BLUEPRINT 2024
Blueprint Conference 2024
Supporting Foster Youth to College and Beyond
John Burton Advocates for Youth (JBAY) is thrilled to announce the 2024 Blueprint for Foster Youth College & Career Success Conference in Los Angeles!
The Blueprint for Success Conference is a dynamic two-day event that combines meaningful engagement opportunities with in-depth workshops presented by professionals with a passion and aptitude for supporting foster youth to achieve their higher education goals.
Special Thanks to Our Funders
Angell Foundation, Annie E. Casey Foundation, Aspen Institute, College Futures Foundation, Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, Crankstart, Hummingbird Fund, Johnny Carson Foundation, May and Stanley Smith Charitable Trust, Pritzker Foster Care Initiative, Stuart Foundation and Walter S. Johnson Foundation
Our Agenda
Westin LAX
- 5400 West Century Blvd.
- Los Angeles, California 90045
Monday, October 28, 2024
- 9:00 AM | Conference Check In
- 10:00 AM – 4:15 PM | General Sessions & Workshops
- 4:30 – 5:30 PM | Networking Reception
Tuesday, October 29, 2024
- 7:30 AM – 8:30 AM | Breakfast
- 8:30 AM – 2:30 PM | General Sessions & Workshops
Registration
Registration Fees
Early Bird Registration (closes September 6th): $400 Includes Monday lunch/reception and Tuesday breakfast/lunch.
Regular Registration fees will be $485 (after September 6th)
Single-Day Registration is available for $225
Student Registration
The fee for students to attend is the same as general attendees. As space allows, students may also be invited to attend the Sunday training and dinner and the Monday night student dinner and activity.
If you would like information about the scholarship opportunities, please go to the Student Scholarships tab.
For questions or more information about the 2024 Blueprint for Success Conference, please email
cathy@mwmanagementgroup.com
Cancellation Policy
Registration fees will be refunded in full if cancellation is made before October 18, 2024. No refund will be available for cancellations made after October 18, 2024. Refunds will be made by check after the conference has concluded.
Workshop Details
Monday, October 28
- 11:15 AM – 12:30 PM: Workshop Session "A"
- 3:00 PM – 4:15 PM: Session "B" - Structured Networking
Tuesday, October 29
- 9:45 AM – 11:00 AM: Workshop Session "C"
- 11:15 AM – 12:30 PM: Workshop Session "D"
A1 – The 3Ps in Building a Foster Youth Program: Promoting, Participation, and Partnership
Andreina Lucero, Cristina Gutierrez, Melissa Keith, and Javier Salcedo, Long Beach City College
This workshop is designed for community college professionals working with foster youth students. Long Beach City College has over ten years of experience providing foster youth support through NextUp and Guardian Scholars; their experts will share best practices for outreach and recruitment, increasing student engagement, building a dedicated team, and collaborating with on- and off-campus partners. This session will help you evaluate your program and identify future partnerships. You’ll walk away with exciting new ideas related to team dynamics and roles, program implementation, student workshops, events, and more!
A2 – People Matter: How the Characteristics of Foster Youth Program Coordinators Impact Program Outcomes
Sade Burrell, Cuyamaca College
This workshop will highlight the results of a groundbreaking research study that evaluated ten foster youth programs at California Community Colleges to determine the impact that program leadership has on program outcomes. You will learn how the personal values and perceptions held by program leaders, along with campus culture, influence how their foster youth program emerges and develops.
A3 workshop could be interesting to students too!
A3 – Strengthening Community Wellbeing and Engagement: A Campus Student Leadership Program
Ella Bastone and Ariana Onga, SF State Guardian Scholars Program
Sherrell Teague and Aurelia Serrato, SF State Guardian Scholar Students
Have you ever felt stuck trying to plan events and increase participation in your foster youth program? Are you wondering how you can build campus community and empower students? Students from the San Francisco State Guardian Scholars Program will share how they integrated student voice and leadership through their Ambassador Program to grow student engagement and increase program retention and graduation rates. The students will bring their fun energy and knowledge, incorporating elements of a typical Ambassador meeting into the workshop, to help you understand the structure of San Francisco State’s Guardian Scholars Ambassador Program and leave you equipped with a blueprint to build your own campus leadership program!
