John Burton Advocates For Youth

JOHN BURTON ADVOCATES FOR YOUTH (JBAY) IMPROVES THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR YOUTH IN CALIFORNIA WHO HAVE BEEN IN FOSTER CARE OR HOMELESS BY ADVOCATING FOR BETTER LAWS, TRAINING COMMUNITIES TO STRENGTHEN LOCAL PRACTICES AND CONDUCTING RESEARCH TO INFORM POLICY SOLUTIONS.

EDUCATION: JBAY WORKS TO ENSURE ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION FOR YOUTH WHO HAVE BEEN IN FOSTER CARE OR EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS. IN 2022-23, JBAY WORKED TOWARDS THIS GOAL BY PURSUING A RANGE OF STRATEGIES: COLLEGE PREPARATION: JBAY CREATED UPDATED VERSIONS OF EDUCATIONAL PLANNING GUIDES FOR FOSTER YOUTH AND THEIR SUPPORTERS. JBAY ALSO SUPPORTED LOS ANGELES COUNTY CHILD WELFARE TO DEVELOP A RANGE OF TOOLS TO SUPPORT FOSTER YOUTH COLLEGE PREPARATION. FINANCIAL AID ACCESS: JBAY CONDUCTED THE CALIFORNIA FOSTER YOUTH FAFSA CHALLENGE AND THE HOMELESS YOUTH FAFSA CHALLENGE, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND LOCAL EDUCATION AGENCIES. JBAY ALSO ADVOCATED FOR CHANGES TO POLICIES RELATED TO STUDENTS ABILITY TO RETAIN FINANCIAL AID. SUPPORTING FOSTER YOUTH ON CAMPUS: JBAY PROVIDED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING TO EXPAND CAMPUS SUPPORT PROGRAMS FOR FOSTER YOUTH, WHICH PROVIDE ACADEMIC, FINANCIAL AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT. JBAY ALSO ADVOCATED FOR AN EXPANSION OF FINANCIAL AID FOR FOSTER YOUTH. COLLEGE STUDENT HOMELESSNESS: JBAY HELPED COLLEGE CAMPUSES IMPLEMENT NEWLY AVAILABLE PUBLIC FUNDING TO REDUCE HOMELESSNESS AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS.HOUSING: JBAY WORKS TO ENSURE YOUTH WHO HAVE BEEN IN FOSTER CARE OR HOMELESS HAVE ACCESS TO SAFE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING. IN 2022-23, JBAY WORKED TOWARD THIS GOAL BY PURSUING THE FOLLOWING STRATEGIES: JBAY SECURED AN ANNUAL INVESTMENT IN THE STATE BUDGET OF $18.8 MILLION TO INCREASE THE MONTHLY STIPEND PROVIDED TO YOUTH IN THE MOST COMMON FOSTER CARE PLACEMENT FOR YOUND ADULTS. THE INCREASE WAS BASED ON LOCAL RENTAL COSTS IN THE COUNTY IN WHICH THE YOUTH LIVES. JBAY PROVIDED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING TO 15 COUNTIES AND THEIR PARTNER HOUSING AUTHORITIES TO HELP THEM IMPLEMENT AND/OR ACCESS SPECIALIZED HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHERS FOR FORMER FOSTER YOUTH. JBAY PROVIDED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO HOUSING PROVIDERS TO HELP THEM MAKE SUCCESSFUL APPLICATIONS TO NEWLY AVAILABLE STATE FUNDING FOR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT. JBAY WORKS TO ENSURE YOUTH HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW INTO ECONOMICALLY SECURE ADULTS. IN 2022-23, JBAY WORKED TOWARD THIS GOAL BY IMPLEMENTING THE FOSTER YOUTH TAX CREDIT TO ENSURE IT REACHES ALL CURRENT AND FORMER FOSTER YOUTH WHO ARE ELIGIBLE. THE 2023 TAX YEAR WAS THE FIRST YEAR THIS CREDIT BECAME AVAILABLE, PROVIDING UP TO $1,083 TO ELIGIBLE YOUNG ADULTS. JBAY PROVIDED EXTENSIVE IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORT, INCLUDING HELP ESTABLISHING AND SUPPORTING SIX VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE SITES FOR FOSTER YOUTH, DEVELOPING AND DISSEMINATING RESOURCES SUCH AS A SELF-FILING GUIDE AND A TAX PREPARATION GUIDE. JBAY ALSO TRAINED STAKEHOLDERS AND VITA VOLUNTEERS ON HOW TO CLAIM THE NEW CREDIT. IN ITS FIRST YEAR OF IMPLEMENTATION, NEARLY 5,000 YOUNG ADULTS RECEIVED MORE THAN $5 MILLION FROM THE CREDIT.CRITICAL NEEDS AND OPPORTUNITY FUND: JBAY PROVIDED DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO YOUTH WHO WERE IN FOSTER CARE OR EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS BY PARTNERING UP WITH 60 EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS AND DIRECT SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS TO DISBURSED THE FUNDS TO YOUTH IN CALIFORNIA. IN 22-23, JBAY PROVIDED ASSISTANCE TO OVER 1,600 YOUTH. THE AVERAGE AMOUNT OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDED PER YOUTH WAS $ 292.