March

Volume 2 - March 2011

“Did You Know?”

Did you know that there are tons of weird, wacky scholarships that our youth may qualify for, that do not require that they possess a super-high GPA? There are programs that offer scholarships for being short, or left-handed, for wearing glasses, or even for something as “strange” as your last name beginning with an X! A large amount of scholarship money that has been set aside by companies for deserving minority students, are either collecting dust, going unclaimed, or are being returned to businesses because of a lack of interest. For a comprehensive list of scholarships and their web addresses, please visit: http://www.cvhs.iron.k12.ut.us/minorityScholarships www.unclaimedscholarships.us http://lacdcfs.org/edu/docs/CollegeResourceGuide10_11.pdf

Education Consultants

On April 4, 2011, the Education Consultants’ Referral Form will move to a new online system. This system will populate from CWS/CMS, and provide the CSWs with up-to-the-minute access of the Education Consultants’ Progress Reports. Kudos to Dr. Shirley Shaw, Education Consultant for the Santa Clarita office, from ARA, Cindy Hathaway, for preventing two school expulsions for two of our youth. One case involved a youth who had just experienced the death of his mother, and the deportation of his father. Dr. Shaw consulted at length with the school, and even “shadowed” the youth by attending his classes with him, to identify the issues contributing to the youth’s disruptive behavior. The second case involved converting an automatic expulsion for bringing a gun to school, to only a few days suspension! Great Job, Dr. Shaw!!!!

Above and Beyond Offices that reached 90% and above in February for current Education Information entered into CWS/CMS for all of their school-aged youth: Lancaster 94% W. San Fern Valley 91% South County 93% Palmdale 90% Top Office for total cases with Education information goes to: Wateridge with 1691 Only 4525 cases left to update in LA Co.

Go DCFS, Go!!!!

Resources Verbum Dei High School is an amazing inner city college/career preparatory high school, graduating 100% of its minority/low income youth to colleges/universities, and is giving them work experience! Located in the heart of Watts, they are serving young men who are economically and academically underserved. There is an IMMEDIATE need for 150 at-risk (male) youth to attend!! The ideal candidate is a 7th or 8th grade youth from an impoverished background, who tests at least at a 5th grade level. TUITION IS NO BARRIER, and, in most cases, will be completely covered by corporate sponsorship. To schedule a field trip to tour their beautiful campus, or to speak with someone about referring your youth, please contact Larry Scott, VP Corporate Recruitment, at 323.564.6651 ext. 5400, or email [email protected]. This is an opportunity that is too great to pass up, and one that could change the lives of so many of our deserving male youth!

Mentoring Relationships

A Great Success Story from the Compton DCFS Office…. Danny F (Mentor): “I have had the privilege of being a small but steady encouragement to a young man named Shyheedi. The on-going process of chipping away the armor he has built for himself, has been both rewarding and frustrating. Still, I know I am not there for my rewards, but to make a difference in Shyheedi’s life, in hopes of providing a “way out” so that he may be a catalyst in swinging the statistics toward a more positive result. One thing I keep reminding myself is that I’m in it for the long haul. Thank you for the opportunity!” Shyheedi W. (Mentee): “It’s been a long time since I’ve been matched with Danny. I tell him all about my problems and stuff in my personal life, and he helps me out with that. I help him out, too. He visits me every Thursday evening, and we go places like ESPN Zone, to the movies, or, just hang out and talk. For Christmas, he got me a Best Buy Gift Card. He’s real cool. I like him a lot.”

Enrichment Plus Awards

The Enrichment Plus Program, established by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and DCFS, recognizes our youth in foster care, who have made outstanding achievements in academic performance. Youth who are selected are honored at a televised Board Meeting. They receive a congratulatory letter, a scroll from the Board of Supervisors, and a $50 Gift Certificate to Barnes & Nobles from the Y.O.U. Board. They are also photographed with the Board of Supervisors! These awards are issued quarterly, and the names are submitted by the CSW. The most recent recipients have been: Juan P., Frankie C., Sephora A., Erica L., Brian D., Maricela M., Joana B., and Kiara R. Congratulations for a job well done! Nominate your youth now on LAKids.

DCFS’ Education & Mentoring Section Please Email your feedback, questions or stories to: [email protected]. Also visit us on LA Kids, Youth Education Support Website. We look forward to hearing from you!!