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County News Center | Office of Communications and Public Affairs
County News Center | Office of Communications and Public Affairs
Media Advisory

County of Santa Clara Celebrates Foster Youth Accomplishments at Second Annual Foster Youth Graduation

June 11, 2019

More than 70 Current and Former Foster Youth Will Be Recognized  at Levi’s® Stadium for Achieving Significant Educational Milestone

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIF. –On June 12, 2019, more than 70 Santa Clara County current and former foster youth will be honored for graduating from High School, obtaining a GED, earning a Vocational Program Certificate, Associate Degree, Bachelor and/or Master’s degree in the 2018-2019 academic year. Local foster youth will be treated to a special night at Levi’s stadium that will include an awards ceremony and dinner. Current foster youth graduating from high school, and continuing to higher education, were eligible to apply for a DFCS Scholarship. Four $1,000 DFCS Scholarships will be awarded at the event. Graduates will receive special ‘swag’ bags that will include gifts from the 49ers and Google.

The Second Annual Foster Youth Graduation will be hosted by the Department of Family and Children’s Services, (DFCS), Child Advocates of Silicon Valley (CASA), the Bill Wilson Center (BWC), Pivotal, and the San Francisco 49ers. 

WHO:

Representatives from:

  • The County of Santa Clara Social Services Agency Department of Family and Children’s Services (DFCS)
  • Child Advocates of Silicon Valley (CASA)
  • The Bill Wilson Center (BWC)
  • Pivotal
  • San Francisco 49ers
  • Foster youth participants and honorees

WHEN AND WHERE:

Wednesday, June 12, 2019, 6 – 9 p.m.

Levi’s Stadium

4900 Marie P. DeBartolo Way, Santa Clara, CA 95054

FACTS ABOUT FOSTER YOUTH:

Foster youth face unique challenges that don’t always impact non-foster youth. When it comes to achieving a high school education, the numbers are troubling, about 30% of foster youth in the United States never graduate high school. For those without stable homes, it can be a struggle to make it to class and stay focused on their studies. Despite these obstacles to educational attainment, foster youth express a desire to achieve higher levels of education.

  • As of April 2019, there are 1095 foster youth in Santa Clara County.
  • In June 2019, 53 foster youth will graduate from high school in Santa Clara County.
  • In June 2019, 25 foster youth will graduate from higher education in Santa Clara County (AA and BA)
  • In 2019, 176 foster youth participated in the County Intern & Earn program.
  • In SCC, from 2014 – 2018, more than 80% of our foster youth completed their high school requirements.
  • Nationally, only 71% of foster youth receive a high school diploma by the age 19.

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ABOUT THE COUNTY OF SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA

The County of Santa Clara government serves a diverse, multi-cultural population of 1.9 million residents in Santa Clara County, the fifth largest county in California. With a $7 billion budget, more than 70 agencies/departments and 22,000 employees, the County of Santa Clara plans for the needs of a dynamic community, offers quality services, and promotes a healthy, safe and prosperous community for all. The County provides essential services including public health and environmental protection, medical services through Santa Clara Valley Medical Center (SCVMC) hospitals and clinics, child and adult protection services, homelessness prevention and solutions, roads, parks, libraries, emergency response to disasters, protection of minority communities and those under threat, access to a fair criminal justice system, and scores of other services, particularly for those members of our community in the greatest need.

Visit us at: http://www​.sccgov.org

Follow us:
Facebook: http://Facebook.com/County.of.Santa.Clara/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/sccgov​

Media Contact: Shannon García, Social Services Agency, (408) 755-7760;  Laurel Anderson/Marina Hinestrosa​, Office of Public Affairs, (408) 299-5119.

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Media Advisory