The Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program (FYSCP) is fully funded by a grant from the California Department of Education. The purpose of this grant is to build the capacity of our 23 districts and assist them in increasing educational outcomes for foster youth in Riverside County.

FYSCP supports districts with foster youth outcomes with:

Data

We can assist with identifying foster youth, tracking student transitions, and supporting school stability.

Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) Development

We can partner on the development of goals and actions specific to unique needs of foster youth.

Training

We deliver training and staff development on a variety of topics tailored to the specific needs of the district or agency related to defining, interpreting, and applying legislation as well as trauma-informed practices. We provide technical assistance and support related to the policies and practices.

Foster Youth Legislation

We review district policies and procedures to ensure compliance with foster youth laws.

Technical Assistance

• Assistance with reviewing CALPADS 5.7 reports for foster youth.
• Verification of foster youth status (CWS/CMS).
• Collaboration with county departments and agencies, including local colleges and Independent Living Programs.
• Training for all stakeholders on critical issues, including educational rights, legal mandates, and other school related topics.
• Support related to policies and practices.
• Executive Advisory Council (EAC) Meetings designed based on district feedback featuring presentations by districts on best practices, agency news from DPSS, Probation, and Behavioral Health. Council members provide valuable feedback on the local needs of foster youth as well as determining the direction the FYSCP will take for each grant cycle.
• Guidance to districts on meeting the requirements of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Transportation requirements for foster youth.
• Facilitate disputes that arise among agencies financially responsible for ESSA transportation.

Differentiated Assistance

RCOE’s Division of Educational Services and Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program, work together as collaborative partners to provide comprehensive support to districts eligible for differentiated assistance based on the foster youth student group performance level indicators on the California School Dashboard. Differentiated assistance supports are tailored to meet the unique needs of the eligible district. The FYSCP serves as a thought partner for districts by providing support in:

• Root cause analysis
• Review of district data to determine areas of strength and opportunity for growth
• Capacity building by training staff to meet the needs specific to foster youth

Trainings and Workshops Provided by our FYSCP Counselors

• AB 490 (School Stability/School of Origin).
• AB 216 Minimum state graduation requirements.
• Laws and regulations related to the education and welfare of foster youth.
• Understanding the needs of foster youth.
• Understanding the child welfare system.
• College transition of foster youth (California Chafee Grant, Guardian Scholars, College Application Process, FAFSA).
• Trauma informed practices.
• Sharing of best practices (districts and other county offices).
• Building a district wide foster youth mentoring team.
• Other trainings as requested by districts.