Community Partners
Ensuring that our foster youth students get the best possible college experience is a team effort, and the Guardian Scholars Program is extremely thankful for our community partners and local organizations that help along the way. These associate programs have helped our students in various and much needed ways — whether it's transitional housing, food security, legal services, or even employment opportunities.
Details about partners below
The John Burton Advocates for Youth
The John Burton Advocates for Youth is a statewide non-profit organization based in San Francisco, working to improve the quality of life for California’s foster, former foster, and homeless youth. It was founded in 2005 by progressive champion John Burton, a former member of Congress, the California State Assembly and President Pro Tem of the California State Senate. John Burton Advocates for Youth works in three areas: education, housing and health.
OC United
OC United exists to empower the vulnerable who have experienced the breakdown of the family unit through restorative relationships and life-skills development. They serve those who have experienced Foster Care, Domestic Abuse, Homelessness, and Under-Resourced Neighborhoods & Schools.
Together We Rise
Together We Rise is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization comprised of motivated young adults and former foster youth. Their vision is to improve the lives of foster children in America, who often find themselves forgotten and neglected by the public. They collaborate with community partners to bring resources to foster youth and use service-learning activities to educate volunteers on issues surrounding the foster care system.
The Orangewood Foundation
The Orangewood Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and one of the leading providers of services to current and former foster youth. Their mission is to prepare foster and community youth to reach their greatest potential. They help almost 2,000 foster and community youth annually prepare for independent adulthood. For thousands of youth in Orange County community, Orangewood means “family”, “opportunity”, and “hope.”
Olive Crest
Olive Crest is dedicated to providing homes for children, teens and aged-out youth, adoption placement and support, educational support and services, independent life skills training and mentoring, counseling and mental health treatment, and family crisis intervention. Their vision is to ensure every child has a strong family, and their ultimate goal is to restore broken families.
iFoster
iFoster is a national non-profit with over 40,000 members across all 50 states, Guam and Puerto Rico. Their mission is to ensure that every child growing up outside of their biological home has the resources and opportunities they need to become successful, independent adults. iFoster is empowering the country to take action and is building that network for each young person in care – ensuring they have what they need to succeed when they need it.
California College Pathways
California College Pathways is a statewide partnership that provides resources and leadership to campuses and community organizations to help foster youth succeed at community colleges and four-year universities. By engaging institutions to work together, sharing best practices, and advocating for policies that support foster youth in higher education, California College Pathways is helping foster youth across the state achieve their higher education goals and move on to fulfilling careers.
Foster Care Counts
Foster Care Counts improves the lives of youth in foster care and ensures they thrive. They partner with care and advocacy organizations to address the gaps in service and impediments to success and target ways to boost outcomes. Together, they ignite initiatives to empower foster youth, improve access to valuable resources, and incite change on their behalf.
DCFS Independent Living Program
The Independent Living Program (ILP) provides financial assistance and services to current and former foster/probation youth, 16-20 years of age, who have been determined to be ILP eligible by an ILP Transition Coordinator. You may receive the help you need as a student in high school, college, or a vocational program. You may also qualify for services if you are working or in need of support services or referrals. ILP may be able to assist you in areas such as housing, employment and education.
OC Social Services Agency
The Orange County Social Services Agency (SSA) operates under the policy direction of the Orange County Board of Supervisors and the California Departments of Social Services and Health Services. SSA is responsible for planning, implementing, and operating many of the social services programs provided by the County of Orange. Funding for programs comes from State, Federal, and County sources.
