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Alliance
for Children's Rights
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The
Alliance for Children's Rights offers free
legal services, an
information clearinghouse, and services
referrals for children living in poverty
and foster care. For more
information, please visit the website.
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Apartment
Start- UP Costs (see
also Housing)
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This
assistance may be provided to youth the
first time he/she moves into college
housing or an apartment. The purpose
of these funds is to assist the youth in
purchasing pots and pans, linens, dishes
and other miscellaneous items. The
guidelines regarding the distribution of
these funds is:
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Funds
will ONLY be distributed on a one-time
basis while the youth is eligible.
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A
maximum of $300.00 may be provided.
(Note: Youth do not automatically
qualify for this amount as it is based
on need.)
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The
youth must provide proof of employment
(or job searching) and/or proof of
school attendance.
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The
youth must provide a current college
housing or rental agreement.
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Youth
who reside in a transitional housing
program WILL NOT receive this
assistance as these costs are covered
by the housing provider. (Note:
Unlike the other forms of housing
assistance, these funds are available
for pre-emancipated youth)
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This
program is similar to the Job Corps
program (see Job Corps), but the
training options are more focused on
outdoor conservation work, such as
working in state parks, beaches, or on
highways, and some clerical positions
are available. Room and board is
provided for one to three years for
young adults ages 18-23 years. For more
information, please call (562)
651-5502 or visit the website.
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California
Employment Development Department (EDD)
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The CYC is a statewide non-profit advocacy organization comprised of current and
former foster youth, ages 14 to 24. The CYC mission is to promote the
participation of foster youth in policy development and legislative change in an
effort to improve the foster care system. The CYC strives to form
collaboration with decision-makers to improve social work practice and child
welfare policy. For more information, please call them at (800) 397-8236
or visit the website.
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California Youth Crisis Line
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The
California Youth Crisis Line provides
24-hour statewide confidential
crisis intervention counseling, resource
referrals, connection to service providers
and youth's parents, and as a neutral
message service center to youth and
families in crisis situations. For
more information, please call the hotline
at (800) 843-5200 or visit website.
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The
Casey Family Programs is one of the
principal, non-profit agency partners
that, along with United Friends of the
Children, collaborates with DCFS and
Probation in areas of community outreach
and aftercare services for emancipated
youth. For further information,
please call Jed Minoff at (626) 304-2605
ext. 227 or visit the website.
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Celebration I
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This
is an annual DCFS and Probation event in
collaboration with United Friends of the
Children, the Teague Family Foundation,
Casey Family Program and The Community
College Foundation which honors those
high school seniors who have excelled in
their classes and have obtained a grade
point average that allows the youth to
attend college or trade school. Approximately 150 youth attend this
event each year and receive a variety of
scholarships.
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Celebration II
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This
is an annual event that is planned to
recognize those youth that are
graduating from high school. Youth
are invited to a day of activities at a
local entertainment venue such as Raging
Waters or Universal Studios as a way to
celebrate the completion of high school.
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Child Abuse Hotline (CAHL)
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The
24 hour number (1-800-540-4000) staffed
by employees of the Department of
Children and Family Services is responsible
for screening calls from the community
related to issues of child abuse and
neglect.
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College Readiness Program
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Guides and encourages middle and high school students who want to go to college.
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College Sponsorship Program
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Provides annual college sponsorships, financial aid, and support services to 25 emancipating foster youth who have at least a 3.0 GPA and are pursuing a higher education. Contact Kesha Wood of the United Friends of the Children for more information at (213)580-1821 or kesha@unitedfriends.org.
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Commission for Children and Families
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Please call (213)974-1558 for additional information.
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Community
Colleges
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The Community Development Commission (CDC) of the County of Los Angeles is the County's affordable housing and community development agency. The CDC's mission is to create "New Neighborhoods for a New Century" by strengthening neighborhoods, empowering families, supporting local economies and promoting individual achievement.
For further information, please call (323) 890-7001 or visit the website.
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CSS is a department of Los Angeles County that has the mission of assisting residents in obtaining self-sufficiency, strengthening and promoting the independence of older persons and providing employment and training for unemployed adults, displaced workers, seniors and young people.
