The University of Georgia is leading a statewide network that has received a significant financial boost to enhance educational outcomes for young individuals who have gone through foster care and/or homelessness.
Embark Georgia has been granted an additional $1.1 million from the Joseph B. Whitehead Foundation’s Child Well-Being Fund to further enhance and broaden the organization’s initiatives throughout Georgia. This substantial contribution builds upon the foundation’s previous generous donation of $750,000 to Embark Georgia in 2022.
According to Jennifer Frum, the vice president for public service and outreach at UGA, young people who have been in foster care encounter challenges in pursuing higher education, which can limit their prospects for economic and career success. She expressed her gratitude to the Joseph B. Whitehead Foundation for their generous support in UGA’s efforts to tackle this pressing issue and improve the quality of life for all youth in the state.
Embark Georgia, a program initiated in 2012 and overseen by the UGA J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development, has collaborated with various agencies throughout Georgia to enhance the opportunities for higher education and support the academic progression of young individuals who have encountered foster care or homelessness.
Every campus in the University System of Georgia and Technical College System of Georgia has a staff member assigned as a point of contact. These individuals play a crucial role in identifying and providing resources to students who have faced homelessness or come from foster care backgrounds. Embark Georgia is an organization that supports these professionals by offering training opportunities and helping them enhance their campus capacity.
David Meyers, a public service faculty member at the UGA Fanning Institute and co-network director of Embark Georgia, acknowledges that students who have gone through foster care or homelessness are particularly vulnerable economically. He expresses gratitude for the significant investment made in Embark Georgia, emphasizing the positive impact it will have on both the state and the young individuals affected.
The latest round of funding will enable Embark Georgia to continue and enhance its leadership training program for designated points of contact who assist students on their campuses. Moreover, it will provide support to network institutions by offering mini-grants through a formal application process. This funding builds upon the foundation’s previous gift, further strengthening Embark’s efforts in serving students across the state.
The funding will also provide support for summer programs on campus at UGA and other locations, aimed at helping youth in foster care develop their personal leadership skills, gain valuable knowledge on college preparation, understand the college application process, and explore new opportunities.
Embark Georgia will collaborate with a handpicked cohort of students from those summer programs to offer them extra leadership training and support for college access throughout the academic year.
According to Meyers, the summer precollegiate programs have proven to enhance the participants’ interest in postsecondary education and boost their self-confidence to pursue the opportunities available to them. Meyers believes that by increasing their involvement, they will be better equipped to provide additional support to these students, thus increasing their chances of achieving success.
The funding will finally provide support for increased research efforts at UGA regarding the work of Embark Georgia. Additionally, it will also support research initiatives conducted at other USG campuses and nationwide.
Lori Tiller, a public service faculty member at UGA’s Fanning Institute and co-network director of Embark Georgia, emphasized the need for increased resources in research and information dissemination. This, she believes, will not only showcase the initiative’s impact on students who have experienced foster care or homelessness but also establish UGA, USG, and Embark Georgia as leaders in this field.
