COC program honored for helping foster youth

As the California College Pathways program is recognized for its work in improving the lives of foster students at College of the Canyons and community colleges like it, local counselors and college officials hailed the success of similar programs available on campus at COC.

The pathways program, which focuses on helping current and former foster youth succeed academically, was awarded the 2018 Secretary’s Award on Thursday, which is given by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Council on Foundations to honor the partnerships of various foundations and government organizations.

For more than a decade, the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office and COC have partnered with charitable groups to ensure the success of the California College Pathways program and others that impact foster youth on campus, said Christina Jimenez, a chancellor’s office spokesperson.

Some of these foster programs, such as RISE — Resources for Individual Success in Education — can be seen in action at COC, RISE counselor Dora Lozano said. This specific program was created in response to Assembly Bill 801, the Success for Homeless Youth in Higher Education Act, which was passed in 2016 and required each California State University campus and community college district to dedicate extra resources to foster youth and homeless students.

As a result, COC launched RISE in 2017 with the goal to help improve educational access for current and former foster or homeless youth, Lozano said. The mission of the program is to increase graduation and transfer rates, as well as promote student learning and development.

Participating students are offered counseling, priority registration, progress monitoring and assistance with the purchase of textbooks, meals and transportation, Lozano added. In addition, RISE students have access to on-campus shower facilities, personal care supplies, workshops, snacks and resource referrals.

“I’m the one-stop shop for the foster youth,” Lozano said, adding that she helps every foster and homeless student with various aspects of college life as soon as they get a student number.

Helping students apply for financial aid is the most important aspect of the job, she said, along with finding other opportunities that could benefit the students, such as paid internships.

“Typically, foster youth don’t get the maximum awards they are eligible for simply because they did not fill out the necessary documents,” which could have a tremendous impact on students who can’t afford basic supplies, Lozano said.

With 42 students expected to immerse themselves in the program in the upcoming semester, the RISE counselor added that she hopes to build on the success of the four transfers and seven graduates who participated last year.

Students who wish to participate in RISE should contact Lozano, she said. To qualify, students must be between the ages of 16 and 24 and be enrolled in at least three units of college coursework at COC. Documentation is also required.