May is National Foster Care Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness for all the youth in foster care. It is also a time to honor the foster parents, families, volunteers, child welfare professionals, probation staff and members of the community who have a role in supporting youth who experience foster care.
The Lassen County Foster Youth Services program started in 2003 with a grant from the California Department of Education. The Probation Department, in partnership with the Lassen County Office of Education, set out to provide services for vital record collection, timely school enrollment and improve educational outcomes for foster youth in Lassen County. Over the next two decades the program expanded its services and now provides a more focused assistance to local foster youth.
“The program provides capacity building services to give educators, youth, parents, service providers and community member the knowledge to help youth find career paths, overcome educational barriers, participate in Individualized Education Program, assisting with difficult behavior, checking in with foster youth to ensure they are meeting educational goals and mentoring youth aging out of the system,” explains FYS Program Manager Calli Oxford.
“We are honored to recognize our amazing foster youth and families who provide a safe and stable home for foster youth in Lassen County,” said Oxford.
“On behalf of Lassen County Foster Youth Services, Lassen County Probation Department and Lassen County Child and Family Services, we want to thank all the members of our community for making a difference in the lives of foster youth.”
If you are interested in becoming a resource family, please contact the Lassen County Child and Family Services Department at 530-251-8277.
You can also watch the video over at YouTube by following this link.