A4 – Making Community Partnerships Work: The K-12 to California Community College Pipeline
Keyiona Ritchey, Cabrillo College
Erika Hernandez, Santa Cruz County FosterEd Services Coordinating Program
Come learn how you can build an effective collaboration between your local County Office of Education Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program and the NextUp program at your local California Community College! You will hear best practices from the Santa Cruz County Office of Education Foster Youth Services Program and the Cabrillo College Guardian Scholars/NextUp program, who have built an effective collaboration and partnership that is over ten years strong! Designed for new NextUp programs, this workshop will help you develop an action plan to establish a collaboration with your local Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program and close the gap in the K-12 and community college pipeline.
A5 – Revisiting the Invisible Achievement Gap: Education Outcomes and District Targeting of Funds in the Context of the Local Control Funding Formula
Vanessa Ximenes Barrat and Kenwyn Derby, WestEd
This mixed-methods project updates and expands the pivotal Invisible Achievement Gap study conducted a decade ago. Researchers will present their updated research examining education outcomes for foster youth, describing what’s changed and what’s still needed to improve student outcomes. In addition, you will explore the research team’s analysis of Local Control and Accountability Plans (LCAP) to uncover more about funding sources, amounts, and uses targeting students in foster care. To complement the findings, the session will feature key policy, practitioner, and youth voices to provide insight on opportunities and priorities for policy and practice improvements, including on how educational services specifically for students in foster care are funded.
A6 – Empowering Futures: Advancing California’s Homeless & Foster Youth Through Registered Apprenticeship Programs
Nicole Pacada, Division of Apprenticeship Standards
Korena Hazen, California Department of Social Services, Apprenticeship Pathways Project
Syd Stewart, Better Youth Inc.
Rosalinda Rivas, Moreno Valley College
This workshop, presented by the Interagency Advisory Committee on Apprenticeship Homeless Foster Youth Subcommittee (IACA HFY), will center the forward-thinking strategies championed by Assembly Bill 565 to support homeless and foster youth in connecting to apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs across California. This session is not just about ideas, it’s about action! Through dynamic discussions, immersive case studies, and interactive exercises, you will gain a holistic understanding of the challenges faced by vulnerable youth and discover actionable steps to foster inclusive apprenticeship opportunities.
A7 – Underdogs Inc.: How a Small Agency (You’ve Never Heard Of) Bought a Mall and Put their Youth to Work
Tony Yadon and Andrea Rodriguez, Parents by Choice
Come learn about Parents by Choice, a small provider in Stockton, CA that has taken an innovative approach to supporting youth in their community. In this workshop, you will learn how Parents by Choice bought an empty indoor mall in downtown Stockton and created four social enterprises that have energized the downtown community and put their youth to work. This engaging workshop will focus on the agency’s work to find creative solutions to support transition age youth with housing and employment and will equip you with concrete information as to how to replicate this in your community.
A8 workshop could be interesting to students too!
A8 – Exploring the Impact of Immigration in Foster Care on Educational Opportunities
Feven Seyoum, Amore Wellness Hub
This workshop will explore the experience of immigrant children as they navigate both the foster care and educational systems in the United States, centering the voices of those who’ve experienced immigration in foster care as experts and guides for solutions and supports. You will better understand the deep impact of culture and identity on youth experience as well as the challenges faced by immigrant children and families as they attempt to navigate American culture, schools, and systems. You’ll learn about the challenges as well as the resources, policies, and best practices that can ensure that immigrant children have optimal educational support and access.
A9 workshop could be interesting to students too!
