Every year around 300 youth exit the foster care system in Alameda County. Studies show that within two to four years after emancipating from the system, 46% had not completed high school (compared to 84% of non-foster youth who completed high school), 51% were unemployed, 40% had been on public assistance or incarcerated, and 25% had been homeless.

Historically, the struggle of these emancipating foster youth has been a "quiet crisis," with their stories remaining below the radar of most policy makers and community members. The good news is that FYA and our partners across the region and the state have been working hard to change that, and the media, policy makers, and the community have taken note. There is a growing awareness and concern about the challenges that youth face as they emancipate from foster care. This concern is being translated into action both at the program level and in terms of policy. The 26 public and private agencies of The Alameda County Foster Youth Alliance weave their 'best practices' into a strong network that informs our community and supports our foster youth at the county, regional, and state levels:

• County: California's foster care system is comprised of 58 individual county systems. Each county faces unique challenges and opportunities. For the many private and public organizations serving the foster youth of Alameda County, FYA provides a venue for communication and collaboration. The forum promotes a strong, well coordinated system of services that responds to and delivers upon the specific needs of the foster youth in our county.

• Region: While in care as well as after they emancipate, foster youth are mobile. Many foster youth are placed outside their counties of origin and it is common for youth to move to a different county after emancipation. Consequently, many of our youth consider themselves citizens of the Bay Area rather than of a particular county. Regional cooperation is imperative to ensure that youth who are placed in or who emancipate from foster care outside of their counties of origin have access to services that respond to their needs.

• State: Many policies that govern foster youth are enacted at the state level. Because state decision makers profoundly impact what happens to foster youth on a county level, it is vital to the success and well being of all foster youth in California that the policy makers are knowledgeable about the needs of foster youth. In conjunction with regional partners and a network of service providers and advocacy organizations throughout the state, FYA has followed the lead of the California Youth Connection to bring the voices of transitioning foster youth to statewide policy makers so that their specific needs can be met.

What do we do?

• ADVOCATE: We promote policies and programs to increase resources at the county and state levels for transitioning foster youth.

• CONVENE: We facilitate communication among agencies locally, regionally, and beyond, and provide professional development trainings and networking opportunities for direct service providers.

• INFORM: We provide important information to members, the media, local decision makers, and the community regarding the challenges foster youth face during and after emancipation. We also provide technical assistance to other communities seeking to implement a model for collaboration.

• COORDINATE: We build regional and statewide collaborations to improve outcomes for transitioning foster youth.

Reed Connell, Executive Director
Melinda Clemmons, Communications Manager
Dana Mandolesi, Online Projects Coordinator

Bob Miller, President
Michele Byrnes, Treasurer
Sam Cobbs
Aisha Brown
Ken Shaw
Jill Duerr Berrick