The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion by Supervisors Kathryn Barger and Hilda L. Solis which seeks to organize and enhance efforts by County departments and community partners to help foster youth transition to successful adulthood.
“Today’s Board motion asks the County to refine and focus the collective initiatives to ensure we are providing comprehensive programs and services to those vulnerable young people for whom the County has become their de facto parent,” said Supervisor Barger. “Starting at the earliest age possible, we must help foster youth achieve four foundational goals of educational attainment, stable employment, permanent housing, and emotional and social connections for well-being.”
“Foster youth are among our most vulnerable young people in society. To the extent that they have unique challenges, this population deserves our time, attention and enhanced competency toward serving them,” said Supervisor Solis. “Our foster children are our County’s kids and I am committed to seeing that responsibility through with this motion.”
Under the direction of the Chief Executive Office and the Office of Child Protection, the County will examine the existing system of care, and collaborate with community organizations and partners who are experts in the fields of housing, employment, education and health to identify the gaps and shortfalls in services, potential bureaucratic hurdles, existing successful initiatives, and promising pilot programs.