Need help? Start on our program sites:
Great opportunities await through the University of Wisconsin Fostering Success Programs. These programs support and empower students who have experienced foster care, homelessness, or are wards of the court as they pursue higher education.
As parents, caregivers, or guardians, you play a key role in the lives of the young people in your care. You understand the challenges they face. As they approach college, you may wonder what support systems can help them succeed.
The Fostering Success programs recognize the potential in these students. They are dedicated to providing individualized guidance and resources to help them thrive in this next stage of education.
Does the child in your care meet one or more of the following criteria? If so, they may be eligible for the Fostering Success Programs.
- Were in foster care or a ward of the court after age 13
- Are in permanent legal guardianship (court-appointed, not with a parent)
- Are emancipated minors
- Were orphaned and never adopted
- Have parents who are both currently incarcerated
- Are unaccompanied and homeless, or self-supporting and at risk of homelessness
Some of the benefits of the program include:
- Recruitment and Admissions Support: They help identify eligible students, coach them through applications, and offer campus tours to clarify the path to college.
- Academic Support: Students receive personalized advising, tutoring, peer mentoring, and workshops on time management and note-taking.
- Financial Assistance: The program provides scholarships, emergency funds, FAFSA help, and access to state benefits like BadgerCare Plus and FoodShare.
- Basic Needs Resources: They address essential needs with food pantries, supply closets, seasonal housing support, and emergency grants for unexpected expenses.
- Community Building & Personal Development: First-year orientation, social events, life skills workshops, and health services foster belonging and prepare students for independent living.
- Career & Graduate School Preparation: Students receive career advising, interview prep, and access to mentor programs to prepare for life after graduation.
Please share this information with the young people in your care who may be considering higher education. Knowing that support like this is available can help motivate future students, as well as provide a feeling of security as they begin their college journey.
For details about programs at individual UW campuses (like UW-Eau Claire, UW-Green Bay, UW-La Crosse, UW-Milwaukee, UW-Parkside, UW-Platteville, UW-River Falls, UW-Stevens Point, UW-Stout, and UW-Whitewater), visit the University of Wisconsin Fostering Success website.
Recommended Resources
Additional Resources