Education

March 29, 2011 - Receiving well deserved national coverage, the San Francisco State University Guardian Scholars Program was featured on NBC Nightly News (3/27/11) in the Making a Difference segment. Student Rosanna Fajardo, alum Sokhom Mao and Assistant Professor of Social Work Sonja Lenz-Rashid are interviewed for the story, which highlights the many ways the program supports former foster youth through the college experience, including year-round housing on campus, scholarships,...Read more »

March 24, 2011 - FYA member Beyond Emancipation has developed an excellent Guide to High School Diploma and GED Programs in Alameda County. Thanks to BE for this great resource for current and former foster youth!Read more »

March 16, 2011 - Under the direction of the coordinator of the Foster Youth Services (FYS) program of the Alameda County Office of Education, the Educational Mentor assists youth residing in foster care placements through mentoring; counseling; providing, or arranging for the referral to, tutoring, transitioning, emancipation, special education, and other academic support services; and establishing collaborative relationships with local advisory groups and agencies. Deadline to apply is April 1, 2011. See the job...Read more »

March 15, 2011 - The Paul Robeson Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, Northern California, is pleased to announce that it will award 3 scholarships to graduating seniors from Alameda County high schools in the following cities: Alameda, Dublin, Emeryville, Fremont, Hayward, Livermore, Newark, Oakland, Piedmont, Pleasanton, San Leandro, Union City, Castro Valley, San Lorenzo, and Sunol. The deadline is April 21, 2011. Application and complete details HERE.Read more »

March 03, 2011 - The Contra Costa Times (Marcus, 2/21/11) reported on a pilot Foster Youth Education Program in Los Angeles that has dramatically increased graduation rates. Foster youth in the pilot program "graduated 75 percent of the time and 80 percent of those graduates went on to four-year colleges." The Sacramento Bee (Hancock, 2/20/11) published an op ed outlining the ways in which the Governor's realignment proposal is aligned with recommendations from a 2004...Read more »

March 03, 2011 - The Leadership and Advocacy Academy for Transition Age Youth at the Youth Law Center is a 10-week seminar program open to Bay Area youth ages 16 to 21 and is designed to help youth become better advocates for themselves both inside and out of the foster care system. Please share this application with youth who may be interested. Deadline to apply is March 9th. Through weekly group...Read more »

February 16, 2011 - Since the launch of their “No Cash Left Behind” campaign in 2010, California College Pathways has made great strides in outreaching to current and former foster youth regarding the availability of financial aid resources for college through the FAFSA. With the priority filing period for Cal Grant and FAFSA quickly approaching, College Pathways has released this excellent Financial Aid Check List, a valuable tool for students.Read more »

February 11, 2011 - If a bill introduced by Assemblymember Jim Beall (D-San Jose) passes, it would give the estimated 2,000 current and former foster youth attending community colleges priority enrollment in classes each semester. In this climate of drastic budget cuts, community colleges are expected to cut back on the number of classes offered. Assembly Bill 194 (AB 194) will ensure that youth who were in foster care will be able to register for the...Read more »