Help more than 200 foster youth successfully transition out of the foster care system and into adulthood with Focusing Philanthropy and Voices For Children

As always, Focusing Philanthropy covers all overhead costs. 100% of every donation will go to the 2018 Bright Futures For Teens After Foster Care Campaign.


THE NEED

This year, 4,700 youth will spend time in San Diego County foster care. Approximately 26% are teenagers, many of whom will spend their entire childhoods in the overburdened system only to “age out” before they are ever placed in permanent homes. Frequent moves, multiple school transfers, and a lack of sufficient support leave many foster teens unprepared, uneducated and without a support network to guide them into adulthood. Without appropriate advocacy services and consistent mentorship, transitional-age foster youth are at risk of experiencing terrible outcomes:

  • 50% of foster youth will not graduate high school
  • By their 20s, over 50% will be unemployed and 25% will be homeless
  • Over 30% of boys in foster care will be incarcerated before age 21

THE GOAL

Focusing Philanthropy and Voices For Children (VFC) are launching a campaign to raise $300,000 to help more than 200 transitional-age foster youth in San Diego County reduce their likelihood of poverty, homelessness, and dependency and become self-sufficient, contributing members of their communities.

Voices For Children recruits, trains, and deploys citizen volunteers to advocate for foster children, one-on-one, until permanency is achieved or the case is closed. These Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) are often the only consistent, caring adults in a foster child’s life. Since 1980, VFC has grown to become one of the largest and most successful CASA programs in the country, ranked in the Top 3 out of nearly 1,000. In 2017, VFC staff and volunteers advocated for more than 90% of children in San Diego County foster care and are on the path to serving every child.

The “Bright Futures for Teens After Foster Care” campaign will fund 120 new CASAs to provide life-changing, individualized advocacy services for upwards of 200 foster youth ages 16-21. These specially-trained CASAs offer transitional-age youth an unparalleled level of support, guiding them through the various skills and services needed to successfully transition to adulthood:

  • Education: advocacy in Court for access to enrichment activities, tutors, and other programs advantageous to their case youth’s academic success (CASAs usually hold education rights and also attend school-related gatherings like teacher conferences and open houses)
  • Employment: tutoring on how to write a compelling resume, conduct a job search, complete a job application, and interview for a job
  • Financial Management: coaching on how to open a bank account, create a budget, or plan towards large purchases (like a car)
  • Housing: help with finding safe, affordable housing

THE GIVING MATCH

From April 1, 2018 to June 15, 2018, every $1 raised by Focusing Philanthropy will be matched with $2 raised by Voices For Children, until the campaign goal of $300,000 is reached. To qualify for the match, donations must be directed to Focusing Philanthropy and a minimum of $1,000. Donations are fully tax deductible and 100% of funds contributed will go to the “Bright Futures for Teens After Foster Care” campaign. All Focusing Philanthropy costs are covered by its founders.