A9 – Navigating Financial Independence: Leveraging Tax Credits for Foster Youth
Simone Tureck Lee, John Burton Advocates for Youth
Jeremy Johnson and Jessika Bohannon, Riverside City College
Take your advocacy for foster youth to the next level! This workshop will leave you understanding the resources and supports available to help foster youth file their taxes and claim the new Foster Youth Tax Credit. You will hear from Riverside Community College and John Burton Advocates for Youth on how they help youth receive an average of over $2,000 just by filing their taxes and how college campuses (like yours!) can be a key partner to help youth access this benefit. You will take away tangible strategies on how to support foster youth and young adults in this critical practice for independent living
STUDENT WORKSHOP
A10 –Empower Your Future: Navigating the World of Scholarships
Alishba Sardar, UC Berkeley Student
Esme Nuno Mora, UC Berkeley Student
Conan Minihan, UC San Diego Student
Discover how scholarships and fellowships can transform your educational journey in our empowering workshop. This session equips students with essential skills to navigate the intricate landscape of scholarship applications, covering everything from finding the right opportunities to crafting persuasive personal statements. Whether you’re a first-time applicant or looking to enhance your application strategy, join us to unlock insights on maximizing financial aid benefits. Gain confidence in managing multiple applications, writing impactful essays, and presenting your best self through writing. Prepare to leverage your scholarship experience for future academic pursuits and build valuable connections with scholarship organizations. Don’t miss this opportunity to empower your future through targeted guidance and practical tips tailored to achieving scholarship success.
C1 – Centering Racial Equity in Postsecondary Support Programming for Young People with Foster Care Experience
Maddy Day, Maddy Day LLC & Associates
Amy Salazar, Washington State University Vancouver
In the United States, young people who are Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) are over-represented in the foster care system. Therefore, it is especially important for programs designed to support young people in foster care to center the pursuit of racial equity in their program models. In this workshop, experts will describe actions taken by the Fostering Higher Education (FHE) program, a postsecondary access and retention intervention designed to support young people in foster care, to bolster efforts to integrate practices that build and support racial equity in its program recruitment and delivery model. You will also participate in a group brainstorming activity to help you put these strategies into action!
C2 – Care 2 College: College Awareness Conference for the Foster/Kinship Care Community
Lael Adediji, Chabot College Foster and Kinship Care Education
Roshawn Campbell, California State East Bay Renaissance Scholars Program
This workshop highlights Care 2 College, a one day conference hosted by California State University East Bay and Chabot College with community partners to increase college awareness among foster youth, their caregivers, and their community supporters. This engaging session will outline the informative (and fun!) conference program and activities, the collaborative approach, and lessons learned in building this creative solution to increase college awareness among foster youth and caregivers. You will get a flavor for the vibe of the conference through an immersive welcome and a raffle that will mimic the type of activities that take place during the conference.
C3 – Flipping the Script: Embracing a Strength-Based Approach in Building a Foster Youth Community
Alex Ojeda, Jessica Ruiz, and Carissa Gonzalez, Los Angeles Valley College NextUp/Guardian Scholars
Oftentimes, students with foster care experience are described from a deficit-based standpoint, but when a student believes they can achieve, they can accomplish their goals. Utilizing both a trauma-informed and healing-centered practice can support students with foster care experience to feel empowered and start believing! In this workshop, you will learn how the Los Angeles Valley College NextUp and Guardian Scholars program uses a multi-disciplinary approach to work collaboratively to create a community of empowered students through intentional, strategically designed events, and celebrations both on-and off-campus. You will gain a wide range of creative and innovative possibilities for program implementation and student empowerment.
C4 workshop could be interesting to students too!
C4 – From Being in the System to Working for the System
Stephen Morales and Phillip Valdovinos, UC Riverside Office of Foster Youth Support Services
This workshop, ideal for professionals in education, social work, counseling, and related fields, will explore the profound impact of countertransference and vicarious trauma on professionals working with foster youth. You will hear about the presenters’ journeys from being in the foster care system to working within it and is designed to help professionals with lived experience understand how personal experiences can influence professional roles. Through interactive discussions and case studies, you will learn to recognize signs of countertransference and vicarious trauma, develop strategies for managing these challenges, and enhance your ability to provide effective support to students.
C5 – Unlocking Potential: Empowering Foster Youth to Dream Big, Achieve Bigger!
