Experiences during COVID-19: Needs of college students with a history of foster care

The effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been nothing short of profound, with disparate impact among historically marginalized and under-resourced populations. Eighty undergraduate college students, with a history of foster care placement, describe their experiences during Shelter in Place due to COVID-19. Former and current foster youth already experience challenges in accessing and completing higher education; these challenges were exacerbated by the measures taken to deal with risks associated with the pandemic. Study findings build upon previous studies that indicated that former and current foster youth have unique and significant pandemic related financial, physical and psychosocial concerns, by using conventional content analysis methods to describe what participants identified as needed resources. Findings have implications for future research and policy development, as well as resource provision during ongoing remote learning, and in preparation for the eventual transition back to in-person instruction.