Committee on Higher Education meeting
April 28, 2026, 10:00 AM
Jointly with the Committee on Children and Youth.
The Committee on Higher Education held a joint oversight hearing with the Children and Youth Committee on strengthening CUNY pathways for current and former foster youth. No legislation was voted on.
What was discussed
- Opening and swearing in of the CUNY foster-youth oversight panel The Sergeant-at-Arms opened the joint oversight hearing of the Committee on Higher Education and the Committee on Children and Youth on strengthening CUNY pathways for current and former foster youth. Chair Rita C. Joseph and Chair Althea V. Stevens gave opening statements and the first panel was
- McKeema Wallace, Hunter College senior and former foster youth McKeema Wallace, a Hunter College Class of 2026 member who experienced foster care, opened the panel by sharing her personal path to college and the support that helped her get there.
- CUNY and ACS describe the foster-youth college programs Shirley de Pena, Director of CUNY's Foster Youth College Success Initiative (FYCSI), and Ina Mendez, Deputy Commissioner at ACS, introduced the FYCSI and College Choice programs that support students with foster-care backgrounds.
- How does CUNY identify and enroll students with foster-care backgrounds? Chair Rita C. Joseph asked how FYCSI identifies foster-youth students and whether outreach reaches ACS and school-based foster-care offices; Shirley de Pena said students are identified in several confidential ways and enrolled once found eligible, and committed to sharing campus-by-campus numbers.
- How many college-age youth does ACS serve, and what support follows them off the CUNY campus? Chair Rita C. Joseph asked how many college students ACS serves and what happens when they attend schools outside CUNY; Deputy Commissioner Ina Mendez gave figures for youth ages 18 to 21 and said ACS continues supports, including housing, regardless of which school they attend.
- What are the retention and graduation rates for FYCSI students? Chair Rita C. Joseph asked about retention and graduation outcomes and career supports; Shirley de Pena said retention has risen as enrollment grew, cited an approximately 31% graduation trend that is improving, and described career advisement, resume writing, and mock interviews.
- How does ACS's College Choice program work, and what stipend do students receive? Chair Althea V. Stevens asked about the College Choice program launched in 2022, its enrollment and outcomes; Deputy Commissioner Ina Mendez gave participation figures and Sonia Gonzalez said students receive a $60-a-day stipend seven days a week, continuing six months after graduation.
- Would earlier support have changed McKeema Wallace's path to college? Council Member Harvey D. Epstein asked McKeema Wallace whether earlier resources would have helped; she said earlier support would have made a real difference and that many young people in foster care do not receive the information they need, a point Deputy Commissioner Ina Mendez acknowledged.
- Is there a youth advisory group to guide the work? Chair Rita C. Joseph asked whether an advisory group of young people helps guide the program and pushed for student ambassadors and better outreach tools such as an app; Shirley de Pena said FYCSI has a student advisory group and was open to technology and newsletter ideas.
- Should CUNY and ACS work with NYCHA to reach foster youth in public housing? Council Member Gale A. Brewer urged coordination with NYCHA and asked how younger children in care are identified and coached; Deputy Commissioner Ina Mendez said youth in care are ACS's responsibility, that coaching begins at age 14, and agreed to work with NYCHA.
- Is FYCSI funding sufficient, and will CUNY seek more? Chair Rita C. Joseph noted FY26 FYCSI funding and asked whether current funding is adequate; Shirley de Pena said the FYCSI budget has increased but that the program could always use more and is always seeking additional supports, including for off-campus housing.
- Does CUNY provide mental health support, and how long is the wait? Chair Rita C. Joseph asked whether students receive mental health support and how long the wait is; Shirley de Pena said FYCSI provides casework rather than direct clinical care and refers students to campus counseling centers, where wait times differ by campus.
- What is the funding structure for Fair Futures and College Choice? Chair Althea V. Stevens asked about the funding structure and public-private split for Fair Futures and College Choice; Deputy Commissioner Ina Mendez said Fair Futures began in 2019 as a public-private partnership and cited an FY26 budget of about $43.66 million for Fair Futures, agreeing to email
- How do CUNY, ACS, and providers share data on foster youth? Chair Althea V. Stevens asked about protocols to share information across Fair Futures, College Choice, and providers; Deputy Commissioner Ina Mendez and Sonia Gonzalez described data-sharing agreements, including with NYC Public Schools, and the documentation required to verify eligibility.
- Is there a waitlist to get into College Choice or FYCSI? Chair Rita C. Joseph asked whether the programs have limited slots or a waitlist; Deputy Commissioner Ina Mendez said students are accepted on a rolling basis and that there is no waitlist for FYCSI.
- Public testimony opens Chair Rita C. Joseph closed the administration panel and opened the hearing for public testimony, reminding witnesses to keep to the topic of strengthening CUNY pathways for foster youth.
- Alyssa Roos, former foster youth and BMCC student Alyssa Roos, a former foster youth who aged out of care and is now studying for a biology degree at Borough of Manhattan Community College, testified in support of the Foster Youth College Success Initiative.
- Ethan Colon, YouthBuild participant (Bronx) Ethan Colon of the Bronx described how a YouthBuild program gave young adults a second chance and asked the Council for $2.1 million in city funding.
- Najmah Nicole Abraham, YouthBuild North Brooklyn Najmah Nicole Abraham, a case manager and transitional coach at YouthBuild North Brooklyn, a former foster youth and CUNY graduate, testified about supporting young people through the program.
- Adam Reyes, Dreams YouthBuild participant Adam Reyes described what the Dreams YouthBuild program's construction and culinary tracks meant to him and urged that support reach youth in any ACS- or OCFS-contracted facility, not only foster homes.
Agenda
1 item
- T2026-1515 Oversight - Strengthening CUNY Pathways for Current and Former Foster Youth. Hearing Held by Committee