SubscribeThanks to our wonderful supporters and donors, the YWCA Santa Monica / Westside’s Housing and Education Program operates completely on private donations. As such, our transitional housing program for former foster youth is not in jeopardy of closing due to proposed budget cuts to the State’s THP-Plus program. However, nearly 1,400 youth served by THP-Plus are waiting to hear their fate. Please take a look at the following media links from the John Burton Foundation.
The March 2nd, people from around the state converged in Sacramento for the THP-Plus Day of Advocacy. Organized by the John Burton Foundation, the California Alliance of Child and Family Services, and the California Youth Connection, more than 65 THP-Plus providers, youth participants and advocates met with nearly 40 elected representatives and their staff as well as with representatives from the Governor’s Office, the Director of the Department of Finance, and the Legislative Analyst’s Office.
During the visits, THP-Plus stakeholders made a clear appeal to reject the Governor’s proposal to eliminate THP-Plus, and to ensure that California continues to support its most vulnerable young adults and their children. We received commitments by a number of legislators to protect THP-Plus in the state budget.
Our actions received a fair amount of media coverage as well, summarized below.
Media Coverage
3-4-2010: Housing program for former foster youth is critical lifeline
Reed Connell is the executive director of the Alameda County Foster Youth Alliance
http://www.contracostatimes.com/montclarion/ci_14512787
3-2-2010: A Minus for the Plus Program?
BY Amy Asman, Reporter, Santa Maria Sun
http://www.santamariasun.com/news/4090/a-minus-for-the-plus-program/
3-2-2010: California’s Foster Care Program at-risk Due to Budget Cuts
ABC News, KFSN-TV Fresno, CA
http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/video?id=7293091
3-2-2010: Foster Care Programs in California at-risk due to Budget Cuts
ABC News, KGO-TV San Francisco, CA
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/state&id=7307470
3-2-2010: Cuts loom for grown-foster-kids housing program
ABC News KABC-TV Los Angeles, CA
http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/state&id=7307279
3-2-2010: Closing the state’s multibillion-dollar budget gap could leave Yolo County’s foster kids alone and without help as they step into adulthood
The Davis Enterprise, CA
http://search.davisenterprise.com/display.php?id=59940
3-1-2010: Cuts Likely At Transitional Homes For Foster Kids
http://cbs5.com/local/california.transitional.housing.2.1529368.html
2-27-2010: Luis Madrid: The Governor vs. Foster Kids
Merced Sun-Star
Luis Madrid is the THP-Plus Program Manager for AspiraNet in Merced.
http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2010/02/27/1330094/luis-madrid-the-governor-versus.html
2-26-2010: Foster Youth need our support
San Luis Obispo Tribune
Jim Roberts is the executive director of the Family Care Network
http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2010/02/25/1045140/viewpoint-foster-youths-need-our.html
2-22-2010: The Power of The Powerless
HuffPOST
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/daniel-heimpel/protecting-foster-care-ch_b_469270.html
2-18-2010: Those who have the least get the least
Ventura County Reporter
http://www.vcreporter.com/cms/story/detail/those_who_have_the_least_get_the_least/7678/Mention THP-Plus among many social services cuts