Independent living program helps foster youth transition to college

Association of California School Administrators

March 6, 2023

Emily Wellman graduated from Calaveras High School last year and is an active participant in the Independent Living Program, operated by the Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program in the Calaveras County Office of Education. The ILP program focuses on providing current and former foster youth with resources and skills that enable them to succeed in life after leaving foster care.

Recently, Emily was awarded one of two $1,000 scholarships from the Northern California ILP Coordinators Council. They were chosen for this scholarship out of more than 90 applicants from Northern California, Central Valley and Bay Area regions.

Emily’s story of courage and resilience is accompanied by the help from a school counselor and the Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program. Emily entered foster care on their 16th birthday. They attribute a lot to their school counselors at Calaveras High School, Christine Snow and Terri Tanner, for helping them feel seen and heard, and to understand that their voice mattered. In addition, they are appreciative of the role that their ILP coordinator played in their life and how the coordinator worked with their school counselors and others to make sure they felt supported.

Emily is a first-generation college student. They received the support they needed from Melissa Harvey, CCOE’s Foster Youth Services manager, the ILP coordinator at the time. The help that Melissa Harvey and Emily’s school counselor provided helped change their life.

Emily attended the 2022 Foster Youth Education Summit with CCOE’s Foster Youth Services staff. During the trip, FYSCP took Emily and other students in foster care to visit a California university campus. Individually, Emily also learned about various resources, housing and support programs for students in foster care. The summit and trip were meaningful and had a positive impact.

Emily’s success story speaks to the importance of programs like Foster Youth Services and the Independent Living Program. Their courage, bravery and reliance serve as just one example of how trauma does not have to define a person’s life. They are on a journey of hope and healing and plan on using their story to change lives and save lives.

Today, Emily is a freshman at a California State University. The relationships they formed with Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program staff members Melissa Harvey and Christina Katosic, and their school counselors provided them with the support they needed to succeed, and they continue to be a part of their circle of support today.

To learn more about Foster Youth Services and the supports available visit www.ccoe.k12.ca.us/fosteryouth/.

Emily Wellman is an active participant in the Independent Living Program, operated by the Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program in the Calaveras County Office of Education.