On April 7th and 8th, Pivotal’s Director of Program Partnerships, Ashley Matysiak, MSW and CEO Matt Bell attended the California Foster Youth Education Summit. This annual two-day conference hosted by the California Foster Youth Education Taskforce brings together individuals and organizations from across the state working to improve the educational and life outcomes for students from foster care.  

Sharing Best Practices for Supporting Foster Youth 

Ashley and Karina Garcia-Lopez from First Star, Inc. led a presentation with two foster care alumni to discuss best practices for supporting young people in foster care as they progress through their educational journey. They also discussed the Foster Youth Pre-College Collective (tFYPC) – a group of six California-based nonprofit direct service providers committed to closing the educational opportunity gap for young people in foster care.  

The tFYPC recently released Destination Graduation – a report highlighting best practices for supporting foster youth through high school and into post-secondary education. The two foster care alumni, who had participated in First Star’s programming, also shared their personal stories and the positive impact that tailored support had on their educational journeys.  

A Collaborative Effort for Change 

Ashley and Matt also had the opportunity to connect with Pivotal’s San Mateo and Santa Clara County partners, and to learn from others working with foster youth across the state. Foster and Homeless Youth Services programs from county offices of education across California attended the summit, along with community-based organizations, Independent Living programs, government agencies, and youth leaders.  

The summit showcased two remarkable keynote speakers: Anthony Trucks, a former foster youth, author, and ex-NFL player, and Oree Freeman, a former foster youth and dedicated victim advocate. Youth leaders who spoke at the event also shared their personal stories and perspectives, highlighting the strength and resilience of foster youth while giving a platform to their voices. 

Continuing the Work 

The conference provided valuable insights on how advocates for foster youth can better support these young people on their path to graduation. Summit participants shared actionable strategies that can be immediately implemented to help young people from foster care succeed academically and prepare for their future careers. As we continue to build on the ideas and connections made at the summit, we remain focused on improving the educational experiences of foster youth through our direct service programs.