First Star Academy at Illinois State successfully completed its inaugural year on the campus of Illinois State University. First Star at Illinois State University is a college preparatory program for high school aged youth who receive foster care services. The program is administered through the Center for Child Welfare and Adoption Studies and led by Social Work faculty Deneca Avant, Ph.D., and Doris M. Houston, Ph.D. First Star is funded by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and a private donor.  read more