 Foster Care Story Offers Opportunity in Trying Times
Read a story on foster care published in the Oakland Tribune about the heroes who provide support to children during the toughest days of their lives. Read the story.
Key Findings for Foster Youth in FYS Mentoring for Success Program
In 2009, SFUSD received a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention, to mentor SFUSD foster youth. 2009-2010 Key findings include:
Academic
- 32% of participants have had a decrease in unexcused absences
- 30% of participants have shown an increase in GPA
Social/Emotional
Pre-test to post-test surveys reflect the following by student report:
- 20% increase in feeling that there is a teacher at school who wants me to do my best
- 10% increase in feeling that there is a teacher or other adult at school who really cares about me
- 40% increase in feeling connected to people at school
- 20% increase in feeling like they are a part of the school
- 77% feel their mentor helps them do better in school
2011-2012 Mentoring School Sites include
- Elementary Schools: Bret Harte, GW Carver, Dr. William Cobb, El Dorado, Fairmount, John Muir, Malcolm X, Paul Revere, Rooftop, Rosa Parks, Sheridan, Tenderloin
- Middle Schools: Aptos, Bessie Carmichael, Buena Vista/Horace Mann, James Denman, Everett, Francisco, AP Gianni, Herbert Hoover, ISA MS, Martin Luther King, James Lick, Marina, Presidio, Roosevelt, Visitation Valley
- High Schools: Academy of Arts & Sciences, Hilltop, ISA HS, Mission, O’Connell, Thurgood Marshall, SF International, SOTA
Promoting Educational Success for Foster Youth
Read ways Esther Honda, school librarian, mentors her foster youth in Promoting Educational Success for Foster Youth (pdf)
New SFUSD FYS Mentoring for Success Program!
We are pleased to announce that SFUSD recently received a new grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention, to mentor SFUSD foster youth. Our goal is to begin program activities in January 2010 and serve 135 foster care youth in 27 schools over a three year period. For the first year of implementation, ten schools have been selected to begin the Mentoring for Success Program. The ten schools include:
Bret Harte Elementary
Rosa Parks Elementary
Willie Brown Academy
Visitation Valley Middle School
Everett Middle School
International Studies Academy MS
International Studies Academy HS
Mission High School
Thurgood Marshall High School
Civic Center Secondary
Posted 12/28/09
Connecting Foster Youth to Career Development Opportunities in SFUSD New Ways to Work has developed a guide book for use by San Francisco foster youth, caregivers, social workers and other service providers to assist foster youth in learning more about the career opportunities that exist in SFUSD high schools.
In addition, New Ways to Work has developed a guide book for career development opportunities in California high schools. This guidebook also provides checklists that outline the steps in getting connected.
San Francisco Guidebook (pdf) | California Guidebook (pdf)
Posted 12/28/09
“Our Community, Our Children” Campaign materials now available online Help promote the need for San Francisco foster and adoptive parents in your community! Visit our Media Center to download and print “Our Community, Our Children” foster/adoptive parent campaign materials from the FYS website.
Posted 12/28/09
Foster Care Legislative Updates
- Foster Care Benefits Extended To Age 21
The Governor has signed a monumental piece of legislation extending Foster Care benefits and services to age 21. Read AB 12 Provisions and Other Recent Legislation
- Fostering Connections Resource Center
The Fostering Connections Resource Center has been created by a consortium of foundations to provide timely and reliable tools and information on all aspects of the federal law, the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008. The Fostering Connections Resource Center includes a Web site (www.fosteringconnections.org) providing data on all aspects of the law and customized tools.
- Foster Ed Connect is a free online community and resource clearinghouse for all people helping children and youth in California's foster care system succeed in school (a project of the California Foster Youth Education Task Force).
Posted 12/28/09
THP-Plus Policy Brief (taken from HEY E-Newsletter)
The John Burton Foundation recently completed its latest policy brief, which looks at over 1,000 youth, 18 to 24, who entered California's transitional housing program for former foster youth since July 2008. The data was drawn from the THP-Plus Statewide Participant Tracking system, and provides new information about the needs of youth as they transition out of foster care and into THP-Plus in California. Download THP-Plus Policy Brief
Key finding from the policy brief include:
- 39% of youth report experiencing an episode of homelessness prior to entering THP-Plus, with 19% of youth entering THP-Plus directly from homelessness;
- 17% of youth entering THP-Plus had prior involvement with the juvenile probation system;
- Over one-third of youth enter THP-Plus neither working nor attending school;
- Custodial parents and older youth enter THP-Plus with greater disadvantages;
- Just one-third of THP-Plus participants enter the program directly from foster care.