Ilinanoa Suliafu and Sara Arispe, San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools
Monique Stennis, University of Redlands and Author
Are you passionate about empowering foster youth to achieve their full potential and dream big with post-secondary options? Join partners from San Bernardino County who will spotlight the transformative impact of the Student Success Partnership, an innovative collaboration between the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools and the University of Redlands to support foster youth living in Short-Term Residential Therapeutic Programs (STRTPs). Panelists will also describe the Summer Success Academy, a dynamic, multi-week, academic experience designed to ignite curiosity, foster creativity, and cultivate a love for learning among foster youth. You will learn about an interactive STEAM curriculum that is more than just classroom instruction – it’s a journey of exploration, discovery, and hands-on learning designed to unlock the potential within each and every foster youth.
C6 workshop could be interesting to students too!
C6 – Join the California Foster Youth Initiative AmeriCorps Partnership to Improve Educational Success and Life Outcomes for Foster Youth in Your Community
Tabitha Grier, The Child Abuse Prevention Center
AmeriCorps Member, TBD
AmeriCorps Partner, TBD
Are you looking to expand your capacity to better serve foster youth? Look no further! The California Foster Youth Initiative (FYI) AmeriCorps program has demonstrated tremendous outcomes for foster youth throughout California, including improved financial literacy, life skills competency, and academic engagement. This unique program utilizes trained AmeriCorps members as youth mentors who build meaningful relationships with youth and work on goal-oriented tasks to catalyze the social, emotional, cognitive, and identity development of foster youth. The workshop will provide an overview of the FYI AmeriCorps program and share how you can become a collaborative partner to benefit your agency, the AmeriCorps mentors, and the foster youth you serve.
C7 – Getting Real with Foster Parents
Mark Daley, Author, Foster Dad, and Activist
Join bestselling author and foster-adoptive parent Mark Daley for an honest conversation about the truths of foster care from the lens of those who open their homes and their hearts. In his book, Safe: A Memoir of Fatherhood, Foster Care, and The Risks We Take For Family, Daley shares his and his husband’s journey to parenthood through Los Angeles County’s foster care system and the lessons he learned about the system and about himself. Daley, a marketer by trade, is now a foster care activist and works with California Department of Social Services to recruit resource (foster) families.
C8 – Blueprint for the Future: Education and Empowerment “The Right Way”
Franco Vega and Andraya Slyter, The RightWay Foundation
Youth Participants
In a panel-style presentation highlighting the knowledge of Rightway Foundation staff and recently emancipated foster youth, the RightWay Foundation will share ways to provide foster youth with the mental, emotional, and financial stability needed to reduce barriers to maintaining college enrollment and degree completion. The panel will explore the healing-centered, trauma-informed supportive services that the RightWay Foundation uses to address challenges with academic and personal success and will emphasize techniques that aid youth in identifying, processing, and managing trauma. You will take away practical skills to promote positive cognitive, social, and emotional development for youth and be more informed about resources needed to encourage youth to expand their vision of the future through educational empowerment.
C9 workshop could be interesting to students too!
C9 – Staying Housed and Staying in School: Navigating California’s Housing Resources for Current and Former Foster Youth
Simone Tureck Lee, John Burton Advocates for Youth
Housing provider, TBD
College representative, TBD
For current and former foster youth, lacking housing as a student can result in homelessness, repeat trauma, and postsecondary aspirations cut short. This workshop focuses on the housing resources available in California to young adults navigating the transition from foster care to independent living. You will learn how to navigate housing systems and eligibility, how to advocate on behalf of young adults, as well as empower them to advocate for themselves, fostering a culture of resilience. The session will also highlight the transformative impact of public funding to support partnerships between college campuses and housing providers.
STUDENT WORKSHOP
C10 – Navigating Resources for Your Success
Michelle Neumann and Sherrie Bradford, CASA of Los Angeles
This comprehensive workshop, designed specifically for students, will equip you with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in higher education. Students will learn how to cultivate study skills, employ time management techniques, combat imposter syndrome, and engage in self-care practices. You will also learn the importance of building supportive relationships in order to address the unique challenges and barriers foster youth might encounter in their journey to postsecondary success. Panelists will foster a supportive and inclusive environment where foster youth can openly discuss their concerns and aspirations regarding college. You will leave this workshop feeling confident, with practical strategies on how to overcome obstacles thrown your way!
