COLLEGE ACCESS ORGANIZATIONS & Y PARTNERS
CASEY FAMILY SERVICES
Casey Family Programs is the nation’s largest operating foundation focused entirely on foster care and improving the child welfare system. Founded in 1966, we work to provide and improve - and ultimately prevent the need for - foster care in the United States. As champions for change, we are committed to our 2020 Strategy for America’s Children – a goal to safely reduce the number of children in foster care and improve the lives of those who remain in care.
Since our founding in 1966, we have invested more than $1.6 billion in programs and services to benefit children and families in the child welfare system. Over the next decade, we will invest at least $1 billion more to fulfill the promise of our 2020 Strategy.
We have decades of front-line experience in foster care and are committed to helping states, counties and tribes implement effective child welfare practices. We provide nonpartisan research and technical expertise to child welfare system leaders, members of Congress and state legislators so they may craft laws and policies to better the lives of children in foster care, children at risk of entering the system and their families. The foundation, established by United Parcel Service founder Jim Casey, is based in Seattle.
COLLEGE GOAL SUNDAY
College Goal Sunday is a volunteer-run program that helps students and families from under-served populations complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the form necessary to determine a student’s/family’s ability to pay for higher education expenses. CGS is in 40 states plus the District of Columbia.
GEAR UP
Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs
This federal grant program is designed to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in post secondary education. GEAR UP provides six-year grants to states and partnerships to provide services at high-poverty middle and high schools. GEAR UP grantees serve an entire cohort of students beginning no later than the seventh grade and follow the cohort through high school. GEAR UP funds are also used to provide college scholarships to low-income students. You may see this program referred to as NCCEP, National Council for Community and Education Partnerships.
KH2GO
KNOW HOW 2 GO
Young people in all socio-economic groups have college aspirations.
In fact, eight out of 10 expect to attain a bachelor’s degree or higher,
according to the U.S. Department of Education. But despite their
aspirations, low-income students and those who are the first in their
families to pursue higher education are severely underrepresented on
college campuses. Studies show these students often lack the guidance
they need to prepare for post secondary education.
In order to turn these students' college dreams into action-oriented goals, the American Council on Education, Lumina Foundation for Education and the Ad Council launched the KnowHow2GO campaign in January 2007. This multiyear, multimedia effort includes television, radio and outdoor public service advertisements (PSAs) that encourage 8th through 10th graders to prepare for college using four simple steps.
MAPPING YOUR FUTURE
Mapping Your Future is your free resource for career, college, financial aid, and money management information. Our goal is to help individuals achieve life-long success by empowering students, families, and schools with free, web-based information and services.
You can explore careers, prepare for college (help with selecting a school and applying for admission), pay for college (financial aid!), and manage your money (student loans and more).
NAEHCY
National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth
The National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (NAEHCY) is the voice and social conscience for the education of children and youth experiencing homelessness. NAEHCY accomplishes this through advocacy, partnerships, and education. NAEHCY works with homeless students in transitioning from high school to college through degree completion.
NCHE
National Center for Homeless Education
The National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE) provides research, resources, and information enabling communities to address the educational needs of children experiencing homelessness.
Funded by the U.S. Department of Education, the Center serves as a clearinghouse of information for people seeking to remove or overcome educational barriers and to improve educational opportunities and outcomes for children and youth experiencing homelessness. The Center also supports educators and service providers through producing training and awareness materials and providing training at regional and national conferences and events.
The Center is part of the larger organization of the SERVE Center at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Learn more about SERVE.
NCAN
National College Access Network
Incorporated in 1995, the National College Access Network (NCAN),
an organization classified as 501(c)(3) under the Internal Revenue
Service Code, grew out of the informal networking of people who were
involved in the burgeoning field of college access. There are several
varieties of college access programs but all spend their resources, both
financial and human, to help motivated, academically capable,
low-income young people enroll in and graduate from college. All operate
independently and act as strong and sometimes the sole advocates for
the students they serve.
NCAN's current roster of members includes over 250 organizations, which
are serving thousands of low-income students and their families in 45
states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Ontario, and Quebec.
Geographically, they range from Massachusetts to California, reaching
out to young people in inner cities and rural communities. Many members
provide last dollar or gap scholarships
to students who have been accepted into college but whose financial aid
packages fall short of enabling the students to actually attend.
NATIONAL COLLEGE ACCESS DIRECTORY
The National Directory of College Access is a free online resource for students, parents, counselors, researchers, and those operating college access programs. The site will assist in finding a college access program, adding a college access program or generating a report.
TRIO
TRIO is a set of federally-funded college opportunity programs that motivate and support students from disadvantaged backgrounds in their pursuit of a college degree. Over 850,000 low-income, first-generation students and students with disabilities — from sixth grade through college graduation — are served by more than 2,800 programs nationally. TRIO programs provide academic tutoring, personal counseling, mentoring, financial guidance, and other supports necessary for educational access and retention. TRIO programs provide direct support services for students, and relevant training for directors and staff. You may see this program referred to as COE, Council for Opportunity in Education.
