Improving the postsecondary educational outcomes of young people in extended foster care: an evaluation of the effects of My First Place

Amy Dworsky; Amanda M. Griffin

doi:10.7179/PSRI_2026.48.04

Autores/as

Amy Dworsky Chapin Hall https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6538-8550
Amanda M. Griffin Chapin Hall https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5971-5954

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7179/PSRI_2026.48.04

Palabras clave:

Acogimiento familiar prolongado, logros educativos postsecundarios, resultados educativos postsecundarios

Resumen

Las personas jóvenes en acogida temporal siguen estando por detrás de sus compañeros en lo que respecta al nivel educativo postsecundario. Este estudio examina si la participación en un programa de educación y empleo que proporciona alojamiento totalmente subvencionado a jóvenes que se encuentran actualmente o se han encontrado anteriormente en acogida temporal prolongada está relacionada con mejores resultados educativos postsecundarios (es decir, matriculación universitaria, finalización de semestres y obtención de títulos). El estudio compara los resultados educativos postsecundarios de los jóvenes que participaron en el programa con los resultados educativos postsecundarios de una muestra emparejada por puntuación de propensión de jóvenes que eran elegibles para el programa, pero no participaron, utilizando datos del programa y datos del National Student Clearinghouse. La participación en el MFP aumentó el riesgo de matricularse en la universidad en un 32 por ciento y el riesgo de completar un semestre en un 39 por ciento. Sin embargo, la participación en el MFP no tuvo ningún efecto sobre el riesgo de obtener un título. Los resultados contribuyen a la base empírica de las intervenciones que mejoran los resultados educativos postsecundarios de los jóvenes que salen del acogimiento familiar prolongado.

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Biografía del autor/a

Amy Dworsky, Chapin Hall

Is a Senior Research Fellow at Chapin Hall. She manages a portfolio of policy-relevant research that cuts across multiple domains including child welfare, adolescent sexual and reproductive health, youth and family homelessness, and home visiting. She is a nationally recognized expert on youth transitioning out of foster care, youth in foster care who are pregnant or parenting, and the nexus between homelessness and child welfare system involvement. Dworsky has experience using both quantitative and qualitative research methods, analyzing administrative data, leading formative evaluations, and partnering with public agencies and nonprofit organizations to conduct policy and practice-relevant research. Dr. Dworsky has a Ph.D. in social welfare from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, a Master of Social Work from Syracuse University, and a Bachelor of Arts from Williams College.

Amanda M. Griffin, Chapin Hall

Is a Researcher at Chapin Hall. Her work focuses on addressing social inequities faced by youth who have experienced homelessness or been involved with the child welfare or juvenile justice system. She collaborates closely with community partners to ensure that young people’s experiences inform the design, implementation, and evaluation of programs that serve them. Dr. Griffin has led and co-led mixed-methods evaluations of direct cash transfer programs for young adults experiencing homelessness in New York City and San Francisco. She also translates adolescent sexual and reproductive health research into actionable insights for youth-serving professionals. Dr. Griffin has a Ph.D. in human development and family studies from Penn State, a Master’s degree in human development and family studies from Penn State, and a Bachelor of Science from Virginia Tech.

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