Dear Friends,

The Foster Youth Alliance was founded in 1999 to articulate and pursue a comprehensive system of services to support transition age foster youth from early adolescence through their mid-twenties. For 10 years, we've been privileged to participate in the development and refinement of an unparalleled array of programs that collectively offer older foster youth in Alameda County the tools to establish themselves as independent adults. The strength of our network is evident in its diversity: FYA member agencies work in housing, education, employment, health, mental health, and mentorship; they reach current and former foster youth, probation youth, vulnerable youth living in the community, and those who still struggle on the streets. FYA needs your financial support to continue leading the way for the expansion and improvement of critical services for foster youth aging out of the system.

Over the past several years, FYA's advocacy and leadership has:

• Maximized the availability of housing for former foster youth

• Established a robust system of proactive emancipation planning for older foster youth

• Achieved a level of coordination and collaboration among programs serving transition age youth in Alameda County that is the envy of counties around the state

Since the current recession has fully hit national, state, and local governments, we’ve seen the network we've worked so hard to create come under unprecedented threat. Recent cuts will deprive former foster youth in Alameda County of transportation, college textbooks, even clothes for their infant children. Perhaps most devastatingly, we are facing a drastic reduction in the capacity of housing programs that have provided the backbone of our service system. As a community of youth, nonprofit and public agencies, and concerned citizens it is essential that we have strong, clear voices leading us - voices that can keep the needs and interests of transition age youth in sharp focus and at the top of the agenda.

In the coming year, FYA will:

• Mobilize the community to protect child welfare programs through coming budget battles

• Lead the development of a countywide plan to house all homeless former foster youth

• Work across local and statewide systems to improve the health, educational attainment and employment status of transition age foster youth

• Host a conference in summer 2010 to highlight Alameda County's leadership in the field

In this challenging time of crisis and opportunity, it’s a full time job to stay ahead of the curve, interpret the constantly changing environment, and to inform and rally the community on behalf of transition age youth. This is the role that the Foster Youth Alliance was created to play.

Please consider giving what you can to support FYA's essential work. Your tax deductible contribution will help us lead the fight to ensure that the extraordinary gains we’ve made over the past ten years are defended, and that we continue consistently expanding and improving services for current and former foster youth.

Make a secure online donation here. The federal tax ID # for FYA's fiscal sponsor, Community Initiatives, is 94-3255070.

Checks can be made payable to the The Foster Youth Alliance, and sent to FYA at
675 Hegenberger Road, Suite 100, Oakland, CA 94621.

With thanks,

Reed Connell
Executive Director