D1 – Unlocking Your NextUp Program Potential Through Weekly Workshops: A Success Story at Santa Barbara City College
Christina Lomeli, Santa Barbara City College
Anne Rodriguez and Dwayne Dunlevy, New World View Consulting
This engaging session will delve into the transformative power of Santa Barbara City College’s EmpowerED Workshops and Next Step Coaching programs, which has achieved remarkable success in enhancing student student engagement and retention, overcoming obstacles, and fostering overall academic excellence. Through interactive discussions and real-life examples, you will explore the importance of caring, connection, and understand the effects of trauma and abuse through a holistic approach alongside student success stories. You will leave with practical tips on how to implement similar strategies at your institution to empower NextUp students to move beyond surviving, and tap into their abilities to thrive academically, personally, and beyond.
D2 – The Hidden Impact of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policies on Foster Youth
Sarah Pauter, John Burton Advocates for Youth
Access to financial aid is crucial for foster youth pursuing postsecondary education, as it helps address basic needs and improve academic outcomes. While expanding financial aid access at the start of their college journey is important, little attention is given to whether these students can maintain aid once enrolled. Many foster youth lose financial aid after one year due to Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements, making them unlikely to return to college. You will explore the impact of SAP policies on foster youth’s financial aid retention and enrollment at California Community Colleges. You will also discuss legislative efforts, such as AB 789 and SB 150, and best practices to mitigate SAP’s adverse effects on these students’ educational pursuits.
D3 workshop could be interesting to students too!
D3 – College to Career: Revolutionizing Career Preparation to Increase Employment Outcomes for College-Going Foster Youth
Betsy Gutierrez, Gina Ibrahim, and Zoe Fried, Ready to Succeed
Ready to Succeed (RTS) is a groundbreaking career preparation program that utilizes trauma-informed, relationship-based, and research-supported interventions to empower foster youth to thrive in their careers. In this workshop, you will learn how Ready to Succeed’s five-pillar career success program is changing the game for bachelor’s degree-seeking foster youth attending 2-and 4-year colleges with its proactive, holistic, and personalized approach to foster youth support work. You will also learn how campus and community organizations like yours can partner with RTS to leverage relationships, build community, implement best practices, improve student outcomes, and become a catalyst for change!
D4 – Youth2Youth: Using Lived Experience and Strategic Partnerships to Connect to Foster Youth
Rashida Elimu, Brittney Mortensen, and Aliyah Banks, Promises2Kids
Charisma De Los Reyes, San Diego County Office of Education
Promises2Kids’ goal is to ensure that every foster youth in San Diego County is aware of and has access to effective, life changing programs; come learn about how you can offer the same! This workshop will explore Promises2Kids’ unique partnership with the San Diego County of Education that identifies students in foster care who need to be engaged or re-engaged in school and pairs them with a Youth2Youth peer mentor. The Youth2Youth relationship provides intensive support – including a 7am wake-up call to the group home – and aims to increase school attendance and encourage postsecondary planning from a lived experience perspective. You will learn how to build relationships with key community partners to fill gaps in services and better understand how to leverage the power of peer mentorships to aid in your mission to serve current and former foster youth and reconnect foster youth to their educational future.
D5 – Build the Right Bridge: Equity-Focused College and Career Planning with the California College Guidance Initiative
Chris Dech and Julian McDaniels, California College Guidance Initiative
The California College Guidance Initiative manages californiacolleges.edu, California’s official college and career planning platform. Offering detailed information, curricula, and tools informed by students’ transcript data, it acts as a one-stop shop to help students discover their college and career goals, make plans for how to achieve them, and launch into fulfilling futures. You will learn about the tools available to students, a new caseload management feature, and reporting features that provide educators with the opportunity to track college and financial aid applications for foster youth students. You’ll experience the platform in action via a live demonstration, and you are encouraged to bring your devices (e.g., laptops) to explore further with your own demo account.
