In 1997, the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD), the San Francisco Family & Juvenile Court, and the San Francisco City Attorney established an advisory committee regarding the educational outcomes of foster youth in San Francisco. The Advisory Committee envisioned effective collaboration among organizations to meet the needs of foster youth.

In 1999, the California Department of Education funded the SFUSD/Student Support Services Department’s Foster Youth Services Program (FYS) Program to facilitate that process.