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About Fostering Youth Independence

Fostering Youth Independence (FYI) is the largest Santa Clarita-based nonprofit organization supporting local foster youth who have aged out of the L.A. County foster care system without being adopted or reunified with their birth parents. FYI addresses the serious challenges faced by these youth, which include not finishing high school or pursuing higher education, homelessness and incarceration. FYI offers current and former foster youth, ages 16-25 years, a caring adult “Ally” to provide the one-on-one guidance and encouragement they need to complete a post-secondary education, as well as resources to help these youth overcome past traumas, secure housing, learn to drive, gain employment and become successful, independent adults. Since its founding in 2017, FYI has helped 147 foster youth on their journey to independence and is currently serving 70 young men and women.

Products & Services

FYI supports foster youth by:

  • Assigning each youth a caring adult volunteer Ally to provide encouragement and moral support
  • Providing each youth with a program coordinator to help them set and achieve goals in areas such as education, housing, finances, health and transportation
  • Assisting youth without a high school diploma to complete a high school equivalency program
  • Assisting youth with college and vocational program applications, enrollment and class registration
  • Referring youth to resources for food, housing, health, mental health, vision, dental, employment, transportation and other needs
  • Providing emergency financial assistance when an unexpected expense, such as a car repair, threatens to derail a youth's educational plans
  • Offering events throughout the year where youth can connect with other youth and their Allies to create a sense of community and a network of support
  • Providing a program called "The Study Place" for academic support and tutoring
  • Offering a Ready, Set, Drive! program to assist youth with obtaining their driver's licenses
  • Providing financial literacy workshops
  • Partnering with College of the Canyons for referrals and counseling
  • Supplying backpacks, school supplies and holiday gifts
Category
Primary Company Location
P.O. Box 801604
Santa Clarita
CA
US
91380
(661) 360-1500
(661) 360-1500
Employees:
colsen@fyifosteryouth.org

Member Employees

  • Carolyn Olsen

Company Contact

Carolyn Olsen
colsen@fyifosteryouth.org
(661) 360-1500
www.fyifosteryouth.org
(661) 360-1500
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