On April 7, 2025, tFYPC members and foster care alum led an interactive workshop at the California Foster Youth Education Summit. The session highlighted promising practices that build a ladder to academic success for students in care and shared key findings from the Collective’s “Destination Graduation” report. Participants were encouraged to strengthen collaborations between community-based organizations, school districts, county offices of education, and child welfare agencies to ensure every youth in care across the state receives appropriate support to graduate high school and prepare for post-secondary programs.
tFYPC alumni advisor and foster youth advocate Junely Merwin and First Star CEO Lyndsey C. Wilson brought Destination Graduation to the Capitol
Representatives from all six tFYPC member organizations joined foster care alumni in Sacramento for our inaugural Advocacy Day. The group met with 15 legislative leaders and aides to share the Collective’s vision for expanding individualized, trauma-informed services that empower California’s students in foster care to graduate high school and successfully pursue post-secondary educational programs and career pathways aligned with their interests and goals. We greatly appreciated the opportunity to connect with these champions for children and look forward to working together in the future to improve the academic progression of young people in foster care across the state.
Matt Strieker, CEO of United Friends of the Children, and Lyndsey C. Wilson, CEO of First Star, Inc. presented the Collective’s Destination Graduation report and highlighted how teachers can effectively assist their students through consistent, one-on-one support and strong relational engagement. These approaches have been shown to improve academic outcomes, increase high school graduation rates, and encourage the pursuit of college and other post-secondary opportunities
Matt Strieker, CEO of United Friends of the Children participated in a panel discussion to share the challenges facing California’s K-12 students in foster care with legislative staff, advocates, stakeholder, and the public.