Pivotal Connections

PROVIDES EDUCATION AND CAREER SUPPORT TO YOUNG PEOPLE FROM FOSTER CARE.

POST-SECONDARY COACHING AND SCHOLARSHIPS: FOCUSED ON IMPROVING LIFE OUTCOMES FOR CURRENT AND FORMER FOSTER YOUTH BY CONNECTING THEM TO A COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT NETWORK THAT INCLUDES MENTORSHIP, ACADEMIC, FINANCIAL, AND LIFE SKILLS COACHING. THE MAJORITY OF THE ORGANIZATION'S SCHOLARS START THEIR HIGHER EDUCATION AT A COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND THE ORGANIZATION CURRENTLY OPERATES ON 5 PARTNER COMMUNITY COLLEGE CAMPUSES IN SANTA CLARA. AT THESE CAMPUSES, PIVOTAL NOT ONLY SUPPORTS YOUTH ENROLLED IN THE ORGANIZATION'S COACHING SERVICES OR RECEIVING A PIVOTAL SCHOLARSHIP, BUT ALL FOSTER YOUTH ON THOSE CAMPUSES. PIVOTAL COACHES MEET WITH THEIR STUDENTS REGULARLY, HELP SCHOLARS DEFINE ACADEMIC GOALS, DEVELOP CRITICAL STUDENT SUCCESS SKILLS, AND CONNECT SCHOLARS TO IMPORTANT ADJUNCT SERVICES INCLUDING FINANCIAL AID AND TUTORING. THE ORGANIZATION'S SCHOLARS ARE 10 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE, COMPARED TO THE NATIONAL AVERAGE OF ONLY 3%.

RESEARCH AND ADVOCACY: ADVOCATES FOR EDUCATION POLICY IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY THAT FOCUSES ON 3 AREAS: (1) MAKING THE EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF FOSTER YOUTH A PRIORITY AND FOCUS FOR THE CHILD WELFARE AGENCY; (2) CREATING A STRONGER, COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHILD WELFARE AND THE EDUCATION COMMUNITY; (3) ENSURING THAT ALL FOSTER YOUTH HAVING INCREASED ACCESS TO EDUCATION SERVICES AND RESOURCES.

HIGH SCHOOL COACHING: AN INTENSIVE ACADEMIC COACHING PROGRAM THAT ADDRESSES THE ACADEMIC BARRIERS FACED BY FOSTER YOUTH WHO FREQUENTLY MOVE BETWEEN HOUSING PLACEMENTS AND SCHOOLS DURING THEIR HIGH SCHOOL CAREER. DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR, HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN FOSTER CARE MEET REGULARLY WITH THEIR COACHES TO IDENTIFY GOALS, DEFINE A ROADMAP TO THEIR PERSONAL AND ACADEMIC SUCCESS, IDENTIFY THEIR OWN CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS, AND PREPARE FOR COLLEGE. UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE ORGANIZATION'S HIGHLY QUALIFIED STAFF, THESE COACHES ASSIST YOUTH IN PERSISTING THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL AND PREPARING FOR A POST-SECONDARY CREDENTIAL.

ENRICHMENT/WORKFORCE READINESS: PROVIDES HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE AGED FOSTER YOUTH WITH THE PROFESSIONAL SKILLS, CAREER READINESS TRAINING AND WORK EXPERIENCES THEY NEED TO BECOME COMPETITIVE JOB CANDIDATES IN SILICON VALLEY. WORKING WITH FOSTER YOUTH AS EARLY AS 9TH GRADE, THE ORGANIZATION HELPS THEM EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO THRIVE IN THE WORKPLACE. THE PROGRAM BECOMES MORE INTENSIVE AS THE STUDENTS PROGRESS IN SCHOOL. BY THEIR 11TH GRADE YEAR, THEY QUALIFY FOR PAID SUMMER INTERNSHIPS. COLLEGE STUDENTS NEED EVEN MORE ACCESS AND EXPOSURE. WORKING 1:1 WITH THEIR COACHES, OR IN SMALL GROUP WORKSHOPS, PIVOTAL SCHOLARS LEARN SKILLS SUCH AS HOW TO BUILD STRONG RESUMES AND LINKEDIN PROFILES, BUSINESS COMMUNICATION, JOB INTERVIEWS, AND PROFESSIONAL NETWORKING. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO ENSURES THEY CAN SHOP FOR PROFESSIONAL ATTIRE AND UNDERSTAND WORKPLACE ETIQUETTE.