General Operating for Scholars and Pathways Programs

Support for Foster and Systems-Impacted Youth

Expand existing project, program, or initiative

UFC's purpose is centered on the alarming outcomes & needs of youth in & emancipated from the child welfare system. In Los Angeles, nearly 30,000 youth are in care & 1,500 exit the system each year. For youth exiting the foster care system, the transition to adulthood is rife with challenges & many will experience negative life outcomes far exceeding their non-foster peers, including low rates of educational attainment & employment, & high rates of homelessness & food insecurity.?One primary reason that foster youth struggle is because they lack stable, positive adult relationships?& other?vital?peer & community connections.?A 2019 survey of UFC's own program participants revealed 60% of youth had experienced two or more home placements with 16% experiencing more than four. These major social & physical disruptions often leave youth vulnerable and forced to navigate adolescence & the transition to adulthood?alone.

United Friends requests a $75,000 general operating grant that will support foster youth in both our Education and Housing programs. 350 foster youth throughout the County, including the Antelope Valley will receive the full suite of services and resources provided by our Education Program. This includes college readiness and support, youth development services, case management, workshops, events, college tours, caregiver support, educational advocacy, tutoring and academic support services, and peer and community connections. Education Program participants begin in middle school and remain active through the completion of their college degree. Youth in the Education Program annually achieve 95% high school graduation rates, successfully matriculate to college, and have a college degree completion rate of 70% - effectively closing the achievement gap between foster and non-foster youth. Through our Housing Program, this grant will also provide 150 former foster youth (18-25 years old) experiencing homelessness immediate relief from housing food insecurity. Services include furnished apartments, case management, mental health support, career and education counseling, and post-transition support. Together, these two programs (Education and Housing) help our youth increase self-efficacy and build a life of self-sufficiency.

Los Angeles is a vibrant & wealthy metropolis populated by some of the most progressive, innovative & generous leaders & philanthropists in the nation. Improving living conditions for our most vulnerable, like children in & emancipated from the child welfare system, will benefit everyone & requires a comprehensive approach addressing the growing inequity in our community. This grant will support our core programs - Education & Housing. This includes individual counseling, educational advocacy & navigation, post-secondary education & financial assistance, furnished apartments, food insecurity relief, job training, career planning, mental health & post transition support. Southern Californian's struggles with income inequity, unaffordable housing, job placement, and strong and effectual education are the gaps in the safety net that United Friends closes in their support of foster youth and help them break the cycle and achieve positive life outcomes.

We are proud to report the following results: Education Goal 1: 90% of high school students successfully graduate high school Result: 95% of UFC scholars graduated high school Goal 2: 80% of high school students matriculated to institutions of higher education Result: 77% of high school graduates matriculated to institutions of higher education Goal 3: 70% of college students receive a bachelor's degree Result: 80% of our youth who matriculated to a bachelor-degree granting institution have earned a their degree Housing Goal 4: 60% of youth secure or maintain employment while in the program Result: 63% of youth residents secured or maintained employment while in the program. Further, 72% of youth residents were employed or in school pursuing a degree, & establishing a stable work history and savings account. Goal 5: 65% of youth exit the program into stable housing Result: 70% of youth successfully transitioned to stable housing despite the challenges of the pandemic.