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Sunday, April 14, 2019

MITCHELL, CARBAJAL, BACON INTRODUCE BILL TO HELP EDUCATE HOMELESS AND FOSTER YOUTH

by: Paul Mitchell (R MI, 10th)

Washington, D.C. - April 12, 2019 - (Ponder America's Homeless) -- Congressmen Paul Mitchell (R-Mich.), Salud Carbajal (D-CA), and Don Bacon (R-NE) introduced the Removing Barriers to Foster Youth Success in College Act, which revises certain federal TRIO policies and practices to remove barriers to participation for homeless youth, and students in foster care. Federal TRIO programs are outreach and student service programs designed to identify and aid individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds.

“We have a moral imperative to helps students from disadvantaged backgrounds. My bill ensures that students experiencing homelessness or in the foster care system have better access to federal TRIO programs designed to help high school students entering college,” said Mitchell. “The numbers clearly show that these students, who overwhelmingly want to obtain an education, are not receiving the support they need to achieve their goal. My bill will remove barriers to participation for disadvantaged students trying to access these TRIO programs, allowing them to fulfill their potential.”

“As a first-generation college student, I’ve experienced how daunting a college campus can feel when most of your peers have spent years in college-preparatory classes or advanced summer school courses,” said Carbajal. “TRIO programs are critical to providing children from underserved communities the tools they need to succeed while pursuing a higher education degree. I’m glad to join Congressman Mitchell to improve our outreach programs for homeless children and youth in foster care.”

“Every child deserves the same sense of promise and possibility as any other youth regardless of their circumstances. We owe it to our nation’s foster youth to give them the tools to succeed when they become adults. When I was growing up, I know that most young kids in my community needed help when they turned 18 – including me. That is why I am glad to support and co-lead this important legislation aimed at helping young men and women transition out of the foster care system and into careers and family lives of their own,” said Bacon.

Background:

TRIO Programs are federal outreach and student services programs funded by grants administered by the U.S. Department of Education that are designed to identify and provide services for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds (low-income individuals, first-generation college students, and people with disabilities).

  • Talent Search is designed to identify qualified youths with college potential and encourage them to finish high school and go to college, publicize the availability of, and facilitate the application for, student financial assistance, and encourage persons who have not finished high school or college to do so.
  • Upward Bound is designed to generate the skills and motivation necessary for success in education beyond secondary school.


  • Specifically:

    The bill adds application requirements to ‘Talent Search’ and ‘Upward Bound’ programs, requiring projects to—

    •Review and revise policies and practices to remove barriers to the participation and retention of homeless and foster youth;
    •Submit a description of the activities that will be undertaken to outreach to homeless and foster youth; and
    •Submit a report of any strategies or program enhancements that were used that were effective in meeting the needs of homeless and foster youth.

    This bill also requires relevant TRIO program recipients prepare and submit a report on the program’s enhancement effectiveness to the Secretary and subsequently, the Secretary must to prepare and present a report to Congress on the information found.

    TO READ THE TEXT OF THE REMOVING BARRIERS TO FOSTER YOUTH SUCCESS IN COLLEGE ACT, CLICK HERE.

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