Foster Youth Services Program
Foster Youth Services is an educational advocacy program, providing a variety of education-related services to foster youth. In accordance with Assembly Bill 490, we make certain that the immediate enrollment mandate for these students is complied with, throughout San Joaquin County and other counties that place foster youth in group or foster homes. We also ensure that the students are in an appropriate education placement and receiving needed services. The Foster Youth Services Program is responsible for the tracking and transfer of school records, when the students are enrolled in county operated school programs, and foster children are newly placed in group or foster homes. The program provides assistance and trainings to the probation department, human services agency, group homes, and foster family agencies in San Joaquin County. We also provide guidance, training, and support to the foster youth and homeless liaisons in each school district. FOSTER YOUTH - A foster youth is defined as any child who has been removed from the custody of their parent(s)/guardian(s) by the juvenile court and placed in a group home or foster home. The child is under the direct supervision of a county probation officer or social worker. Homeless Liaison Services HOMELESS STUDENT - The federal McKinney-Vento Act protects the rights of children in homeless situations to attend and succeed in school, including pre-school. We make certain that the immediate enrollment mandate for these students is complied with throughout San Joaquin County. We also ensure that the students are in an appropriate education placement and receiving needed services. This applies to all children who do not have a fixed, regular and adequate residence, including children who are staying with friends or relatives because they lost their housing; awaiting foster placement; or living in emergency or transitional shelters, motels, campgrounds, inadequate trailer parks, cars, public spaces, abandoned buildings and bus/train stations.
