The Wall Street Journal | Foster Youths Get Extra Help Making It Through College

Ms. Zapien is part of a new initiative at the City University of New York that aims to beat the low graduation rate for young people who grew up in foster care. She hopes to finish an associate degree, move to a four-year college and go into medicine. Fifty young people are part of CUNY’s foster initiative, which school officials hope will serve 200 students over four years. They live on the Staten Island campus or at Queens College. The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation gave a three-year, $2.5 million donation to pay for remedial classes, advisers and social activities to help them feel connected so they stay in school. READ MORE