Abstract
Former foster youth are at risk for poor outcomes including higher rates of homelessness, being on public assistance, teen pregnancy and low educational attainment (Berzin, 2008). Minnesota's Education and Training Vouchers (ETV) program is designed to assist foster youth in paying for college. The purpose of this study was to figure out what characteristics, connections and supports were common among foster youth who participated in the ETV program, what the impact and efficacy of the ETV program was in Minnesota and what the postsecondary educational experiences were of youth receiving (or having received) the ETV. This study used an online survey to collect data on the experiences of youth in the ETV program. It was discovered that participants who were involved in the ETV program had educational stability, relational permanency, access to financial resources to assist in paying for college and were highly motivated, supported and resilient. By focusing on what these foster youth have in common, it makes it possible to replicate these characteristics in order to assist other foster youth in achieving success.