A recent article in The Chronicle of Higher Education outlined a wonderful program being offered by community colleges, http://chronicle.com/free/v54/i11/11a03101.htm. They are assisting children that are aging out of the foster care system to take advantage of an opportunity for higher education. The State of California has begun the Foster Youth Success Initiative, placing contacts in California’s community colleges that are specifically tasked with assisting those who have been in foster care.   These contacts or ‘liaisons’ are especially helpful with finding scholarship programs that pay for tuition and government programs that pay for books.  109 of California’s community colleges are now participating in this program. According to this report, in 2006, less than 50% of students in foster care completed high school.  Now with an opportunity for higher education, not only should the high-school drop-out rate decrease, but the success of children in foster care should increase.  Leaving an 18-year old to fend for himself seems like an unlikely route for financial success.  With the Foster Youth Success Initiative, many children now have hope and opportunity to live the life of their choosing.