JBAY Aces It: Campuses Statewide Rally for Foster Youth Campus Support Program
From scholarships for a stolen car to help enrolling in a phlebotomy course, Taneil Franklin’s college counselor was there to help. Taneil is a former foster youth attending LA Trade Tech and her college counselor was part of the NextUp program. JBAY recently convened 271 professionals from across California to learn about NextUp and to […]
California Student Aid Commission Named as Burton Champion Award Winner
Champions come in all shapes and sizes…including public agencies! That’s why John Burton Advocates for Youth (JBAY) is proud to announce that the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) is a recipient of the 2023 Burton Champion Award. According to JBAY Board President John Garcia, the choice of CSAC was clear, “CSAC has expanded access to […]
Empowering Youth for Success: Burton Fund Ensures a Strong Start to the School Year
School is back in session and at John Burton Advocates for Youth (JBAY) we are kicking off the school year by making sure young people have the resources to start off right. This includes launching our annual Burton Critical Needs and Opportunity Fund, which provided direct, easily accessible financial assistance to over 1,600 young people […]
JBAY’s Work Helps 4,660 Foster Youth Claim the Foster Youth Tax Credit
Lifesaver. That is what an extra infusion of cash was for Olivia Penalber. Olivia is a former foster youth, full-time student and a young parent, living in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles. Her career advisor emailed her about a new program for current and former foster youth: the Foster Youth Tax Credit, which […]
With the Help of JBAY, LA County Makes Higher Education a Priority for Foster Youth
A new school year is soon about to start, and thousands of youth in foster care in California are entering their senior year of high school, when they will apply for college. Unfortunately, these young people are at a disadvantage when it comes to college enrollment and graduation. Just 10 percent obtain a two- or […]
JBAY Celebrates Three Major Budget Victories
Youth Advocate Christina Torrez is the first in her family to graduate high school and attend college – but none of that would be possible without the help of financial aid. “Foster youth deserve the same opportunities as other youth to have a chance to have a stable life by obtaining high education.” At John […]
California’s Foster Youth Reach New Heights with Record-High Financial Aid Application Rates
John Burton Advocates for Youth (JBAY) Youth Advocate Patrick Gem Gabbett has relied on financial aid, like many other foster youth, to pursue higher education. “Foster youth don’t have connections the same way other kids do. Financial aid is the reason I have been able to get to this point in life. It’s the reason I can […]
Breaking Barriers to Financial Aid: JBAY Keeps the Dream Alive
Giving up her dream of a college education was never an option for Elizabeth Clews, a Youth Advocate at John Burton Advocates for Youth. That was her message during the June 21st policy hearing of Assembly Bill (AB) 789, which will increase college retention and completion by helping students maintain financial aid. JBAY is a […]
Charlene Morales: Making a Difference One Tax Return at a Time
When it comes to helping foster youth, Charlene Morales has done it all. She’s helped youth find housing, secure employment, access mental health resources, locate essential documents and more. So she didn’t bat an eye when her employer, The Community College Foundation (TCCF), added another critical service to its list of offerings for foster youth: […]