Interim Executive Director and long-time Director of Programs Debbie Raucher has announced that she will be leaving John Burton Advocates for Youth (JBAY) effective Tuesday, February 11th.
Former Executive Director Amy Lemley recalls meeting Debbie almost 16 years ago. “Debbie’s intelligence and work ethic were apparent within the first days of working together,” said Lemley. “I knew that for JBAY to achieve its potential, we needed Debbie.”
Once in the role of Director of Education at JBAY, Debbie launched a range of highly effective projects that increased access to education for foster youth. Debbie wrote the legislation and conducted the advocacy that established NextUp, a program located at every community college in California to help foster youth succeed in college. She wasn’t satisfied that the program didn’t reach foster youth in four-year colleges, so in 2022, Debbie led the advocacy to bring similar programs to the 23 campuses of the California State University System and the nine campuses of the University of California.
With these programs in place, Debbie turned her attention to financial aid. She understood that helping foster youth on campuses was irrelevant if they didn’t have enough money to attend college. This led to a series of reforms to increase financial aid for foster youth, including an expansion of the state’s Chafee Education and Training Voucher and the Cal Grant. Then in 2023, Debbie and her team closed the financial aid gap, ensuring that foster youth who attend a public college or university in California have their full cost of attendance covered.
At this point, others would have planted a flag and declared victory: not Debbie. She heard from campus representatives that foster youth were losing their hard-won financial aid due to arbitrary academic standards. Debbie responded with another highly effective campaign to reform and standardize Satisfactory Academic Progress at every public college and university in California.
Most recently, Debbie and her team have investigated the “cost of attendance” at public colleges and universities in California. Debbie’s team recently issued a report that found on many campuses, the cost of attendance does not accurately reflect a student’s expenses and therefore limits the amount of financial aid they are eligible to receive. This requires that they cover the difference through savings, support from family and friends, work, private borrowing, reducing their enrollment in classes, or even dropping out. With this knowledge, JBAY will develop and propose a policy solution in 2025.
And let’s not forget Blueprint: a bi-annual conference with a focus on increasing access to higher education for foster youth held most recently to a sold-out crowd of over 900 people in Los Angeles. Under Debbie’s leadership, Blueprint grew into the premier national conference focused on higher education for foster youth, drawing attendees from every corner of the United States and internationally.
According to Lemley, Debbie’s impact on JBAY and the field could not be greater, “Thanks to Debbie, college is within reach for California’s foster youth. The organization never would have made these tremendous strides without her and I thank her for her tremendous service.”
Colleen Ganley of the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office has worked side-by-side with Debbie for over a decade. “Debbie is a force of nature. Through compassion, intellect, strategic thinking and sheer determination, she and the JBAY team have served as key champions in the establishment of multiple post-secondary support programs that serve thousands of students every year. Debbie has served as a leader and mentor to many. We are all the better for her decades-long contributions that will make lasting change for generations of students.”
Administration and Finance Manager Lorris Leung worked with Debbie in her role as Director of Education, but their work together intensified when Debbie stepped into the role of Interim Executive Director, “I’ve seen Debbie’s incredible skills make a real impact for the organization. I’ve learned from her, and I know that in her next chapter, she will continue to be a driving force for change – just as she always has.”
Simone Tureck Lee is Debbie’s counterpart at JBAY, serving as the Director of Housing and Economic Mobility and collaborating with her for over 10 years, “Debbie and I both joined JBAY in 2009, but she was already a decade ahead of me in her career. I’ve learned so much from her, and without a doubt, she has profoundly influenced me on many levels. While I will miss her dearly, I am thrilled to see her embark on this new chapter—one where I know she will continue to make a lasting impact.”
Cody Van Felden is a former foster youth and a former JBAY Youth Advocate. In October 2024, Cody joined the staff at JBAY and has worked closely with Debbie in both roles. “Hearing that Debbie is leaving truly brought tears to my eyes. Debbie has been a mentor, a beacon of light in what can sometimes feel like a dark world. I’ve often lacked people who could guide me through tough times or simply believe in me, but Debbie has filled that role—something every foster youth needs.”
Jessica Petrass took over the role of Director of Education after Debbie left it to serve as the Interim Executive Director. The two have been a close-knit team for eight years. “I am incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to work with Debbie, and hope to one day fill her shoes. I am continually in awe of her intellect, her drive, her relentless advocacy & her strategic thinking. She has been a teacher, a mentor and a friend. I have learned so much from her and she will be deeply missed.”
Debbie appreciates the positive regard of her colleagues and has gratitude for her time at JBAY. According to Debbie, “It has been an honor and a privilege to work alongside my colleagues at John Burton Advocates for Youth these past 15 years. I feel immense appreciation that I have been able to do this work and make a difference in the lives of young people. I have met extraordinary people, witnessed inspiring transformations, and grown personally and professionally as a result of my time with JBAY, and for all of this I am incredibly grateful.”