D6 – Thriving in the World of Work: Pathways to Independence and Equality through Employment
Elizabeth Musgrove, Maria Turrubiartes and Erwin Petilla, and Eliana Cuentas, CA Department of Rehabilitation
Youth in foster care can thrive in the world of work as a pathway to independence, equality, and community inclusion through employment! This workshop will explore the wide variety of services provided by the California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) to support career planning and employment for eligible youth and young adults with disabilities so they can take charge of their future. You will have the opportunity to explore the specialized services available through DOR such as job exploration for meaningful careers, connections to work experience, postsecondary education funding and more! You will leave this workshop ready to support youth with resources that will empower them to be successful in employment with a life-sustaining wage and learn how to access these key resources through DOR.
D7 workshop could be interesting to students too!
D7 – Black in Foster Care: Exploring the Realities and Possibilities for African American Children and Families Navigating Child Welfare
Sade Daniels, Dae Dreams Affirmed
Christi Ketchum, Our Rightful Place
Black children have been overrepresented in California’s foster care system for decades; the experiences of these children and their families are profound and directly tied to historical oppressions that remain at the forefront of service delivery from every system. This workshop will explore those distinct experiences while uplifting the enduring spirit of Black children, youth and families. This interactive workshop will utilize activity stations that focus topics such as access to education through Historically Black Colleges and navigating complex discussions of safety. This moving experience will help you understand the distinctive barriers Black foster youth face, the connection to systemic racism, and the impact those dynamics have on educational opportunities, employment, and quality of life.
D8 workshop could be interesting to students too!
D8 – Empowering Futures: Navigating the UC Application Journey for Foster Youth
Stephany Rubio, UC Santa Barbara Guardian Scholars Program
Valeri Garcia, UC Davis Guardian Scholars Program
Stephen Morales, UC Riverside Guardian Scholars Program
This workshop will focus on empowering foster youth and their adult supporters in the process of completing the University of California admissions application. Delving into the unique challenges faced by foster youth, panelists will explore tailored strategies and resources to navigate the application effectively. From understanding the importance of highlighting resilience and overcoming obstacles in personal statements to demystifying financial aid options, this session will equip you with the knowledge and confidence needed to embark on or continue their higher education journey. Through engaging discussions and practical tips, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of how to present foster youth experiences and aspirations authentically, maximizing a student’s chances of success in the competitive UC admissions process. Don’t miss this opportunity to unlock the potential of foster youth applicants and champion their academic aspirations!
D9 – Stronger Together: Empowering Foster Youth Through Collaboration
Erika Pollard, Nilaja Bush, and Kimberly Davis, Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services Independent Living Program
Chantel Palmer and Hazel Gudino, ILP Youth Ambassadors
Independent Living Programs (ILP) can play an important role in bringing partners together to enhance collaboration and break down silos. This workshop will highlight one such effort in Los Angeles County, where the ILP has taken the lead on developing a comprehensive approach to college preparation, access, and success. Through partnerships with the County Office of Education, local college programs, program participants, and others, the ILP has created a potent intervention that begins in the 11th grade and includes college tours, FAFSA completion strategies, and a peer ambassador model. You will learn about how this effort has evolved and the lessons learned that can be applied throughout the state.
STUDENT WORKSHOP
D10 –Beyond the System: Empowering Your Success Through Learning
Thomas C. Rector and Frances Myers, Accrescent Institute
In this dynamic, interactive session designed for students, participants will explore the intricate relationship between memories, learning, and achievement. Guided by an experienced mentor, you will learn the profound influence memories have on where you are now, where you are going, and how you are able to influence your own success. Through engaging discussions, you will gain key insights about learning, explore your definition of success, and learn how to leverage your memories for personal growth. The workshop will help you identify your individual learning styles and preferences, understand how your specific experiences affect learning and success, and empower you to embrace your unique identity and overcome barriers.
