TWU foster youth support program inspires statewide expansion

June 30, 2025 ― DENTON ― The success of a Texas Woman’s University program aimed at helping former foster care youth attain college degrees has spurred the creation of a statewide hub to help foster care youth navigate the college-going process.

The Foster Care Alumni Success (FCAS) Center was authorized by the Texas Legislature this month and will fund measures to help foster care youth, including enrollment assistance at the college of their choice and a hotline to provide guidance and referrals to start the college-navigating process.

Additionally, the center will provide training to high school counselors to improve their ability to identify and support high school foster youth.

“We know youth and adults with the lived experience of foster care generally have greater support needs when it comes to navigating their way into and through college,” said Amy O’Keefe, TWU’s executive director for CARE, which oversees the university’s FAST Academy, a summer bridge program that helps former foster care youth get a boost into their college-going experience. “The FAST Academy and the FCAS Center will provide extraordinary support to these students, giving them the best chances for college success.”

The FAST Academy, a project within the university’s Frontiers Program, has helped more than 48 students over the past two years get a leg up on their college journey. In addition to helping students better adjust to college life, the academy allows participants to earn up to six hours of college credit that can be applied to any college in Texas.

It was the success of the FAST Academy program that convinced lawmakers of the need to create the resource hub. They recognized other obstacles existed in trying to prepare foster care youth for college, namely, identifying prospective students and preparing them for college while they still are in high school.

Legislators approved $1.4 million in annual funding to continue operating the FAST Academy as well as $1.6 million to launch the FCAS Center.

“We believe these efforts will make significant gains in college readiness for foster care youth as well as for those who have placed out of foster care,” TWU Chancellor Carine Feyten said. “We’d like to thank the governor’s office, legislative leadership in the Texas House and Senate and specifically Senators Brent Hagenbuch and Angela Paxton for their support in backing this effort.”

Page last updated 4:27 PM, July 1, 2025