Despite enrollment growth, graduating from college still a struggle for many foster youth

May was a big month for Miguel Almodóvar. The former foster youth graduated from California State East Bay and his mother — whom he’d seen only once in the previous four years — celebrated with him, as did his younger sister, whom he hadn’t seen in two years.

Still, he almost skipped walking the stage to pick up his diploma. His sense of accomplishment was muted by exhaustion and an awareness that many of his “brothers and sisters” — other youth that have been in foster care — were not on stage with him.