Online hub for foster youth OK’d

County website to help provide access to services, resources and vital programs

Foster youth throughout the Santa Clarita Valley will soon have increased access to vital programs and services.

Los Angeles County Fifth District Supervisor Kathryn Barger proposed the creation of an online hub to provide access to services and resources for the youth, which is called the Centralized Transitional Age Youth (TAY) Hub.

The hub works to help youth aging out of the foster care system by coordinating with the Office of Child Protection and other relevant departments and agencies. The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved Barger’s motion Tuesday.

In June, the Newhall School District approved a

proposal to provide the county’s Office of Education access to its foster youth data.

Christy Smith, governing board member for the district, said maintaining data-sharing with the county ensured maximum available resources for the area’s foster youth students.

The county has provided programs over the years for youth, but continues to have issues sustaining access to resources, Barger said in a statement.

“We continue to have a number of transitional age youth exit out of the child welfare system facing poor outcomes and at risk of becoming another devastating statistic of homelessness, substance abuse addiction and mental health issues,” she said. “We need to develop a coordinated system so youth know what is available to them and are connected to the right services at the right time to enrich their lives.”