Funded by Stuart Foundation
Grant No. 2003-420
Our Challenge
¾Each year, approximately 5,000 youth emancipate
from the foster care system in California
¾Fewer than 10% of foster youth enroll in college and
only 1% actually graduate
¾Youth move from home to home and from high
school to high school making it difficult to make
connections with local colleges and universities.
Education WORKS! Bill (SB 1639)
Chaptered: September 21, 2004
Author: Senator Richard Alarcón
SB 1639 expands education options for foster youth!
• Encourages the California Community Colleges, the California
State University, and the University of California to disseminate
information to foster care agencies regarding admissions
requirements and financial aid.
• Requests the Regents of the University of California and the
Trustees of the California State University to explore methods
to assist the transition of students in foster care into 4-year
public institutions of higher education.
• Encourages the State Department of Social Services to work
with the Student Aid Commission, the University of California,
the California State University, and the California Community
Colleges to receive information regarding financial aid for
postsecondary education.
UC Santa Cruz Renaissance Scholars
Program- Social Services & CommunityBased Programs Collaboration
Serving 10 Counties
• Project specific working groups
• Student referral sources
• Participation in annual county
events
• Student recruitment, transporting
and chaperoning to campus events
• Student follow-up and tracking
support
Peggy Martin (Alameda Co. Smith Society Volunteer) and
Kokil Stillwater (Alameda Co. Social Worker) at EAP Camp
2005
UC Santa Cruz
Renaissance Scholars
Program- High School
Collaboration
• Early Academic Planning Camp
• Support team: Social Worker, High School counselor,
UC outreach programs in High School
• Year-round contact via UCSC campus and off-campus
college-prep related events
UC Santa Cruz
Renaissance Scholars Program –
Community College Collaboration
¾Designated community college counselor
¾Foster youth focused Financial Aid advising
¾Staff support & advocacy
¾Year-round college motivation events
and activities
UC Santa Cruz
Renaissance
Scholars
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Financial Aid – Scholarships Advisor
Academic Advisor/Advocate
Priority Registration
Work Study & Internships
Leadership Development Opportunities
Year-Round Housing
UCSC Renaissance Scholar Graduate
Deutron Kebebew
Graduated: Spring 2003
Deutron has devoted himself to bettering the
lives of foster youth in the Santa Cruz County
as the Coordinator of the Independent Living
Skills Program which secures foster youth,
probation and after-care youth.
UCSC Renaissance Scholar Graduate
Heather Hazen
Graduated: Spring 2005
Heather Hazen is a graduate student at
UC Santa Cruz, currently working on her
Master’s in social documentation. Before
graduate school at UCSC Heather earned
her B.A. in cultural anthropology, which
allowed her to grow and experience an
education with love while having the
opportunity to explore her past as a
former foster youth.
UC Santa Cruz
Renaissance Scholars Program
Assisting Foster Youth to Achieve Their College Dreams
UC IRVINE
GUARDIAN SCHOLARS PROGRAM
Manuel N. Gómez
Vice Chancellor, Student Affairs
University of California, Irvine
UC IRVINE
GUARDIAN SCHOLARS PROGRAM
• UCI/Orangewood Children’s Foundation partnership
• 22 scholars
• One-third transfer students
• 93% retention and graduation rate
• Student profiles: Tiffany Chung ‘97
Adam Brody
UC IRVINE
GUARDIAN SCHOLARS PROGRAM
HOUSE RESOLUTION 2508
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to
improve the ability of foster care youths to attend
and succeed in higher education.
Sponsor: Representative George Miller (Dist. 7)