Educational Opportunities for Youth in Foster Care

描述（由申请人提供）：SBIR第一期-寄养青少年的中学后教育机会本项目将制作和试点使用多媒体综合信息系统（DVD和文本，CD Rom和web站点），专门针对寄养青少年及其照顾者/寄养父母提供规划，申请和支付中学后教育机会的可用机会。这个应用程序的重点是在他们的初中和高中（7 -12年级），并为这些青少年提供信息和资源，使他们能够使高等教育的机会成为现实。所编写的材料将促进青年本身以及为他们提供住所、建议和指导的成年人对中学后教育支持的宣传。将跟踪每一种媒体方法（DVD和文本、CD-Rom、互联网网站）的使用情况，并收集数据，以确定这些群体在各种环境（城市和农村）中访问和使用计算机、互联网和多媒体材料的能力。将收集数据，以协助确定利用最新的多媒体方法接触到各种各样的人口的可行性，这些人口进入这些技术入门门户的能力可能受到限制。在第一阶段将进行可行性研究，以试点测试一个多媒体包的原型，帮助寄养青少年及其照顾者在高中毕业后利用有关进入职业/大学课程（中学后教育机会）的信息。数据将收集目标群体的理解、能力和使用电脑、DVD和CD-Rom硬件和互联网的历史。早期获得信息和资源将有助于提高被寄养青年和他们周围的成年人的期望，即某种形式的中学后教育是可以实现的目标。被寄养的青少年离开照料后出现健康和心理健康问题的比率较高，这与他们的教育成果较低有关。寄养青年在接受照顾后向社区过渡比一般人群中从家中过渡的青年更困难。该项目旨在提高这些青年在过渡后以更健康的方式生存的机会。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): SBIR Phase I - Post Secondary Educational Opportunities for Youth in Foster Care This project will produce and pilot the use of a multimedia integrated informational system (DVD and text, CD Rom, and Web-based site) that specifically targets foster youths and their caregivers/foster parents regarding available opportunities for planning, applying, and paying for post secondary educational opportunities. This application is focused on foster youths in their middle and high school years (7th-12th grades) and providing those youths with information and resources that can enable them to make post secondary educational opportunities a reality. The materials developed will promote advocacy for post secondary educational support by youths themselves and the adults who shelter, advise, and mentor them. The use of each of the media approaches (DVD and text, CD-Rom, Internet Website) for reaching these target groups will be tracked and data gathered to determine the ability of these groups to access and use computers, the Internet, and multimedia materials in a range of settings (urban and rural). Data will be gathered to assist in determining the feasibility of using the latest multimedia approaches to reach a diverse population that might be limited in its ability to access the entry portals for these technologies. A feasibility study will be conducted during Phase I to pilot test a prototype multimedia package for preparing foster care youths and their caregivers to utilize information on accessing vocational/college programs after high school (post secondary educational opportunities). Data will be gathered on the target groups' understanding, ability, and history of accessing computers, DVD and CD-Rom hardware, and the Internet. Early access to information and resources will serve to raise expectations among foster youths and the adults surrounding them that some form of post secondary education is an achievable goal. The higher rate of health and mental health problems experienced by foster youths after they have left care has been correlated with low educational outcomes. Foster youths have greater difficulty transitioning to the community after care than youths transitioning from home in the general population. This project is intended to enhance these youths chances of surviving in a more healthy way after transition.