October is here and for John Burton Advocates for Youth (JBAY), that means the legislative session is wrapping up. We work hard all season, and like baseball, October is the time when it all pays off… or doesn’t!
Fortunately, Governor Newsom has made October a winning month for JBAY by signing legislation to expand access to college for foster youth, Senate Bill 512. SB 512 was authored by Senator Dave Min and co-sponsored with the California Youth Connection.
Senate Bill 512 expands eligibility for the Next Up program, which provides hand-on assistance to foster youth on 45 community college campuses. As you might imagine, foster youth face tremendous challenges when they arrive on campus.
NextUp helps them navigate the maze of higher education, providing both academic and financial assistance. SB 512 will allow over 1,100 more foster youth achieve their dream of higher education.
Passage of SB 512 marks JBAY’s 46th major legislative reform. We are proud of our track record, and we have our generous supporters to thank for it. A player is only as good as their team, and the consistent support of the JBAY community has helped us make it a winning season.