ABSTRACT
This study provides in-depth descriptive data on the key influences and supports that assisted 10 African-Americans who aged out of foster care with enrolling in college and other tasks related to their transition into college. The findings revealed that participants were affected by social and community supports. Social supports were described by the participants as professional social workers, caseworkers, foster care parents, and clergy. Communal supports were described as churches, community-based organizations, and nonprofit organizations. There was an intersection between the social and communal supports. Although the participants successfully enrolled in college, they suggested that they would have benefited from a college preparation program to prepare them for the college environment. This article notes the implications for effective and culturally sensitive social work practice and the study’s limitations, which suggest areas for further research.