By Jessica Sierocki, Photographer.
Fostering an Academic Successful Transition, or FAST, is a support program at Saginaw Valley State University and Delta College for students who have been part of the foster care system. This program is a guide for students to integrate into college life with as smoothly as possible.
Services include scholarships and internships, life skills counseling and peer-to-peer support and mentoring.
“As we grow and mature our values, principles, morals and behaviors are shaped and influenced by those who are there to help raise us,” says Joseph Mazur, Assistant Life Skills Coach. “It is our parents and siblings that help shape and teach us, as young adults, the necessary life skills that are needed to progress through life in a healthy and safe manner.”
So what happens if children are deprived of a parental role model? “It’s unfortunate, but perhaps typical that foster students/youth may have not been given the chance to learn any of this appropriately, because they may have never met that one helpful ‘teaching figure” continues Mazur. Mazur claims he is honored to be able to help foster students develop the skills needed to lead a happy and successful life.
Students are assigned mentors who assist in whatever needs the student may have.
“We teach [eligible students] how to differently manage and solve problems or obstacles in healthier and safer ways,” Mazur comments. Students under 21 who have aged out of the foster care system are eligible.
The program targets academic and life plans. Students create their own aspirations and develop steps to reach their goals. “It takes motivation, support, and recognition of progress and effort applied towards becoming successful,” says Mazur. “The FAST Program recognizes every student’s progress and effort made towards reaching their goals and their standards of success. We also make an effort to make sure the students have fun while making their way!”
If you would like further information, you can email program director Vanessa Brooks Herd at vbherd@svsu.edu, stop by Delta’s office located in room S-219.