UWRF receives grant to support vulnerable student population

RIVER FALLS – Critical resources have been made available to the University of Wisconsin-River Falls in support of its Falcon Links/Fostering Success program.

The university’s Social Work Department received a $70,000 grant from the UW System to formalize informal services it had been ouering previously. The program guides and provides assistance to students who have been in foster care, homeless or otherwise involved in the child welfare system and who have an interest in pursuing higher education.

According to the National Foster Youth Institute, less than 3% of youth who grew up in the foster care system graduate from college, many lack family support while in college which makes it divcult to thrive outside the classroom. The Falcon Links/ Fostering Success program will provide essential support to ensure students’ academic success. Another aspect of the program is outreach to current foster youth who may not see higher education as an option in their future.

For more information about the Falcon Links program, email [email protected] edu or call 715-425-3376.

Submitted by UW-River Falls