The Los Angeles County Office of Education Foster Youth Services supports the academic needs of foster youth residing in group homes (licensed children’s institutions) and in foster care, those with foster family agencies and those in court-specified homes, by providing advocacy, connection to tutoring, mentoring, appropriate instruction and other support service.

A summary of the most important laws affecting foster and kincare youth and their families.

Download the FYS - High School Education Plan. Services also include Free Tutoring.

The Office of the Foster Care Ombudsman was established by legislation, California Senate Bill 933 and has been mandated to do the following:

• • Ensure the voice of foster children and youth is heard, and act on their behalf.
• • Create an avenue for foster children and youth to file complaints regarding their placement, care and services without fear of retribution from those who provide their care and services.
• • Act as an independent forum for the investigation and resolution of complaints made by or on behalf of children placed in foster care and make appropriate referrals.
• • Provide children and youth with information on their rights when placed in foster care.
• • Maintain a toll-free telephone number 1-877-846-1602 which foster children and youth may call from anywhere in California to express their concerns and complaints.

The California Youth Crisis Line (CYCL) is a statewide, toll free, 24-hour, confidential Hotline available to teens and young adults ages 12-24 and/or any adults supporting youth. If you or someone you know is in crisis, don’t hesitate to call 1-800-843-5200. We can help.

CYCL is also an immediate, reliable and free link between youth and local services. We can help you find homeless youth shelters, youth-serving medical clinics, on-going counseling services and much more throughout California.

The California Youth Empowerment Network (CAYEN) was formed to develop, improve and strengthen the voice of Transition Age Youth (TAY) in local and state-level policy.

Our goal is to empower and inspire Transition Age Youth to create positive change in the mental health system. Through targeted advocacy, CAYEN supports TAY across the state to have a meaningful impact in the mental health policies that shape their lives.

If you are or were in foster care and have financial need, you may qualify for up to $5,000 a year for career and technical training or college. You don’t have to pay this money back. You may also be able to use your grant to help pay for child care, transportation and rent while you’re in school.

You can use your Chafee Grant at any eligible California college or university or career or technical school, as well as schools in other states.

The California State University (CSU), through collaborative efforts, provides a full range of services that support foster youth from their transition out of foster care or transfer from a community college to the CSU and through graduation. Learn more about the programs, financial aid, housing, support services and resources the CSU provides to emancipated youth and former and current foster youth.

This video is a tool for foster youth, caregivers, social workers and counselors to assist foster youth, emancipated youth and former foster youth in planning for college. CSU foster youth from throughout the state share their stories and recommendations on what has assisted them along their journey to college.

This site, provided by the L. A. County Department of Children and Family Services, provides answers to many questions that youth and caregivers have, such as:

• • What are my rights as a youth in foster care?
• • What is the Independent Living Program (ILP)?
• • Who do I talk to if I have a problem?
• • My case is terminated. Can I still get help?
• • Reproductive Health & Parenting Resources for Teens in L.A. County (PDF)
• • Youth Satisfaction Survey New!

ExtraordinaryFamilies is a leading nonprofit foster family, adoption and advocacy organization dedicated to improving the daily lives, and long-term outcomes of children impacted by child welfare, from newborn to young adults.

As a licensed foster care and adoption agency, we recruit, train, and support high-quality foster and adoptive homes for children removed from their families for abuse and neglect. We also implement policy and practice reforms in the child welfare system throughout Los Angeles County.

This “Visual Guide” is intended to compliment Part 3 of the Financial Aid Guide for California Foster Youth, found within pages 6-10, with screen shots of the actual FAFSA application and detailed instructions.

The FOCUS on Foster Families app is designed to support foster youth and their caregivers. Through candid video interviews and online tools, FOCUS on Foster Families helps users improve their skills related to communication, emotional regulation, problem solving, and goal setting.

FOCUS is a program that teaches families to use five related skills to build on strengths and overcome challenges. These skills are problem-solving, goal setting, communication, emotional regulation and managing trauma and stress reminders.

Over 600,000 California children and teens are living in homes not headed by their parents.

Grandparents as Parents’ (GAP) mission is to provide programs and services that meet the urgent and ongoing needs of grandparents and other relatives raising children at risk. We seek to positively impact that Third Generation and the grandparents and adults who love and care for them, so caregivers and children alike can grow and thrive.

We are a “ONE-STOP SHOP” for any relative caregiver, providing free of charge, community based programs, services and family-centered social activities.

iFoster is a free, members-only community for foster, adoptive and kinship communities; youth who have emancipated out of the system; and the organizations that support them.

iFoster provides 100s of Resources through partnerships with 100s of companies, government agencies and non-profits nationwide. Free and deeply discounted products and services are available to meet the biggest needs of our children and youth.

Brought to you by the Los Angeles County Youth Development Services Division (YDSD) and Independent Living Program (ILP) Los Angeles.

Our goal is to provide comprehensive services and resources to help transition age youth (TAY) successfully transition from dependency to self sufficiency.

In collaboration with our departmental and community partners, Kinship Care Services’ mission is to provide information, resources, services and support to relative caregivers and their children to enhance the family unit promoting permanency, safety, and reduced reliance on detentions.

Life can be hectic, scary, stressful and confusing. To survive and thrive you need to stay tuned into the people, places and services that can support you as you build your life outside of foster care. Know Before You Go (B4UGo) is the best way for current and former foster youth in L.A. County to stay connected.

With a quick tap on your phone, you can be virtually linked to a lifeline of resources, tools, supports and advocates whether you are in Los Angeles, Lancaster, Long Beach or anywhere in the county.

The mission of the Foster Youth Achievement Program is to provide comprehensive services to improve attendance, maximize educational achievement and social-emotional well-being for all youth in foster care.

The academic assessments conducted and interventions implemented by Foster Youth Counselors within the Foster Youth Achievement Program will serve to:

• • Increase attendance rates
• • Improve performance on state tests
• • Increase graduation rates
• • Reduce chronic absenteeism
• • Reduce number of suspensions
• • Reduce dropout rates

Aspiring college students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) face a unique set of challenges when looking at schools. Recent studies indicate that 3.5% of adults in the U.S. identify as LGBT. This small but important subset of the population, roughly equivalent to the population of New Jersey, must consider a school’s inclusion efforts, as well as their safety and support provisions for LGBT students.

This LGBTQ Youth site includes information on where to look for resources on campus, national support organizations, and even a list of LGBT-specific scholarship opportunities.

We believe all foster youth can achieve their dreams. The My Life, My Rights website is a guide to getting an education, getting a job, and getting on with your life after foster care. Get answers to common questions for foster youth. Learn about your rights and take charge of your future.

Public Counsel is a not-for-profit organization with more than 40 years experience helping young people achieve their dreams. We are not a government agency.

Relative caregivers are the backbone of our child welfare system.

Grandparents alone care for more than 2.5 million children, and in California, 36% of foster children are placed with relatives. In Los Angeles County, that number jumps to 43%. Relative foster placements are also legally prioritized, more cost effective and tend to lead to more long term placement stability. Yet, California’s child welfare system has historically provided inadequate information, training and funding to kinship families.

The Step Up Coalition is working hard to implement newly enacted reforms while continuing to pursue additional legislation to achieve full equity. Learn more about Kinship Foster Care here.

• • Orientation to university life
• • Student employment opportunities
• • Assistance with financial aid applications
• • Life skills counseling
• • Career planning
• • Priority class registration

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Additionally, UC will waive the $70 application fee for up to four campuses for low-income students. You can apply for a fee waiver within the online application and be notified immediately whether you have qualified.