Foster Youth Success Initiative

The Foster Youth Success Initiative (FYSI) program provides service to identified and verified current or former foster youth attending Ventura College. Our goal is to provide student support services to foster youth which will prepare and invest in the youth during their post-secondary educational journey. A FYSI Liaison provides individual support to foster youth on campus. The role of an FYSI Liaison is to: Provide a safe and warm welcome for foster youth Advocates and serves as your ally Connects you with campus resources Provide one-on-one assistance in completing the college and financial aid application process Connects you with resources within the community such as housing and employment If you are a current or former foster youth and would like more information about financial aid at Ventura College, please contact: Danielle Rodriguez Financial Aid Specialist/Foster Youth Liaison Phone: (805) 289-6125 Email: danielle_rodriguez2@vcccd.edu
Priority Registration
California Assembly Bill 194 was designed to improve the chances of success for current and former foster youth. The law, which took effect January 1, 2012, grants student who are or have been in foster care priority registration for college courses. In order to receive priority registration, students must complete the following: Step 1: Submit Verification of Current or Previous Foster Care Status to the FYSI Liaison Step 2: Complete New Student Orientation Online at MyVCCCD Log on to MyVCCCD and click on the MySUCCESS tab to complete the online orientation Complete the short assessments and print your Certificate of Completion, it will be required prior to making a counseling appointment Step 3: Complete English & Math Assessments Schedule an assessment session (click here) Check for the testing dates & times, test last 2-3 hours long Step 4: Develop a Student Educational Plan online at MyVCCCD Call the Counseling Office at (805) 289-6448 to schedule your New Student Counseling Session and develop your first-semester educational plan Access DegreeWorks via MyVCCCD to select and track courses to meet your educational goals Not sure how to create an abbreviated education plan in DegreeWorks? Click here to access the tutorial video.
Scholarship and Grant Opportunities for Foster Youth
California Chafee Grant for Foster Youth May qualify for up to $5,000 a year. Must be a current or former foster youth and not have reached your 22nd birthday as of July of the award year. The court must have established your dependency when you were between the ages of 16 and 18. The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) will verify your foster youth eligibility status. Ventura College Foundation Scholarship Program To assist students currently enrolled at Ventura College for academic excellence. TEACh Fund Scholarship Awarded to previous and current foster youth in the foster care system.
Important DCFS Information
Supervised Independent Living Placement (SLIP) The Supervised Independent Living Placement (SLIP) is a new placement option for youth ages 18 to 21. If you are a youth in foster care placement, enrolled in college or working 80 hours per month, who turned age 18 on or after January 1, 2012, you can remain in foster care until age 20 under a Supervised Independent Living Placement (SILP). Beginning January 1, 2014, qualified youth can participate in extended foster care until age 21. SILP was created by California’s Fostering Connections to Success Act (also known as AB12). Upon completing a SILP Readiness Assessment, youth can receive direct financial support while living independently in an apartment, renting a room, residing in a college dorm and sharing a setting with a roommate. Contact your ILP Coordinator or Social Worker for information on how to apply. California Fostering Connections to Success Act Independent Living Coordinator An Independent Living Coordinator provides assistance to current and former foster/probation youth who are between 16-21 years of age. The ILP Coordinator is available to help current and former foster youth. Carolina Ugarte Community Service Coordinator Independent Living Program- In-Care Youth Children & Family Services (805) 385-9174 1400 Vanguard Drive Suite C Oxnard, CA 93033 carolina.ugarte@ventura.org
Foster Youth Resources
California Department of Social Services Casey Family Programs Foster Youth Help Foster Care to Success Housing Transitional Housing Placement Program (THPP) (805) 654-3405 or your social worker Health TAY Tunnel (805) 240-2538

The Foster Youth Success Initiative (FYSI) program provides service to identified and verified current or former foster youth attending Ventura College.

Our goal is to provide student support services to foster youth which will prepare and invest in the youth during their post-secondary educational journey.

A FYSI Liaison provides individual support to foster youth on campus.

The role of an FYSI Liaison is to:

Provide a safe and warm welcome for foster youth
Advocates and serves as your ally
Connects you with campus resources
Provide one-on-one assistance in completing the college and financial aid application process
Connects you with resources within the community such as housing and employment

If you are a current or former foster youth and would like more information about financial aid at Ventura College, please contact:

Danielle Rodriguez
Financial Aid Specialist/Foster Youth Liaison
Phone: (805) 289-6125
Email: danielle_rodriguez2@vcccd.edu

Priority Registration

California Assembly Bill 194 was designed to improve the chances of success for current and former foster youth. The law, which took effect January 1, 2012, grants student who are or have been in foster care priority registration for college courses.

In order to receive priority registration, students must complete the following:

Step 1: Submit Verification of Current or Previous Foster Care Status to the FYSI Liaison

Step 2: Complete New Student Orientation Online at MyVCCCD

Log on to MyVCCCD and click on the MySUCCESS tab to complete the online orientation
Complete the short assessments and print your Certificate of Completion, it will be required prior to making a counseling appointment

Step 3: Complete English & Math Assessments

Schedule an assessment session (click here)
Check for the testing dates & times, test last 2-3 hours long

Step 4: Develop a Student Educational Plan online at MyVCCCD

Call the Counseling Office at (805) 289-6448 to schedule your New Student Counseling Session and develop your first-semester educational plan
Access DegreeWorks via MyVCCCD to select and track courses to meet your educational goals
Not sure how to create an abbreviated education plan in DegreeWorks? Click here to access the tutorial video.

Scholarship and Grant Opportunities for Foster Youth

California Chafee Grant for Foster Youth

May qualify for up to $5,000 a year. Must be a current or former foster youth and not have reached your 22nd birthday as of July of the award year. The court must have established your dependency when you were between the ages of 16 and 18. The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) will verify your foster youth eligibility status.

Ventura College Foundation Scholarship Program

To assist students currently enrolled at Ventura College for academic excellence.

TEACh Fund Scholarship

Awarded to previous and current foster youth in the foster care system.

Important DCFS Information

Supervised Independent Living Placement (SLIP)

The Supervised Independent Living Placement (SLIP) is a new placement option for youth ages 18 to 21. If you are a youth in foster care placement, enrolled in college or working 80 hours per month, who turned age 18 on or after January 1, 2012, you can remain in foster care until age 20 under a Supervised Independent Living Placement (SILP). Beginning January 1, 2014, qualified youth can participate in extended foster care until age 21. SILP was created by California’s Fostering Connections to Success Act (also known as AB12). Upon completing a SILP Readiness Assessment, youth can receive direct financial support while living independently in an apartment, renting a room, residing in a college dorm and sharing a setting with a roommate. Contact your ILP Coordinator or Social Worker for information on how to apply.

California Fostering Connections to Success Act

Independent Living Coordinator

An Independent Living Coordinator provides assistance to current and former foster/probation youth who are between 16-21 years of age. The ILP Coordinator is available to help current and former foster youth.

Carolina Ugarte
Community Service Coordinator
Independent Living Program- In-Care Youth
Children & Family Services
(805) 385-9174
1400 Vanguard Drive Suite C
Oxnard, CA 93033
carolina.ugarte@ventura.org

Foster Youth Resources

California Department of Social Services

Casey Family Programs

Foster Youth Help

Foster Care to Success

Housing

Transitional Housing Placement Program (THPP) (805) 654-3405 or your social worker

Health

TAY Tunnel (805) 240-2538