Great Expectations helps Virginia’s foster youth complete high school, access a community college education, and transition successfully from the foster care system to living independently.
The program was created in 2008 as a partnership between Virginia’s community colleges and philanthropists supporting the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education. Great Expectations’ mission is to help young people leaving foster care in Virginia receive the higher education they need to succeed in life. Virginia’s community colleges offer them a feasible path to a four-year degree, a wide range of general and technical two-year degrees, or other workforce credentials that give them skills employers value. Not surprisingly, 70 percent of foster youth who access higher education do so through community colleges.
Great Expectations coaches reach out to foster youth and alums in high school, helping them consider their career options and what community colleges offer. Together, they explore the young person’s skills, values, and interests and match them to higher education options. They help with college applications and assist young people through the financial aid maze.
Once a student has enrolled, coaches provide intensive “high touch” support to ensure these students’ success. This active support includes regular check-ins, curriculum advising, mentoring, tutoring, direct financial assistance in the case of emergencies, incentives for success, and peer connections through group activities.
Key components
- Individualized tutoring
- Help applying for college admission and financial aid
- Career exploration and coaching
- Help applying for and keeping a job
- Life skills training, including managing finances
- Personalized counseling
- Student mentors
The Campus Coaches also focus on ways to help these at-risk youth overcome well-documented barriers to their life success, including housing, transportation and medical and child care issues.
Eligibility Requirements
Students must be enrolled in at least six (6) credits to be eligible, meet satisfactory academic progress standards, and demonstrate financial need. Students receiving other assistance paying tuition and fees are ineligible for this additional grant.
Mission
To help Virginia’s foster youth complete high school, gain access to a community college education and transition successfully to living independently.
Vision
That all foster youth in Virginia obtain a post-secondary education and be successful and in both education and employment pursuits.
Goal
Have Great Expectations available and easily accessible for all of Virginia’s foster youth.
