GET INFORMED AND STAY CONNECTED
Here you can find resources relating to our Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program, including how to get in touch with liaisons from local districts and how to sign up for our newsletter.
DISTRICT FOSTER YOUTH LIAISONS, 2024-2025
| District | Name | Phone | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| COE | Erika Hernandez | 831-227-7426 | ehernandez@santacruzcoe.org | |
| Live Oak | Shar Ames | 831-475-6333 x209 cell: 831-227-3997 | sames@losd.ca | |
| Pajaro Valley Unified | Benjamin Slyder | 831-786-2395 | benjamin_slyder@pvusd.net | |
| San Lorenzo Valley Unified | Jen Lahey | 831-336-9678 x114 | jlahey@slvusd.org | |
| Santa Cruz City | Casey O'Brien | 831-429-3410 x215 | cobrien@sccs.net | |
| Scotts Valley Unified | Nadia Oskolkoff | 831-438-1820 x105 | noskolkoff@scottsvalleyusd.org | |
| Soquel Union Elementary | Carissa Lemos | 831-464-5631 | clemos@suesd.org | |
| Small School Districts | ||||
| Bonny Doon Union Elementary | Fiona Campbell | 831-427-2300 | fcampbell@bduesd.org | |
| Happy Valley Elementary | Michelle Stewart | 831-429-1456 | mstewart@hvesd.com | |
| Mountain Elementary | Megan Tresham | 831-475-6812 x12 | mtresham@mountainesd.org | |
| Pacific Elementary | Eric Gross | 831-425-7002 | egross@pacificesd.org | |
*To sign up for a biweekly e-newsletter on all issues pertaining to foster youth and education in Santa Cruz County (FYSCP News), or if you are interested in learning more about the Foster Youth Services Executive Advisory Council please contact Erika Hernandez- ehernandez@santacruzcoe.org
CA Foster Youth Education Task Force
CA Foster Youth Education Resource Hub
Local Foster and Homeless HUB Drive
Foster Youth Education Toolkit – (Alliance for Children’s Rights)
Become a Resource (Foster) Parent in Santa Cruz County
CA Foster Youth Education Law Fact Sheets
Foster Youth Education Rights (Word document)
Placing Agencies
Family and Children’s Services-Child Protective Services
To Report Child Abuse – 24 hours A Day Please Call: 831.454.2273
1400 Emeline Avenue – Santa Cruz – 831.454.4222
500 Westridge – Watsonville – 831.763.8850
The majority of foster youth have social workers via this agency as their primary link to the court
Santa Cruz County Juvenile Probation Department
Juvenile Probation Department
3650 Graham Hill Road
Felton, CA 95018-9571
Phone: 831.454.3800
Fax: 831.454.3827
A smaller number of foster youth have a probation officer as their primary link to the court
Counseling Services
Children’s Behavioral Health
The Access Team
(includes MERT- Mobile Emergency Response Team)
800.952.2335
1400 Emeline Ave.
Santa Cruz, CA 95060 or
831.763.8990
500 Westridge Ave.
Watsonville, CA 95076
831.763.8200
Many foster youth have or are eligible for counseling with Children’s Behavioral Health.
Encompass Community Services
Phone: 831.469.1700
380 Encinal St., Suite 200
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Email: info@EncompassCS.org or contact HERE
Encompass is one of the largest contractors with county providing mental health services.
Transition Age Youth
Transition Age Youth (TAY)/Independent Living Program
AB 2121 graduation waiver form (Word document)
Higher Education
California Chafee Grant for Foster Youth
Financial Aid Guide for California Foster Youth
State Contacts
California Department of Education – Foster Youth Services Coordinating Programs
This site hosts the state office concerning foster youth and education which oversees K-12 county and district liaisons as well as AB 490.
Advocacy Information
CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates)
Telephone: 831.761.2956
Fax Number: 831.761.2913
813 Freedom Blvd.
Watsonville, CA 95076
Many foster youth have a CASA. They are often the best, most consistent advocate the foster youth can have.
Youth Advisory Board
A youth-led advisory council that provides community advocacy. Call 831.226.3536 for more info.
CA Foster Care Ombudsperson
If you are experiencing any difficulties or problems at the local level, contact the Foster Care Ombudsperson. This person will help you with the various agencies. This is also an excellent site for a multitude of other resources, such as acquiring a copy of your foster youth verification letter.
Foster Care Help Line
You can also call the Foster Care Helpline. Their toll-free number is 1.877.846.1602
Trauma Informed Care
Get access to the Trauma-Informed Practices for Schools (TIPS) Drive Learn More!
John Burton Advocates for Youth (JBAY) Publications and Guides
AB 740 (2022)
Amends EC § 47605, 47605.6, 48432.5, 48853.5, 48911, 48911.1, 48915.5, and 48918.1. It requires that a foster child’s educational rights holder, attorney, and county social worker and an Indian child’s, as defined in Section 224.1 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, tribal social worker and, if applicable, county social worker shall have the same rights a parent or guardian of a child has to receive a suspension notice, expulsion notice, manifestation determination notice, involuntary transfer notice, and other documents and related information.