The Independent Living Skills Enhancement Programs have contracted with CSS to
provide employment training for youth. For further information, please call
(213)738-2600 or visit the website.
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Computer Classes
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Computers are available for use at the Transition Resource Centers.
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Crisis Line for Teens
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Have you been raped or abused? RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) has a crisis line for teens at 1-800-656-4673.
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DOR
is the state agency that provides vocational and occupational training for youth
(16 & older) and adults with disabilities.
Criteria for acceptance is less
stringent than SSI (e.g. one can be
employed). DOR assists California
with disabilities in obtaining employment and
maximizing their ability to live
independently in their
communities. Working with
individuals who are physically,
mentally, and/or emotionally disabled, DOR
provides vocational rehabilitation
services and technical assistance and
training. DOR has extensive
programs for deaf and visually impaired
individuals. DOR funds 29
Independent Living Centers that provide
information and linkage services to
assist individuals with disabilities to
live an active and independent
life. The Vocational
Rehabilitation service(s) may include
training, education, transportation and
job placement. Their local telephone number is (323) 731-6311.
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Driving Lessons
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In
1999 the Department of Children and Family
Services, in collaboration with
State Farm Insurance, Delta Driving
School, the Department of Motor Vehicles,
and ABC Channel 7, inaugurated a program
("Teens on Wheels") aimed at
providing emancipated foster youth the
opportunity to obtain a driver's license.
This resource provides an opportunity for former
foster teens to learn driver safety, take
driving lessons, and receive assistance in
applying for their permit and license.
The specific criteria for funding is below
and requests should be processed by the
youth's Transition Coordinators:
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Youth
must be emancipated, 18 or older, and
meet the general eligibility
guidelines.
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The
youth is responsible for exploring
certified driving schools and
obtaining cost information. (Note: the
driving school must provide an auto
for the driving test and have pick-up
and drop-off service.)
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The
youth is responsible for obtaining a permit (i.e. passing the written test)
at the DMV and must present proof of the
permit to the Transition Coordinator.
A
maximum of $ 350.00 is provided toward
driving lessons AND funds can only be
applied to the cost of behind-the-wheel
training and DMV testing. The youth
may be able to receive funding prior to taking
the training.
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Emancipating Adolescents Supportively Through Early Interdependent Networking
(EASE-IN)
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In
collaboration with the Center on Child
Welfare in the UCLA School of Public
Policy and the Department of Social Welfare, the
Youth Development Services provides early
emancipation services for youth in foster
care, ages 13-18 years, residing in the
Hawthorne/Century area. The youth
work with a UCLA student and services
available include: Youth support group
meeting, monthly outings, youth
newsletter, counseling twice per month
with MSW Interns, mentoring and linkage to
community resources.
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Emancipation Assistants (Community Workers/Intermediate Clerk)
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Former foster youth who have emancipated
successfully and are now employed by
DCFS to assist current foster youth with
issues of placement and emancipation.
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Emancipation Preparation Goal Contract
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This contract is a youth-driven contract, which assists the youth in developing a vision for her/his future.
The Contract is a one-page document completed each six months, or as needed, by the youth with the caregiver and CSW/DPO (Revised
DCFS 5205B).
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Youth Development Services
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Federally-funded workshops, seminars, financial aid, and other programs and services designed to help present and former foster youth, ages 14-21, succeed as adults.
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This program is available on approximately 108 college campuses across the state of
California (Note: On UC and Cal State campuses, the program is known as EOP).
Most of these colleges are community colleges. The program offers to low-income students and other eligible students book vouchers,
an individualized counseling service, and prioritized registration. Check with the community college website or call to inquire if the youth is eligible for free assistance in the purchase of books and other EOP & S services.
For general information about the program, please visit the website.
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Financial Aid Workshops
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Conducted by The Community College Foundation to help Probation and DCFS youth obtain financial aid for continuing their education. Every foster youth graduating from high school is entitled to financial aid.
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The national network for youth in foster care.
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- Establishes
a list of the rights of foster
children.
- Requires
social workers and caregivers to
inform youth of those rights.
- Requires
the rights to be posted in facilities
that care for six or more foster
children.
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A
resource for foster & emancipated
youth in Northern California.
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Free Tuition for Foster Youth at all California Community Colleges (Board of Governor's Waiver)
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For a youth attending a two-year community college it is important that he/she apply for the Board of Governor's Waiver (BOGW).
