Academic Resilience Among Black Male College Students Formerly in Foster Care: Implications for School Counselors

Abstract

Drawing on qualitative data collected through in-depth interviews with 11 academically successful Black male college students formerly in foster care, the purpose of this study was to explore and identify protective factors that have contributed to their academic resilience. More specifically, this study sought to identify the environmental resources and supports that have helped mitigate against school failure and enabled educational success. The two major findings relate to the role and importance of having an extensive support network and the significance of participating in independent living programs, which served as protective factors for participants in this study. This article presents implications for school counseling practice.

Group Counseling for Black Male Students: A Strengths-Based Approach

“…However, Black male students continue to be resilient and persistent in their educational pursuits, especially when they feel affirmed and encouraged (Brooms, 2021). Johnson (2021) discussed the impact of support networks on the resiliency and success of Black males formerly in foster care. These students felt empowered to advance their educational aspirations as a result of exposure to strengths-based supports.…”

“…The Professional School Counseling journal also released a special issue focused on supporting males of color that included 14 articles specific to Black male students. Researchers provided outcomes, insight, and strategies for social justice advocacy, to foster resilience, and to promote wellness for Black male students (Johnson, 2021; Minor et al, 2021; Thomas et al, 2021). Despite this, many school counselors report the need for more training and strategies to support them in this work (ASCA, 2022b).…”

A Review of Foster Care in Professional Counseling Journals: A 31-Year Content Analysis

“…A review of counseling literature over the past five years suggests a broad range of foster care topics, including school counseling (Brinser & Wissel, 2020), college and career readiness (Stevenson, 2017;Williams et al, 2018), trauma treatment (Wymer & Ryan, 2019), resilience (Johnson, 2021), post-adoptive counseling (Lancaster et al, 2017), and counseling LGBTQ clients who were involved in foster care (Beck et al, 2018). The number of publications to assist current professional counselors, school counselors, and counselor educators is scant and lacks depth.…”

“…Individuals placed in the foster care system may present in a counseling setting with numerous areas for exploration due to various placements and unique challenges. Issues include completing high school and college (Kirk et al, 2013; Unrau et al, 2012), having basic necessities for living (Pecora et al, 2006), early pregnancy, issues maintaining housing, legal issues (Courtney et al, 2001; Dworsky & Courtney, 2009; Loman & Seigel, 2000; Reilly, 2003), trauma, abuse, loss, and neglect (Brinser & Wissel, 2020). These issues, along with others, should be considered within the context of the complexities of the foster care system in order to provide ethical and comprehensive counseling.…”

Tuition Iisn't their only bill: an exploration of holistic approaches to address college readiness in public and urban higher education institutions

“…Low-income, Black and Latino students are less likely to receive accurate information and guidance about the financial realities of higher education, because they attend high schools that have higher counselor to student ratios, and the counselors are not informed about the college process (George-Jackson & Gast, 2015). Students of color tend to be more concentrated in low-income neighborhoods in which fewer resources are available to prepare the students for higher education (Johnson, 2017;Drake, 2019). According to the U.S Census Bureau, the highest poverty rates are among Black, Hispanic, and Asian children (Johnson, 2017).…”