Youth in Foster Care

In This Section

Youth in Foster Care

351 S. Hudson Ave.
Pasadena, CA 91109

For foster youth enrollment contact Annie Jananian (626) 396-3639

Meet the YIFC Team

Youth in Foster Care Contacts

Contact	Position	Extension
Brian Stanley	Foster Youth Liaison	88230
James Russell	Youth Foster Specialist
Angela Mendoza	Student Services Transition Specialist	88248
Jennifer Jakubiak	Counselor

Enrollment & School Stability

PUSD understands the importance of advocating for youth in foster care, especially when it comes to school stability and following best practices.

School Stability Matters. Foster youth transfer schools an average of eight times while in foster care, losing four to six months of learning each time.

Although navigating the foster care system can be tricky, we have a small but mighty team to help support with the best practices that focus on providing the school stability that is in the best interest of the student.

School stability means the youth can stay enrolled in any school they attended in the last 15 months, even if they move. They are also eligible for transportation assistance.

All school districts must allow students involved in the foster care system who live in out-of-home placement to continue to attend their school of origin, even if they move to a placement outside the school’s attendance boundaries, as long as they have an open court case.

When a placement change is about to occur (or has occurred on an emergency basis), foster youth liaisons should work with the DCFS Social Worker to help the student remain at the school of origin unless the student’s Education Rights Holder (ERH)* determines that it would be in the student’s best interest to change schools. Students should not be disenrolled until we hold a Best Interest Determination(BID) Meeting with ERH.

BIDs
Enrollment

BIDs

A Best Interest Determination(BID) is a discussion where it is determined whether it is in the youth’s best interests to remain in their school of origin or change schools. This must occur at entry into care or at each placement change. Ideally, a BID should be held before any planned change in placement or within 3 days of a change of placement. A youth MUST remain in their school of origin until the BID process is completed, and it is determined to be in the youth’s best interest to attend a different school. The BID process should take into account the preferences of the youth and their attachment to the school of origin, including meaningful relationships with staff and peers and involvement in extracurricular activities. Transportation costs cannot be considered when determining a youth’s best interests. In California, while the school district AB 490 Liaison (or designee) and the child welfare agency point of contact play important roles in the best interest determination process, it is the youth’s court-appointed education rights holder who makes the final best interest determination decision. A youth should not be moved from their school of origin until then.

Whom may hold ed rights?

ERH is not always a caregiver. The court must decide who is fit to make educational decisions for students. Often, the court will leave the power to make educational rights decisions with a biological parent, even if a youth is not living with them. If the biological parent is unwilling, unavailable, or unfit to make education decisions, the court can appoint any of the following people:

Foster parent
Relative caregiver
Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)
Community member with a strong relationship to the youth
Surrogate Parent (through the school district)
The youth once they are 18 years old.

Enrollment

Students in foster care must be immediately enrolled in school, even if they have missed application or enrollment deadlines. This includes access to summer school, magnet schools and charters. Immediately enrolling students means it does not matter if they do not have:

Academic records
Outstanding fees or fines
Clothing/school uniform
Proof of residency
Medical or other required health records
Immunization records

While looking for a placement to suit the student’s needs, students with an active IEP are also referred to the PUSD Special Education Department to find an appropriate school placement.

Once a school is selected, the YIFC Team collaborates with our Office of Enrollment to get the student enrolled and ensures the documents needed from the departing school are received or in progress at the receiving school in PUSD.

Please refer to the Enrollment Process Flyer for more detailed information on the steps for best practices during enrollment.

Resources Center

We are currently operating STARS Youth in Foster Care Resource Centers on high school and middle school campuses throughout the district. In our safe space rooms, students are able to utilize resources through meeting Youth in Foster Care Team representative James Russell and accessing academic counseling support with Jennifer Jakubiak.

Students receive on-site support for scholastic needs, one-to-one time with a counselor and STARS representative, and individualized attention to their social and career goals.

For any information or assistance regarding on-site support for a youth in foster care, please contact James Russell via email or at the following extensions:

John Muir High: ext. 82569
Blair High: ext. 81115
Pasadena High School: ext. 84112

Volunteer Position Description

STARS Volunteer Position Description-COMING SOON!
STARS Volunteer Role

Volunteers at middle school or high school to achieve personal and academic goals
Support foster youth students through one-to-one or group
Serve as a positive role model and friend
Plan and participate in activities with and for STARS students
Communicate with STARS students openly and non-judgmentally
Establish a relationship based on equal responsibility and respect
Encourage and support students in the STARS program

Time Commitment

One academic school year with STARS program
Spend a minimum of one hour per week with STARS students
Attend an initial two-hour training session and additional training as required

Participation Requirements

Be interested in working with students
Be willing to adhere to all program policies and procedures
Be dependable and consistent in meeting the time commitments
Be willing to communicate regularly with program staff
Be willing to receive constructive feedback regarding STARS activities

Benefits

Personal fulfillment through contribution to the community
Satisfaction in helping youth mature, progress, and achieve goals
Training sessions allow you to learn skills valuable to employees
Personal ongoing support, and supervision to help you grow professionally
Establish meaningful connections in the Pasadena Unified School District

Click here to view the STARS Volunteer Application

Send your application to the Youth in Foster Care team.

Foster Youth Welcome Meetings

Youth in Foster Care staff meets with youth who are new to the district monthly, to welcome them to PUSD. In these meetings, the early interventionist attempts to find out areas of academic needs, and introduce students to school staff such as counselors. They also ensure that students have everything they need to be successful such as school ID, books and lockers. Young people have a smooth transition to PUSD.

Resources for Youth & Caregivers

2023 FY Education Law Fact Sheets
California Foster Youth Education Task Force Informational Resources
2024 Alliance for Childrens' Education Toolkit
Foster Youth Rights Handbook, Spanish
FURS Hotline Information
PPPSGV Sex Ed Training Information
DCFS Benefits Eligibility Finder - A tool that helps connect students with the benefits they qualify for based on their FY / FFY status

Resources for Site Staff

Foster Youth Advocates

Foster Youth Advocates are certificated staff who serve as the point of contact for students from foster care on their campus and their guardian. They would spend additional hours, both during and after school hours, involved in activities and strategies to address the challenges of our students from foster care who are the most vulnerable. These students may have high rates of truancy, or may be at risk of dropping out of school, or have been victims of crime.

As of 2022, Foster Youth Advocates are currently on 9 campuses in PUSD.

Assignment details:

Welcome new students from foster care to the school site
Work with campus personnel (e.g., Registrar, Counselor, and District Foster Care Liaison) to identify students
Conduct routine wellness checks with assigned students
Maintain contact logs
Establish a welcoming environment where parents and guardians are encouraged to engage in sufficient two-way communication with their school
Work collaboratively with Foster Youth Counselor and Liaison
Attend initial orientation and subsequent monthly check in meetings with other Foster Youth Advocates
Assist in meeting the following LCAP goals:
Desired Outcomes:
- Increase attendance
- Decrease chronic absenteeism rates
- Decrease suspension and expulsion rates
- Decrease middle and high school dropout rates
- Decrease Negative Behaviors that Disrupt Learning
- Increase school connectedness.