This waiver is available to emancipated foster youth and allows for the youth to receive free tuition while attending any California community college. The youth must be a California resident but does not need to be attending full-time nor does the tuition need to be repaid.
Contact any community college financial aid office for more information.
If a youth has a disability on extenuating circumstances, he/she may qualify to
appeal the minimum required 12 units.
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Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual
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Graduation/High
School Expenses
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Youth
who are on track to graduate can receive
up to $ 400.00 in assistance with senior
expenses. As some youth have been
given assistance early in his/her senior
year and NOT graduated, assistance is
provided ONLY for youth who are certified
to graduate. As many of these costs
are incurred PRIOR to the second semester
of the senior year, caregivers will need
to fund the costs and then request
reimbursement. Please keep your
receipts and proof of participation in
senior activities (e.g. prom).
Youth who have
graduated from high school or completed
the General Equivalency Degree (GED) may
receive funding permitting, an incentive of $ 100.00.
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Through the Former Foster Care Children's Program (FCCC), Medi-Cal eligibility has been extended to youth who were in foster care at age 18 up to his/her 21st birthday. When the youth's foster care status ends, DCFS sends monthly Medi-Cal eligibility information to the Department of Public Social Services (DPSS).
Individuals can obtain regular health check-ups, immunizations, etc. through Medi-Cal. To ensure that a youth's Medi-Cal case remains open by DPSS, contact DPSS at (213)351-7725. (NOTE: DPSS does not inform the youth that a Medi-Cal case will remain open and, if the youth suspects the case has been terminated, DPSS staff should be notified).
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The
Healthy City Project provides free, online
access to the most comprehensive database
of health and human services in L.A.
County. Healthy City's mission is to
improve the ability of low-income
underserved children, adolescents, and
their families to access services and
advocate for critical resources in their
neighborhoods and communities.
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Go to
Housing Section
of this website for more details
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Individualized
Educational Plan
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IEP is a document describing a child's
skills and stating goals for services as
well as strategies for achieving those
goals. This formal written
document is developed at the school and
is required for a child to receive
special education and related
services. A written request from
the parent or the person with
educational rights initiates the IEP
process. The IEP requires a
collaborative team process for both
planning and implementing
services. The members of the team
may vary according to the child's needs,
but the family is always part of the
team. An effective way to assist
youth in obtaining vocational skills is
to ensure this is indicated in the IEP
and the youth may be able to attend
R.O.P. classes.
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Job Corps
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Job Corps is a
federally funded program designed to provide job training. There are 111
centers in 46 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Job Corps
offers both residency and non-residency options. Assistance is provided
with the completion of high school diplomas or the GED. All training is
paid for along with a month's stipend. For additional information, please
visit the website.
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Kin-Guardian Assistance Payments (KIN-GAP)
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KIN-GAP is a program established by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) and implemented effective January 1, 2000.
The KIN-GAP program provides financial assistance for children who are dependents of the court and are placed in out-of-home care with relative caregivers who are granted legal guardianship when dependency court jurisdiction is terminated.
Youth who reside with a relative receiving KIN-GAP are eligible for services regardless of youth's age at time of case closure.
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Life Skills Classes
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For
complete information about all the Los
Angeles County Departments and the
various services offered by the County,
go to the L.A. County website. Some of the
services offered by the Youth
Development Services Division of DCFS and
emancipation services offered by the
Probation Department are enumerated in
this website.
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LAHSA's mission is to support, create and sustain solutions to homelessness in Los Angeles County by providing leadership, advocacy, planning, and management of program funding.
LAHSA can be reached at
(213) 683-3333 or visit their website.
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Los Angeles Youth At Work
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This program is sponsored by the City of Los Angeles, Chamber of Commerce and it provides employment preparation training for youth. The program is located at 350 Bixel, Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA 90017. For information, call
(213)580-7505.
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Mental
Health Services
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The
Department of Mental Health and the Department of Children and Family
Services work closely in providing for
the mental health needs of youth
emancipating and emancipated from foster
care. For pre-emancipated youth,
services include frequent case conferences
between the social worker and mental
health worker with t |
How Can the
Youth Development Services Help 
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