Campaign launched in 2017.
Convened by John Burton Advocates for Youth (JBAY).
Foster Youth College Advancement Project (FYCAP) is committed to increasing postsecondary educational attainment for youth in the foster care system, whether it be career technical education or a 2-year or 4-year degree.
“JBAY is proud to have led the efforts alongside our partners to develop long term systems change solutions that will impact youth in LA County for years to come.”
— Amy Lemley Executive Director
John Burton Advocates for Youth
Mariahunalahni (“Mariah”) Salevao, LA OYC Young Leader, graduated high school in May 2021 and attends the University of La Verne as a kinesiology major. She is a highly motivated and bright young woman, and she credits her success to those who supported her journey to higher education.
From a young age, Mariah knew higher education would benefit her, so it became her goal. While she was in high school, figuring out applications, financial aid, and campus supports was challenging, and Mariah thanks her mentor from the California Community Foundation who supported her through the process of applying to college. With her mentor’s help, she was able to secure free residence in the University of La Verne dorms. Mariah also shares that the emotional support from her therapist, mentor, and the LA OYC Young Leaders helped her transition from high school to college.
Now Mariah is continuing to build her support network and a connection with her campus, and she is also a member of Give Back Scholars, a foster youth educational support program at the University of La Verne. She believes that the encouragement and guidance from those around her has been her most impactful supports.
Every year, billions of dollars in federal and state financial aid go unused because eligible students do not complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application (CADAA).
In 2017, JBAY launched the Foster Youth FAFSA Challenge, a statewide initiative to increase financial aid applications among high school seniors in the foster care system. One of those applicants, 17-year-old Tobias Herrera, said he wasn’t aware of how much aid he could receive until a counselor at Palmdale High School in Los Angeles County contacted him about being a foster youth.
“I knew FAFSA was just free money, but I didn’t know a lot of people actually got it,” he said. “I thought I had to go through some grueling process for a couple of thousand bucks to pay for books.”
Herrera didn’t learn until that moment that he had been in foster care since age 15. While he lived with his grandparents, he wasn’t aware they were also his legal foster parents. His counselor encouraged him to indicate his foster youth status on the FAFSA, which opened up more aid and opportunities for him when he attended Antelope Valley College in Fall 2020. Herrera received the full Pell Grant award of $6,345.
Alliance for Children’s Rights
Cal Poly Pomona
California State University Office of the Chancellor
Children’s Law Center of California
First Star
Foster and Kinship Care Education
Los Angeles City College (LACC)
Los Angeles College Promise
Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD)
Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS)
Los Angeles County Education Coordinating Council (ECC)
Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (DMH)
Los Angeles County Office of Child Protection (OCP)
Los Angeles County Probation Department
Los Angeles Mission College (LAMC)
Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO)
Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD)
Los Angeles Valley College (LAVC)
National Center for Youth Law
NextUp
UNITE-LA
United Friends of the Children
Convened by John Burton Advocates for Youth (JBAY) and launched in 2017
Foster Youth College Advancement Project (FYCAP) is committed to increasing postsecondary educational attainment for youth in the foster care system, whether it be career technical education or a 2-year or 4-year degree. [ learn more ]
“JBAY is proud to have led the efforts alongside our partners to develop long term systems change solutions that will impact youth in LA County for years to come.”
— Amy Lemley Executive Director
John Burton Advocates for Youth
JBAY spearheaded an initiative that successfully improved the rate of FAFSA completion for high school seniors in the foster care system from 33% to 68%.
For questions or to learn more about the Foster Youth College Advancement Project:
Jessica Petrass | jessica@jbay.org
