The core Foster Youth pilot programs began operating in 1973. The success of these programs led, in 1998, to the establishment of a statewide system of programs established by Senate Bill 933, Thompson, Chapter 311.
The Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program is fully funded by a grant through the California Department of Education. In 2015, Assembly Bill 854 was passed and changed the Foster Youth Services (FYS) program to a Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program (FYSCP). This changed our program from a direct service model to a capacity building coordination model. AB 854 states that FYSCPs are to “coordinate and ensure that local educational agencies within its jurisdiction are providing services to foster youth pupils pursuant to a foster youth services coordinating plan with the purpose of ensuring positive educational outcomes.”
This bill also required the establishment of a local interagency Executive Advisory Council (EAC). “The role of the EAC is to establish the manner in which services are to be delivered for pupils in foster care with the greatest needs, including developing a Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program (FYSCP) Plan, collaboration with multiple agencies to ensure educational practices are in place to improve school stability, appropriate placement and educational records transfer to utilize effective multi-agency educational case management to address the specific educational needs and services for foster youth in California.”
