The California Community College Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) has recognized that there is a significant education deficit for youth from the foster care attending higher education. Acknowledging this need, the CCCO is sponsoring a concerted effort called the Foster Youth Success Initiative (FYSI) to bring issues affecting those youth to the forefront improve their access to postsecondary education and help them benefit from the support services that are available but often unknown to them.
The vision of the CCCCO is to create a statewide outreach and retention effort to better serve current and former youth. This vision fueled the creation of the FYSI and the goals to improve:
Access to student services and resources
Access to academic support
Academic performance
Completion of units
Completion of programs and degree
Retention
Transfer rates to baccalaureate
Along with the FYSI, Santa Ana College EOPS Program offers services to students through the Youth Empowerment Strategies for Success (YESS) Program.
The YESS program is funded by a grant through the Foundation for California Community Colleges. The Foundation’s goal is to benefit, support and enhance the California Community College system. With this grant the YESS program is able to work towards their mission of a comprehensive and integrated program that unites community partners and academic leaders to empower foster youth to successfully transition into independent living.
The YESS program focuses on:
Academic performance with the objective of self-sufficiency
College degree or certificate completion
Employment
Increasing youth enrollment in tutoring, mentoring, and transition services
Improving youth retention
Life skills training
Permanent connections to caring adults, institutions and programs
Santa Ana College hopes to meet the goals of both of these organizations by providing the following services to qualified students:
Academic support workshops
Bus passes and/or parking permits *
Specialized counseling services
Career guidance
Financial aid information/assistance
Independent living programs
Priority registration
Study skills courses
Student ID fee waiver*
Student activity fee waiver*
Tutoring services
Transfer Assistance
*Budget permitting
Contact The YESS Program:
Call (714) 564-6235
Santa Ana College
1530 West 17th Street
Santa Ana, CA 92706
Johnson Building U101