DIGEST-Volume-10-Issue-2-FULL ISSUE

4 TPC Digest S chool counselors are called to ensure equity and access for all students. Unfortunately, students in foster care often experience challenges and barriers that influence their personal/social, academic, and college/career success. In addition, these students lack the same access to support, resources, and opportunities as their peers. For example, students in foster care may experience trauma, abuse, neglect, and loss—all of which influence a student’s ability to learn. These students also are more likely to be absent from school, change schools, repeat a grade, receive out-of-school suspensions, and be referred to special education. Despite an aspiration to attend and complete college, students in foster care also are less likely to graduate from high school and attain a 4-year degree. To ensure equity and access, school counselors must be aware of the challenges that exist for students in foster care and take steps to remove any potential barriers. With this purpose in mind, this article explores how school counselors can utilize their unique position within schools and communities to identify, respond to, and advocate for the needs of students in foster care. Additionally, current research, presenting problems, implications, and evidence-based interventions are explored, with the hope that school counselors can more effectively serve this population. 4 | Serving Students in Foster Care Hannah Brinser, Addy Wissel Implications and Interventions for School Counselors