SUN Scholars Services & Programs

Academic Coaching and social equity building

Students will have access that will support the development of college competencies and academic readiness. Students will be matched with individuals who are deemed a best fit for the youth.

Academic coaching is a step beyond tutoring - the skills and strategies uncovered through coaching are transferable to all components of ones college journey, and beyond.

Social Equity Building

SUN Scholars will have multiple opportunities to connect with board members, staff, and other professional allies to develop social capital and equity. Students will be invited to workshops, networking events, and other opportunities that allow students to develop leadership and advocacy skills.

Career Competencies

Students will have access to develop career competencies. SUN Scholars have access to services such as:

• Career counseling

• Resume Building & Critique

• Interviewing & Interpersonal Skills

professional mentoring

Our student support coordinators function as direct mentors who can support and advocate for our students. In addition to our academic and career coaching, we are here to ensure that we are able to connect students with resources within their community, university, post-secondary educational institution, and beyond.

resource coordination and support to improve housing and food security

Students will have the support of SUN Directors to act as advocates. Directors will support students in tackling housing and food security through resource coordination. All advocacy includes the youth, with a full immersion in understanding how to find and acquire resources.

SUN will also act as a liaison and support between colleges and child welfare providers, such as the Department of Children and Families to ensure the best interests of the youth are always kept in mind.

The Rationale for SUN Scholars in the state of connecticut

SUN Scholars Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the recruitment and retention of foster and adopted youth in the state of Connecticut through academic readiness, mentoring grounded in best-practices, advocacy, and resource coordination to combat food and housing insecurity.

This is accomplished through a representative workforce of professional former foster youth, trauma informed pedagogy, and expertise in student development of higher education. This intersection of skills has culminated in a proven track record of increased enrollment, retention, and ultimately college graduation rates of former foster and adopted youth.

While almost all foster and adopted youth want to attend college, less than 3 percent will receive a bachelor’s degree within their lifetime. Additionally, a review of the National Youth in Transition Database shows that only 3 percent of aged out foster youth in Connecticut will receive an associate degree by age 21.[1]

While Connecticut offers generous college subsidies as an effort to alleviate the financial barrier toward accessing a college education, only 3 to 7 percent of students enrolled will graduate. Students who fail to complete their college degree once enrolled, some after already having received 1 to 2 years of state funding, dropout—a demonstrable loss of millions in taxpayer dollars.  Additionally, foster and adopted youth have higher rates of incarceration, homelessness, and poorer lifelong outcomes than their peers, all at the expense of state funds and loss of potential human capital. There are many studies that match fiscal benefits with greater college attainment. The direct savings of both the secured and retained investment of Connecticut’s college-enrolled foster youth and subsequent benefit to the state through improved human capital substantiate the entirety of the SUN Scholars’ budget.