John Burton Advocates for Youth

EDUCATION: JBAY works to ensure access to higher education for youth who have been in foster care or experienced homelessness. In 2023-24, JBAY worked towards this goal by pursuing a range of strategies: JBAY published a groundbreaking report analyzing the accuracy of California's Cost of Attendance (COA) budgets and policies. Based on this research, JBAY developed a policy proposal to improve access to Financial Aid. JBAY conducted the California Foster Youth and Homeless Youth FAFSA challenge in collaboration with the California Department of Education and local education agencies. JBAY led efforts to improve college planning support for foster youth services by the County of Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services, including the development of a data dashboard to ensure all youth age 16 and older are connected to college planning assistance and a countywide training mandate for social workers on higher education. HOUSING: JBAY works to ensure youth who have been in foster care or homeless have access to safe, affordable housing. In 2023-24, this work included: Preserving an annual investment in the state budget that was proposed for elimination during the state budget deficit. This $13.7 million program helps former foster youth identify, secure and maintain housing. Successfully advocating for increased funding for foster youth placed in independent settings, within the states foster care rate reform. Conducting an inventory of housing programs for former foster youth, providing the only statewide data on program growth since 2021. Developing and disseminating a best practices guide for county child welfare agencies and public housing authorities to expand access and improve administration of federal housing voucher programs. Economic Mobility: JBAY works to ensure youth have the opportunity to grow into economically secure adults. In 2023-24, JBAY increased the uptake of the California Foster Youth Tax Credit by 16%. During the 2024 tax season, the Foster Youth Tax Credit provided $1,117 to 5,700 young adults, totaling more than $6 million. JBAY provided intensive implementation support, including help establishing and supporting four Volunteer Income Tax Assistance sites for foster youth, and developing and disseminating several resources for education, outreach, and support with filing taxes. JBAY also trained stakeholders and VITA volunteers on how to claim the Foster Youth Tax Credit, and launched a digital marketing campaign to spread awareness. CRITICAL NEEDS AND OPPORTUNITY FUND: JBAY provided direct financial assistance to youth who were in foster care or experienced homelessness by partnering with 65 education insitutions and direct service organizations to disburse emergency grant funds to youth in California. In 2023-24, JBAY provided assistance to over 1,300 youth. The average amount of financial assistance provided per youth was $273.