College students with experience in foster care navigating dual pandemics: a mixed-methods study on safety, mental health, and campus response

College students with experience in foster care (N = 213) were surveyed and participated in focus groups (N = 20), and campus support staff (N = 3) were interviewed to understand their experiences navigating COVID-19 and racial violence. Utilizing a mixed methods approach with a campus climate framework, the data showed that students were concerned for their family, basic needs, safety, and mental health. Qualitatively, participants discussed experiencing threats of violence, social isolation, and its impact on their safety and mental health. Campus-based foster youth support programs served as safe spaces, but broader campus-level leadership missed opportunities to respond to the dual pandemics. Findings underscore the need for coordinated campus systems that better support the safety, mental health, and overall well-being of youth in foster care on college campuses.