KVC West Virginia

Nationally, more than 15,000 18-year-olds age out of foster care without finding a permanent family or home. Nationwide, only half of youth in foster care graduate high school and less than three percent graduate college. Youth who age out of foster care without a permanent family or home often face overwhelming life challenges such as homelessness, incarceration and/or chronic unemployment. To reverse these dispiriting outcomes, First Star Academy of West Virginia works with First Star, a national nonprofit to provide youth in foster care the academic, life skills, career exploration, and adult supports they need to successfully transition to higher education and adulthood.

First Star Academy of West Virginia has also partnered with Fairmont State University, who will provide university resources, experiential learning activities, and will host a two week immersive experience in STEM training. This STEM training is facilitated through Fairmont State University’s NASA Educational Resource Center (ERC) and Space Camp. First Star Academy of West Virginia will support the mindful growth and development of over 30 youth over four years (grades 8-12) and positively alter the trajectory of West Virginia’s most vulnerable youth – those in the foster care/kinship system. This program is offered at no cost to students who qualify and is sponsored by the generous donations of our local funders, the Department of Education, and West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources.