Great Expectations

Great Expectations is a program offered at community colleges across Virginia, created to benefit students who are or have been affiliated with the foster care system.

Eligibility

Individuals aged 17-24 who are aging out of the foster care system.

Services are provided

A Great Expectations Counselor works directly with the participants throughout their time at SWCC in the following ways:

• Help to apply for college admission and financial aid
• Personalized counseling
• Career exploration and coaching
• Networking with student and adult mentors
• Accessing life skills training, including managing finances
• Accessing individualized tutoring
• Accessing an internet-based resource center,
• Accessing funding to assist with emergencies, fuel, food, and job shadowing costs

Referrals

Would you like to refer someone to the Great Expectations program? If so, please contact Denise Miller in Buchanan Hall, room 140 at 276-964-7653 or via email at denise.miller@sw.edu.

Helpful Links

• Community Resource Guide:
  Contact information for local and national resources
  Resource Guide – Great Expectations
• VCCS Great Expectations:
  http://greatexpectations.vccs.edu/
• Project LIFE:
  http://www.vaprojectlife.org/
  http://www.vaprojectlife.org/western-region
• VDSS Services for Older Youth & Independent Living:
  https://www.dss.virginia.gov/family/fc/independent.cgi
• Faces of Virginia Families:
  http://facesofvirginia.org/families/
• Foster Club:
  http://www.fosterclub.com/