Posted 8/17/09
HEY Guide: Housing (pdf) The Honoring Emancipated Youth “HEY Guide” provides practical advice about searching for, keeping and paying for various types of housing, as well as sample rental applications and leases, and interactive games to help youth evaluate a housing option’s suitability. The “HEY Guide: Housing” is the first in a series of guides that HEY plans to produce. Future guides will focus on other issues relevant to youth who age out of care and other disconnected, transitional-age youth in the Bay Area. HEY Guide: Housing (pdf).
Posted 8/05/09
Archived News 2010-11
Foster Youth Services End-of-Year Celebration
Join us May 17 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. to celebrate the achievements of our foster youth and appreciate those that support their needs. Youth awards will include laptop computers and full scholarships to attend a CYO summer camp session. Caregiver/service provider nominations are due May 9, 2011.
Event details and nomination form | CYO summer camp brochure (pdfs)
Awards Ceremony for Foster Youth and Supportive Adults
Help us celebrate on May 20 from 4:30 to 8 p.m. all the people who help make a difference in the lives of youth. Youth and adult nominations are due by May 11, 2011.
Event details and nomination forms (pdf)
Foster Care Benefits Extended To Age 21
The Governor has signed a monumental piece of legislation extending Foster Care benefits and services to age 21. Read Assembly Bill 12 Provisions
Guardian Scholars’ Summer Academy
The City College of San Francisco (CCSF) Guardian Scholars’ Summer Academy is a program designed to prepare students for a smooth transition from high school to college. The program provides free tuition, books, and supplies. Social and career exploration activities will also be offered. With enthusiasm and a six week commitment, students can gain high school and college credit as well as valuable tools for success. View Guardian Scholars’ Summer Academy brochure.
Orientation Oct. 13 In Support of Foster Youth
Interested in learning more about supporting foster youth? Join us on Oct. 13 at 5:30 for an orientation to answer your questions. Light dinner will be served. Download flyer (pdf).
Archived News 2009-10
Free Dinner and a Movie! (pdf)
Interested in learning more about foster youth?
Join us April 13 for an overview of our “Foster/Adopt Our SF Youth” Campaign."
“Our Community, Our Children” Foster/Adopt Recruitment Campaign
 FYS is excited about a new collaboration that began this year with SFUSD, the Human Services Agency and Foster Family Agencies in San Francisco. Our goal is to increase school stability for our San Francisco foster youth through reaching out to four targeted school sites and their communities. The district community as a whole is committed to recruiting permanent supports for identified youth. It is a proven fact that youth in stable homes do better in school.
How You Can Help?
Our School-Based Recruitment Campaign has embraced the slogan: “Be the One or Find the One”. If you know of anyone who is interested in helping to support a San Francisco foster youth you can refer them to our office or an upcoming orientation.
ORIENTATION DATES
5:30pm-8:00pm (5:30p.m. Light Dinner; 6:00-8:00p.m. Orientation)
- February 25th
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School, 350 Girard St.
- March 25th
Everett Middle School (w/Spanish-Speaking), 450 Church St.
- April 22nd
Visitacion Valley Middle School, 450 Raymond St.
- May 27th
International Studies Academy (w/Spanish-Speaking), 655 De Haro St.
Below are examples of ways someone can help:
Be the permanent family
•Adopt a Foster Youth
•Become a Legal Guardian
Provide a stable, caring home
•Become a Foster Parent
Provide a supportive community
•Serve as an Educational Surrogate
•Provide Respite Care
•Provide Back-up Childcare
•Mentor
•Donate Items
•Join the Team
•Spread the Word… Be the One or Find the One!
San Francisco Recruitment Information Line: (415) 558-2200
Posted 2/12/10
SFUSD FYS students earn laptop computers!
Students that completed 45 hours of FYS tutoring services through Learning Ladder, Inc. earned a laptop computer to further develop their computer literacy skills.
Posted 8/17/09
Foster Care Legislative Updates
Posted 8/17/09
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