Self-Filing Guide Available to Help Youth File Taxes for Free Online

John Burton Advocates for Youth has released an updated guide to help young adults file their taxes for free online. The guide provides screen-by-screen instructions, ensuring eligible youth claim the $1,154 California Foster Youth Tax Credit and any other state and federal credits for which they qualify. The guide can also be used to host a self-filing event, by displaying the guide’s slides in a workshop format. To learn about how to host a self-filing event, click HERE.

For young adults needing one-on-one assistance from a tax preparer, this roster lists Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites staffed with IRS-certified tax preparers providing in-person or virtual assistance with tax filing. As of February 28th, a total of 1,893 youth have filed their state taxes and claimed the FYTC, collectively totaling nearly $2.1 million. For all of JBAY’s resources on tax filing and the Foster Youth Tax Credit, follow the link HERE.

New Report Highlights Widespread Basic Needs Insecurity Among College Students Nationwide

The Hope Center for Students’ Basic Needs Security has released a new report detailing the widespread basic needs insecurity affecting college students nationwide. Based on survey responses from over 74,000 students at 91 institutions between Spring 2023 and Summer 2024, the report found that 59% of students experience at least one form of basic needs insecurity. In addition, 41% experience food insecurity, 48% experience housing insecurity, and 14% experience homelessness.

The report highlights that basic needs insecurity disproportionately affects students with structurally marginalized identities and those who face the most significant barriers to affording higher education, including part-time students, Pell Grant recipients, Black and Indigenous students, students with disabilities, former foster youth and those who have been involved in the carceral system. 

For example, 82% of former foster youth reported facing basic needs insecurity related to food and/or housing, and nearly 75% of Black and Indigenous students, compared to just 55% of White students. Furthermore, the report found a direct link between student basic needs security and persistence, with 79% of students who had previously stopped out of college (and subsequently re-enrolled) or were considering stopping out of college reporting that the reason was due to basic needs insecurity or financial hardship. To explore the full report and its policy recommendations, click HERE.

‘Teen Talk’ Virtual Sex Ed Registration Open for Foster Youth: March 31-April 4

Registration is now open for the Spring 2025 Teen Talk Foster Youth series, a free, virtual, community-based sexual education program for youth in foster care. The series is coordinated by the Reproductive Health Equity Project for Foster Youth (RHEP) and taught by educators from Planned Parenthood of Pasadena and San Gabriel Valley and Black Women for Wellness.

The week-long series includes live, interactive workshop sessions reviewed by former foster youth and adapted for youth in foster care. The series meets SB 89 requirements and complies with the California Healthy Youth Act. 

To participate, youth must currently be in foster care in California, be between 12 and 18 years old, enrolled in high school, have access to a personal device capable of connecting to Zoom (preferably with headphones for increased privacy), and have a non-school-related email address to receive program information and reminders. The five-session series takes place from Monday, March 31st to Friday, April 4th from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Youth can learn more about the series, including potential incentives for their participation, and enroll HERE.   

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