On January 30th, members of California Youth Connection, made up of current and former foster youth, converged in Sacramento to advocate for their rights and meet with state legislators. This year’s Day at the Capitol focused on foster youth transition to adulthood. The youth spent the day directly representing themselves rather than having their interests represented by others. In recent years, Day at the Capitol has resulted in legislative successes, such as passage of AB 12 (extended foster care support to 21 years of age) and AB 1393 (required state colleges to prioritize on-campus housing for current and former foster youth). To read more about the 2012 Day at the Capitol, click here.

The Transitional Housing Placement Plus (THP-Plus) program provides affordable housing and comprehensive supportive services for up to 24 months to help former foster care and probation youth ages 18 to 24 make a successful transition from out-of-home placements to independent living. The program is administered by the California Department of Social Services, which distributes THP-Plus funds to counties.

A recent article in the San Jose Mercury Times highlights the benefits of THP-Plus to youth in the Bay Area. San Mateo County resident and former foster youth, Marcus Bell, age 19,  believes that THP-Plus, where he’s been for 18 months, has turned his life around. He said it’s a time when many people in the foster system face a fork in the road that determines how their lives are going to go.

In San Francisco County, there are four providers for THP-Plus: Edgewood; First Place for Youth; Larkin Street Youth Services; and the Salvation Army.

The Details:

The program: THP-Plus offers state-provided transitional housing, operated by the counties, for foster youths after they turn 18.
The law: The Fostering Connections to Success Act establishes transitional assistance for individuals until they turn 21.
The transition: Residents live in a dorm-like setting, observing guidelines and curfews, and doing community service.