Foster Youth Services (FYS) Resources and Links
Foster Youth Liaisons, 2010-2011
|
School District | Name | Phone | Fax | Email |
|---|
Live Oak | Tamra Taylor | 475-6333 x202 | 475-2638 | ttaylor@santacruz.k12.ca.us |
Pajaro Valley Unified | Richard Puente | 786-2360 | 761-6130 | richard_puente@pvusd.net |
San Lorenzo Valley Unified | Sandi Reimer | 336-8852 |
| sreimer@slvhs.k12.ca.us |
Santa Cruz City | Eileen Brown | 429-3410 x216 | 429-3450 | ebrown@santacruz.k12.ca.us |
Santa Cruz COE | Michael Paynter | 466-5729 | 466-5730 | mpaynter@santacruz.k12.ca.us |
Scotts Valley Unified | Gerri Fippin | 438-1820 x102 | 438-2314 | gfippin@santacruz.k12.ca.us |
Soquel Union Elementary | Kathleen Howard | 464-5630 | 475-5196 | khoward@suesd.org |
Bonny Doon Union Elem | Stephanie Siddens | 427-2300 |
| ssiddens@santacruz.k12.ca.us |
Happy Valley Elem | Michelle McKinny | 429-1456 | 429-6205 | mmckinny@santacruz.k12.ca.us |
Mountain Elementary | Diane Morgenstern | 475-6812 x12 | 464-7200 | dmorgenstern@santacruz.k12.ca.us |
Pacific Elementary | Sharon Smith | 425-7002 |
| ssmith@santacruz.k12.ca.us |
Los Angeles Children's Law Center
Santa Clara County Office of Education
San Luis Obispo County Office of Education
Foster Youth Rights Brochure
Become a Foster Parent in Santa Cruz County
Support for Resource Parents
Placing Agencies
Family and Children’s Services-Child Protective Services
To Report Child Abuse - 24 hours A Day Please Call: 831.454.2273
1400 Emeline Avenue - Santa Cruz - 831.454.4222
12 West Beach Street - Watsonville - 831.763.8850
The majority of foster youth have social workers via this agency as their primary link to the court
Santa Cruz County Juvenile Probation Department
Juvenile Probation Department
3650 Graham Hill Road
Felton, CA 95018-9571
Phone: 831.454.3800
Fax: 831.454.3827
A smaller number of foster youth have a probation officer as their primary link to the court
Counseling Services
Children’s Mental Health
The Access Team
800.952.233 or 831.454.4900
1400 Emeline Ave.
Santa Cruz, CA 95060 or
831.763.8990
12 West Beach St
Watsonville, CA 95076
Many foster youth have or are eligible for counseling with Children’s Mental Health.
Youth Services
Phone: 831.429.8350
Fax: 831.425.1526
709 Mission Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Email: youthservices@scccc.org
Youth Services is one of the largest contractors with county providing mental health services.
Transitional Services
Independent Living Program
Phone: 831.459.0444
Fax: 831.459.0665
Email: CSS@scccc.org
Independent Living Program works with youth 16-21 years of age currently or formerly in the foster care system. The program empowers youth through life skills education, supportive services, advocacy, and community collaboration. Through these services young adults can develop community and lifelong connections.
Higher Education
UCSC Smith Renaissance Society
Phone: 831.459.2552
Email: Corinne Miller, STARS Director: corky@ucsc.edu
This program offers a variety of assistance to foster youth from scholarships to mentoring to hosting events.
Cabrillo College
This site expands on the independent living program mentioned under ILP in the Transitional Services section. Cabrillo also houses the foster care licensing classes needed to become a foster parent. In addition, as mentioned under the state links, there is a foster care advocate at Cabrillo and every other community college.
State Contacts
California Department of Education – Foster Youth Services
This site hosts the state office concerning foster youth and education which oversees k-12 county and district liaisons as well as AB490.
California Community Colleges
This is a fairly new initiative supporting foster youth at every community college in the state with a designated advocate. See the link for the full list.
Legal and Advocacy Information
CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates)
Telephone: 831.761.2956
Fax Number: 831.761.2913
Address 294 Green Valley Road, Suite 326
Watsonville, CA 95076
Many foster youth have a CASA worker. They are often the best, most consistent advocate the foster youth can have.
Children’s Law Center of Los Angeles
This center has great summaries of AB490 and advocacy documents.
California Youth Connection
California Youth Connection (CYC) is a statewide youth run organization for former and current foster youth ages 14 to 24. CYC uses the voice of foster youth to advocate for change in the foster care system.
Foster Care Ombudsman
If you are experiencing any difficulties or problems, contact the Foster Care Ombudsman. This person will help you with the various agencies. This is also an excellent site for a multitude of other resources.
Foster Care Help Line
You can also call the Foster Care Helpline. Their toll free number is 1.877.846.1602