Agenda
Sunday, October 27 – Youth Leadership Training
Separate Registration is Required
Monday, October 28 – Blueprint Conference
-
9:00 – 10:00 AM Conference Check-in and Networking
-
10:00 – 11:00 AM Opening Program
-
11:00 – 11:15 AM Break
-
11:15 – 12:30 PM Session “A” Workshops
-
12:30 – 1:30 PM Networking Lunch
-
1:30 – 2:30 PM General Session
-
2:30 – 3:00 PM Break
-
3:00 - 4:15 PM Structured Networking
-
4:30 - 5:30 PM Networking Reception
The conference is being held at the Westin LAX.
Sleeping rooms are $179 per night. Deadline to make room reservations at this rate is October 4, 2024. If this block sells out, we encourage you to check the hotels website directly for a room, or check other hotels in the area.
![](https://cacollegepathways.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/westin.webp)
Student Scholarships
The most important voices in the conversation about foster youth educational success are the voices of foster youth themselves. California College Pathways will be offering scholarships to up to 100 current and former foster youth to attend this year’s event to inform and lead the effort to create more college and career pathways for foster youth.
Scholarship slots will be provided directly to campus-based support programs for foster youth throughout California. Each campus that opts to participate will identify students to attend. Selected students will be provided with a full scholarship that pays for conference registration fees, travel and meals.
Scholars selected to attend will participate in a special leaders’ training on Sunday, the day prior to the conference starting. Scholars will receive training on strategic sharing, networking skills, background information on foster care policy issues and education opportunities, and an epic opportunity to mix it up with new friends!
On the day of the conference, Scholars will participate in professional workshops focused on the college and career success of foster youth. Each workshop will provide useful information that may assist students with their college and career goals, as well as provide an opportunity for them to share their insight and expertise.
To be eligible students must:
• Have had experience in the foster care system
• Be current college students
• Be currently living in California
• Be at least 18 years old as of the date of the event
• Be available and willing to attend both the pre-conference leadership training on October 27th and the full conference from 9:00 am on Monday, October 28th through Tuesday, October 29th at 3:30
• Be nominated by their campus-based support program.
For questions, please contact Christine Perry at chris@mwmanagementgroup.com.
FAQ
No. There is only one flat free for registration whether you attend one day or both.
You can choose the “pay by purchase order” option during registration. You will receive an attachment to your confirmation email that is an invoice/receipt. This can be used as the invoice needed for your PO. If you need anything else, please email Cathy Murnighan (cathy@mwmanagementgroup.com), and she can help you. Click here for JBAY W9 form.
Yes, make check payable to:
John Burton Advocates for Youth
235 Montgomery St. Ste. 1142
San Francisco, CA 94104
There is a receipt/invoice attached to your confirmation email that you can use to submit for payment in your organization.
No, but they can apply for a scholarship through their campus-based foster youth support program.
As space allows, students who register under the general registration may be able to attend the Sunday student training and the Monday night student dinner and activity.
Click here for information about how to apply for a scholarship.
Self Parking is $39 per day
Valet Parking is $60 per day
Rates are the same for day use or overnight guests.
Registration fees are $485 per person.
Register Early! If you register by September 6th the fee is $400 per person.
When you go to the registration link you can choose to pay by credit card, check or purchase order. You will receive a confirmation email with a receipt/invoice attachment. This can be used for your records to show credit card payment, or submit to request a check or process a Purchase Order. If you have further questions, please email Cathy Murnighan (cathy@mwmanagementgroup.com)
If you cancel your registration before October 18, 2024 we will refund your registration fees. If you cancel after that date – we will not be able to refund any of your registration fees.
These meals are included with your registration fee:
Monday Light Breakfast
Monday Lunch
Monday Evening Reception
Tuesday Breakfast
Tuesday Lunch
Students are more than welcome to attend the event. There are a limited number of scholarships available for students. Additional information can be found on our Student Scholarships tab. Students may also attend by paying the general registration fee.
There is a Student Only portion of the event on Sunday, October 27th for scholarship recipients. Students attending who are paying the full registration fee may be able to attend this pre-conference session, depending on space availability. Please make sure to identify yourself as a student when you register so that we can send you additional details.
Registration closes on Friday, October 18, 2024. There will not be onsite registration. The Early bird registration deadline is September 6. Fees go up after that date.
To download a PDF with the agenda to submit to your agency if requested, click HERE.