College-Bound Teens in Foster Care with Big Dreams
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Like any other excited soon-to-be college freshman, high school graduates from One Family Illinois’ foster care program are preparing for orientation and picking out dorm room essentials.
At a time when only about one in three youth in foster care in Illinois enroll in college, it is a remarkable achievement that four of our graduates are heading to college this fall. They’ll be attending Northern Illinois University, the University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago State University, and Malcom X College.
Selena Attending UIC to Become a Counselor
One of these future freshmen is Selena, 18, an honors graduate of Argo High School with a strong and supportive family—one she chose. Her foster mom, Bobbie Oliver, became her legal guardian and also adopted Selena’s younger sister Isabel, 7, after the girls came to live with her in 2020 at One Family Illinois’ Roosevelt Square Village on Chicago’s Near West Side.
“The girls are such a blessing,” says Ms. Bobbie, who fostered multiple children for more than a decade. Already a mother of three grown children and grandmother of thirteen, she shares that she quickly fell in love with Selena and Isabel—and that her entire family was “all on board” with welcoming them permanently.
With the stability of a permanent home and strong support system, Selena thrived both academically and socially. She maintained a 4.0 GPA while participating in Bible Club and Anime Club.
Shaped by her childhood experiences and time in foster care, Selena plans to study psychology at the University Illinois Chicago with the goal of becoming a marriage and family counselor.
“Because of my personal story, I feel I can connect with people and really help them,” she says. Among her friends, Selena is already known as the “therapist friend” for her thoughtful advice.
Selena chose to live in the dorms to fully embrace the “college experience,” a decision her mom supports. “It’s nice to have her close to home,” says Ms. Bobbie, adding that “I’m always here if she needs me.”
While students in foster care often face educational disruptions, both research and lived experience at One Family Illinois show that consistent support can significantly improve outcomes.
“Our foster parents invest time, compassion, and commitment to ensure the children in their care attend school consistently, establish strong routines, and stay engaged in learning,” says One Family Illinois CEO Delphine Rankin. “That support creates real opportunities for young people to succeed.”
Lily's Takes the First Step Toward Becoming a Lawyer at NIU
Another standout graduate, Lily, aspires to become a lawyer. After spending her teenage years in foster care at One Family Illinois’ Chicago Village in Auburn/Gresham, she found a strong support system that stood beside her through major milestones—from prom to graduation and now college.
This fall, those same caregivers will help move her into her dorm at Northern Illinois University, where she plans to study criminal justice.
“I choose to attend college because I want to build a stable and successful future for myself,” Lily says. “I want to prove to myself and others that my circumstances do not define my future.”
She is particularly interested in becoming a juvenile or criminal defense lawyer.
“Growing up in foster care you see kids that end up in the juvenile justice system,” Lily explains. “They often don’t get a fair shake, and I want to change that because understand their experiences.”
“I have had the honor of watching her grow from a quiet and hesitant freshman into a confident senior who is not afraid to advocate for herself and speak her mind,” says Ciara Wilkins, One Family Illinois Education and Enrichment specialist. “I have no doubt that she will pursue her dreams with determination and purpose.”
“She doesn’t define herself as a foster youth, but by who she is becoming,” says Hassanata Fashina, One Family Illinois Child Welfare Specialist.
“I’m ready to try new things and, for the first time, discover who I am outside of being a foster kid” says Lily.
Help More Youth in Foster Care Follow their College Dreams
Young people in foster care have the potential to thrive—with the right support. You can help make stories like Selena’s and Lily’s possible.
Your support provides stable homes, educational resources, and the encouragement students need to graduate, enroll in college, and build bright futures.
Make a gift today to help more youth in foster care defy the odds and achieve their college dreams.
