publication that addresses the issues surrounding confidentiality and other barriers that arise when advocating for the educational rights of young people in care.		Learning Curves: Education Advocacy for Children in Foster Care Authors: Kathleen McNaught and National Child Welfare Resource Center on Legal and Judicial Issues Description: This book addresses such topics as creative approaches to address education barriers for children in foster care and special education process—with practice tips, psychological tests, education advocacy resources, and excerpts from key federal laws and regulations.

A Roadmap for Learning: Improving Educational Outcomes in Foster Care

Authors: Casey Family Programs

Description: This framework provides a comprehensive set of strategies designed to improve education for children and youth in foster care. Its eleven key strategies include achieving placement stability and transfer of accurate records, ensuring youth are not only literate, but also prepared for post-secondary education, and promoting policies that support education.

Asking the Right Questions: A Judicial Checklist to Ensure that the Educational Needs of Children and Youth in Foster Care Are Being Addressed

Authors: National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges

Description: This checklist and accompanying technical assistance brief provide questions that should be asked in a courtroom with respect to the educational needs of children and youth in foster care.

Educational Advocacy Curriculum for Foster Parents

Authors: National Foster Parent Association

Description: This training encourages and prepares foster parents to become educational advocates for the foster children and youth in their care. It is designed for foster parents and social workers.

Education and Youth in Out-of-Home Care, an E-Learning Module

Authors: National CASA Association

Description: This e-learning curriculum is designed to help trained volunteer court-appointed special advocates, volunteer Guardian ad litmus, and program staff support the educational rights and needs of children and youth in foster care.

Click here to obtain access by contacting your local CASA or the National CASA Association or call (800) 628-3233.

Endless Dreams Education Attainment Video and Training

Authors: Casey Family Programs

Description: This comprehensive video and training curriculum, designed primarily for educators, increases awareness of the unique educational needs of youth in foster care. The video showcases the potential of schools to support and enrich the lives of children in care. Both advance the implementation of policies, procedures, and practices that improve educational success.
Learn more and obtain the video by visiting

It’s My Life: Postsecondary Education and Training Guide

Authors: Casey Family Programs

Description: This guide provides child welfare practitioners, educators, and advocates with practice approaches for improving college success for students in foster care.

Improving Educational Outcomes for Youth in Care:
A National Collaboration Background Paper

Authors: Child Welfare League of America

Description: Published in 2002 as part of the Improving Educational Outcomes for Youth in Care project, this monograph summarizes research findings about the academic achievement of youth in the custody of the child welfare system and the role of education in successful transitions to independence.

Improving Educational Outcomes for Youth in Care: Symposium Summary Report

Authors: Child Welfare League of America

Description: Published in 2002, this report summarizes the proceedings of a symposium convened by CWLA and NCJFCJ to initiate dialogue between the child welfare, judicial, and educational fields on how to support positive educational outcomes for youth in care. It includes promising programs and practices, survey result from field experts, and a national agenda discussion.

Make a Difference in a Child’s Life (Manual)

Authors: Casey Family Programs and TeamChild
Designed for Washington state.

Description: This manual provides guidance on teaching how to advocate for a youth’s education. It covers topics such as basic education rights, special education law, discipline, and resources for young people making the transition to adulthood. It is designed for Washington state.

Toolkit for Change

Authors: Casey Family Programs and TeamChild

Description: Created as an organizing tool to help support the movement to improve educational outcomes for youth, the toolkit enables states to adopt the Washington state Make a Difference in a Child’s Life manual to other jurisdictions

Click here to obtain the toolkit.

Addressing the Educational Needs of Children in Foster Care: A Guide for Judges, Advocates and Child Welfare Professionals

Author: New York State Permanent Judicial Commission on Justice for Children

Description: This booklet contains ten basic questions that everyone involved in foster care cases can ask to spotlight a child’s educational needs and integrate those needs with permanency planning and review. Each question is essential to ascertain the impact of foster care placement on a child’s school success and permanency, and to address gaps in educational services.