Support FYA’s work by lacing up your sneakers
and participating in the FYA Stepping Stones Walk around Lake Merritt (3.5 miles) on May 20th. Walkers will gather at 9:00 a.m.
You don't have to walk or know a registrant to help. Simplymake a donation to raise awareness about the challenges youth in foster care face as they transition to adulthood.
Saturday, May 20th
from 9 until 1:30
Walk begins 10:00 a.m.
Meet at Lake Merritt Band Stand Area
(Across from the Garden Center, near Fairyland,
turn onto Bellevue from Grand Avenue) » Register Now
History
Since 1999, the Alameda County Foster Youth Alliance (FYA) has been working to ensure that youth emancipating
from the foster care system in Alameda County and throughout the state of California have the support they need in transitioning
to adulthood. FYA is a coalition of 26 public and private agencies in Alameda County that serve youth transitioning from foster care.
The Facts
In 2005, 4,255 youth emancipated from foster care in California. Of those, 300 were from Alameda County and 225
were from San Francisco and Contra Costa County.
Among emancipated foster youth:
65% are at risk of homelessness the day they leave foster care
55% do not complete high school
50% are unemployed within 18 months of emancipation
The Remedy
FYA is working to change these statistics by promoting policies and systems change and through nurturing and expanding the network of local providers in an ongoing effort to improve outcomes for former foster youth. In the past year, FYA has played a pivotal role in raising the age up to which former foster youth can access state funded housing programs from age 21 to 24. FYA also worked to expand post-secondary educational support and employment opportunities for former foster youth.
Here Is What You Can Do
Support FYA's work by lacing up your sneakers
and participating in the FYA Stepping Stones
Walk around Lake Merritt (3.5 miles) on May 20th. Walkers will gather at 9:00 a.m. » Register Now
Bring youth to the free resource fair so they
can learn about the services available to them
in the community. The resource fair will be
open until 1:30.
Enjoy a day in the park.
Browse the Resource Fair to find out how you can
support transitioning foster youth.
Volunteer to help. Call Melinda Clemmons at
510-428-9821 or mclemmons@acfya.org.
Because Foster Children are our Children!
Resource Fair
Provides an opportunity for agencies serving transitioning foster youth to meet youth and talk to them about their services and to recruit volunteers from among the Walk participants.
Thank you to our sponsors
FYA thanks the following sponsors:
Keith Carson, Alameda County Supervisor
Prins Chiropractic
The First Place Fund for Youth
Casey Family Programs
Safeway
Peet's Coffee & Tea
Oakland Athletics
Clif Bar
