Date of Award

Summer 8-22-2026

Document Type

Doctoral Research Paper

Degree Name

Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology

Organizational Unit

Graduate School of Professional Psychology

First Advisor

Apryl Alexander

Second Advisor

Michele Hanna

Third Advisor

Lynett Henderson Metzger

Copyright Statement / License for Reuse

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Keywords

Foster care, Child welfare, Policy analysis, Critical policy analysis, Colorado

Abstract

This policy analysis examines how two Colorado laws, House Bill 22-1374 (Foster Care Success Act), and Senate Bill 22-008 (Higher Education Support for Foster Youth), aim to improve educational outcomes and long-term stability for youth who age out of the foster care system. Critical Policy Analysis (CPA) and Resilience Theory are used in this paper to examine how these policies address systemic inequities, promote resilience, and offer protective factors that support educational attainment. Using policy review, state policy comparison, stakeholder interviews, and community perspectives, I evaluated how the implementation, effectiveness, and limitations of these bills shape real-world impact. The findings suggest that both polices expand access to educational and emotional support; however, barriers to implementation, such as institutional awareness, inconsistent funding, and interagency coordination/collaboration, continue to hinder equitable outcomes. Policies fostering educational opportunities for youth must be paired with trauma-informed practices and sustainable funding models to ensure meaningful impact. Recommendations highlight the greater need for collaboration between education, child welfare, and higher education systems, as well as the inclusion of lived experience in shaping future legislation.

Copyright Date

7-17-2026

Publication Statement

Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.

Rights Holder

Krystal Robles

Provenance

Received from Author

File Format

application/pdf

Language

English (eng)

Extent

38 pgs

File Size

392 KB

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