New Report Finds Existing Financial Aid Is Inadequate for California’s Foster Youth

According to a new report released by the Urban Institute, although students with foster care history in California receive diverse forms of financial aid, it is usually not enough to support them through schooling, forcing them to find employment at higher rates than their non-foster youth peers. Evidence points to a direct relationship between the number of hours worked and the likelihood of dropping out of school for students with foster care experience. These students are also more likely to attend part-time and more likely to attend lower-cost institutions with 82% attending two-year public schools compared to 48% of low-income students.

This report found that students with foster care experience have a higher net price even when compared to low-income students without foster care experience. While students with foster care experience receive grants to help pay for college, these grants typically cover the student’s tuition and fees, but they do not cover the full cost of attendance. This report recommends that more financial supports are needed to make postsecondary education attainable for young people with foster care history. Learn more by reading the full report here or watching highlights from this report in this webinar here.

JBAY is currently sponsoring a bill, Senate Bill 307, that would fill the financial aid gap for youth with experience in foster care in California. To learn more, or submit a letter of support, follow this link.

Federal Notice Announces $30 Million in New On-Demand Youth Housing Vouchers and Outlines Policy Changes 

On March 15, 2023, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released a notice announcing $30 million in new non-competitive voucher assistance available to Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) in partnership with their local Public Child Welfare Agency, through the Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) Initiative to serve transitioning and former foster youth ages 18 through 24.

The notice also outlines key changes to the program, addressing obstacles to access and administration. First, while PHAs are still required to have an at least 90% voucher utilization rate (or 50% for PHAs with smaller portfolios) to access new vouchers, PHAs not meeting this requirement may submit a narrative explaining why not and outlining their need. Additionally, PHAs that are project basing their vouchers may be eligible for a Project Basing Exception to the minimum voucher utilization rate.

Second, the notice clarifies that even if a homeless Continuum of Care (CoC) is a formal third partner in a community’s FYI program, referrals for FYI need not go through the Coordinated Entry System. Child welfare agencies may receive referrals from the CoC, however, using Coordinated Entry for administering FYI vouchers—which have categorical eligibility—has resulted in the unintentional screening out of eligible youth while vouchers go unused.

While this notice announces current availability of $30 million for FYI, this funding is proposed for expansion in the President’s budget which, if passed, would provide $9 billion annually to fund vouchers for all 20,000 youth aging out of foster care in the U.S. 

April 12th Webinar to Discuss Youth & Child Welfare Legislation Under Consideration in 2023

The Alliance for Children’s Rights (ACR) is hosting a web seminar on Wednesday, April 12^th to discuss 2023 state legislation and budget requests under consideration by the legislature that intend to provide additional support for children, families, and caregivers served by California’s child welfare system.

ACR will be joined by presenters from John Burton Advocates for Youth (JBAY), the California Alliance of Child and Family Services, California Coalition for Youth, California Tribal Families Coalition, Children’s Law Center of California, Children Now, and the County Welfare Directors Association of California. Panelists will discuss proposals supporting caregivers, young children, and older youth in foster care, including those from JBAY’s 2023 policy agenda. Register for the webinar here. 

April 13th Event Features Strategies to Support Survivors of Commercial Sexual Exploitation with Career and Education Planning

The Los Angeles Opportunity Youth Collaborative (LAOYC) will be hosting an in-person training on April 13th from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm at the Children’s Institute Otis Booth Campus. The training will explore ways to support youth survivors of Commercial Sex Exploitation (CSE) to attain their career and educational goals through Healing Centered Engagement (HCE). Presenters will include youth speakers from Saving Innocence, Michelle Gunyon, Director of the Los Angeles Department of Probation Child Trafficking Unit, and Abigail Richards, Co-Executive Director of the Young Women’s Freedom Center.

Healing Centered Engagement (HCE), developed by Dr. Shawn Ginwright, is a holistic approach to trauma that values and engages a person’s culture, spirituality, and personal agency along with their strengths and assets in the collective healing process. Using HCE strategies, attendees will gain an understanding of how to promote resiliency and become true mentors and coaches to young people.

Learn more information about the training, including how to register here.

Upcoming Webinars, Trainings, and Events

• Intro to Taxes - Understanding Your Rights and Responsibilities

• JBAY Monthly Free Self-Filing Tax Event for Transition Age Youth

• Celebrate National Foster Care Month with Author David Ambroz at the Commonwealth Club

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