Resilience: Helping Young People Survive 2020
Resiliency has been the buzz word for 2020. It has been a year of challenges and adversity for everyone. There is confusion. There is fear. Yet, we do our best to overcome the hardships. As difficult as the pandemic has been for all of us, children and youth who are homeless or in foster care […]
JBAY Is Building More Onramps to Higher Education
When you are in high school struggling just to get by, it’s hard to see opportunities that can help break through the barriers to become a thriving adult. It’s even more difficult when those who are there to support you, including high school counselors and administrators, don’t know of programs to help you succeed. One […]
Jbay Gears Up For Ambitious And Challenging Year Of Policy Change
It’s Thanksgiving week, but at John Burton Advocates for Youth (JBAY), we are already busy thinking about the New Year, when the California State Legislature will return and we can get back to the important work of improving policies for youth who have been homeless or in foster care. In 2021, we’ll be focusing on […]
Documentary Highlights the Importance of JBAY’s Work to Protect Older Youth in Foster Care
“Why wasn’t I adopted?” That is the question that Noel Anaya explores in his newly released documentary “Unadopted‘, which aired on Monday, November 16th followed by a question and answer session with Noel and John Burton Advocates for Youth Executive Director Amy Lemley. The film follows Noel’s life, starting with his entrance into foster care […]
Jbay Tackles Surge In Homeless Students
At the age of 16, Luz Hernandez was living in a park in San Francisco after being abandoned by her father. She was eventually placed into foster care, but after aging out, she became homeless again and lived in a garage with no heat, running water or even a lock. She recalls her periods of […]
Foster Care Extension Saves Youth during COVID
“I was in panic mode,” says Mariah about the prospect of aging out of foster care during the COVID-19 pandemic and recession. “I was about to turn 21, with a one-and-a-half-year-old son in a new home, and I was barely getting on my feet and then COVID hit and I was unemployed.” About 300 foster […]
Jbay Works To Expand Mental Health Services
“When I aged out of the system, I wasn’t able to access services anymore, so I ended up homeless,” says Cody, a former foster youth. “At that time, I wasn’t getting mental health services and was suicidal. I didn’t have help or assistance.” Cody is not alone. Nine out of ten children in foster care […]
New Law Extends Aid for Homeless Students
Governor Gavin Newsom last night signed legislation that will make California a national leader in supporting college students facing homelessness. Assembly Bill (AB) 2416, sponsored by John Burton Advocates for Youth (JBAY), requires colleges to consider homelessness as an extenuating circumstance when evaluating appeals for the loss of financial aid. John Burton, former president of […]
Governor Signs Law to Improve Foster Youth Access to College
Governor Gavin Newsom signed new legislation late Monday to increase participation in college by foster youth by requiring state-funded agencies to assist foster youth in completing their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). A pilot project by John Burton Advocates for Youth (JBAY) showed that this type of assistance raised foster youth FAFSA completion […]