The Hidden Crisis in Foster Care: Advocating for Educational Equity

Sharon Dunlevy is an educational advocate for children in foster care. It is her mission to bring the educational needs of children in foster care to the attention of those who can change policies and practices that would give more children in foster care the ability to succeed educationally, the foundation for their ability to succeed after leaving care. Her primary work includes training foster parents on the educational laws that affect children in foster care and how to use those laws to ensure these children graduate successfully. But Sharon is not just a trainer, she is also a speaker and influencer. She has recently participated in two speaking competitions with the intent of bringing attention to those needs, winning fan favorite in the second competition.Takeaways: The current foster care system inadequately supports half a million children, impacting their educational outcomes. Foster children often face significant challenges in graduating from high school or obtaining diplomas by age 18. Educational advocacy for foster children is crucial to breaking the cycle of trauma and lack of support. Understanding the laws surrounding education for foster children is imperative for foster parents to effectively advocate for their needs. The trauma experienced by foster children can severely hinder their self-esteem and ability to trust adults. Programs like the Family First Prevention Services Act provide essential resources to support youth transitioning out of foster care. Websitewww.sharondunlevy.comSocial Media Informationwww.linkedin.com/in/sharondunlevyShow Sponsor – National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)https://nape.org.uk/Discover more about Education on Fire🔥 https://www.educationonfire.com/🔥 Support the show with a One-Off Tiphttps://educationonfire.com/support🔥 Ecamm Free Trial – How I record and produce this show.https://educationonfire.com/ecamm🔥 Captivate.FM – My podcast hosthttps://educationonfire.com/captivate🔥 Descript – My Editing Toolhttps://educationonfire.com/descript🔥 London School of Public Relations – https://educationonfire.com/lsprA comprehensive 1-day CPD-accredited certificated Podcasting course.Some of the above are affiliate links, I may receive a small commission if you purchase via these but there is no cost increase to you. These links help support the channel so any clicks are greatly appreciated.