BLUEPRINT 2024
Blueprint Conference 2024
Supporting Foster Youth to College and Beyond

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 – 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 – 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 – 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 – 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. 

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 – 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 – 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 Initiaitive (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 – 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 – 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 – 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 – 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 – Empower Your Future: Navigating the World of Scholarships
Esme Nuno Mora and Karen Esparza Lopez, UC Berkeley Students
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.