Transitioning From High School Victoria Gonzalez Stanislaus County Office of Education

1 Who We Serve and Why

Focus Youth placed in the foster care system. Foster care (also known as out-of-home care) is a temporary service provided by States for children who cannot live with their families. Children in foster care may live with relatives or with unrelated foster parents. Foster care can also refer to placement settings such as group homes, residential care facilities, emergency shelters, and supervised independent living. https://www.childwelfare.gov

Statistics: Youth in Foster Care 2017-2018 CDE Statewide : 50,247 Stanislaus County: 963 High school Seniors: 125 High school Juniors: 95 https://dq.cde.ca.gov/dataquest/

Common Barriers Need to generate income Housing Insecurity Mental Health Diagnosis/Undiagnosed Lack of support Finding a starting point Different learning abilities diagnosed/undiagnosed Gap in services Graduation Completion Long-term effects of abuse and neglect

TRANSITIONAL SERVICES AND SUPPORT 2 TRANSITIONAL SERVICES AND SUPPORT

Transitional Support Transitional support for youth in foster care placement is designed to set students up for success as they exit high school. Helping youth complete necessary steps prior to their departure from 12th grade will ensure a more seamless transition to college and career opportunities.

Transitional Services College/Career Application Completion FAFSA/CADAA Completion Chafee Grant Advocacy Assistance with Ward letter (if necessary) Resources Overcome other barriers (parking permit, text books, clubs, documentation)

Goal Setting FAFSA/CADAA GPA Upload & Match College/ Career Application Access Tax Return or IRS Form Support Programs (On & Off Campus) Meet with a counselor Campus Tours Matriculation

first second last Transitional Process Identify youth Determine schools youth attend Set up tracking system WebGrants Access Meet with district FYL Set up frequency of updates according to districts Follow-up Deadline Reminder Reach out to Success Team Update FYL of student status Enter notes in FosterFocus Last chance for outreach Update FYL Reach out to Support Team Finish collecting documents Enter notes in FosterFocus

Important Contacts Resource Parents Foster Youth Liaisons (FYL) School Counselors Foster Youth Success Initiative Designee (FYSI) Social Worker Youth Independent Living Program Any program supporting youth

High School Counselors/Learning Directors Success Team Social Workers Most SW assist with the transitional process Update student status in the county Foster Youth Liaison Keep informed they can assist Every district has their own process High School Counselors/Learning Directors Share objective Keep in contact throughout the school year Provide updates Secure school site location- meeting

Independent Living Program Foster Youth Success Initiative Success Team Independent Living Program Be a part of their program Present Youth goals Foster Youth Success Initiative Assist with application process Review Financial Aid Status Ensure Priority Registration Resource Parents Proactive Assist with documents

Meet-Up Locations

Tips Meet the youth where they are. Provide warm hand-off to any resource you refer them to. Always follow-up Youth signed ROI

Transitioning From High School Stanislaus County Office of Education Victoria Gonzalez vgonzalez@stancoe.org (209)238-1517/(209)499-7920