Former Foster Youth: Guardian Scholars

Students at Former Foster Youth Luncheon

Providing Support for Former Foster Youth

The Guardian Scholars Program and the NextUp Program provides services to current or former foster youth (FFY) attending Sierra College. Our goal is to equip and empower them to not just do well academically, but also navigate the many life and financial challenges that are barriers to their success.

Flo Charlie and Britney Slates are happy to answer any questions. Just email guardianscholars@sierracollege.edu

Qualifications

Guardian Scholars Program Eligibility

Complete the Common Application for EOPS, GSP, NextUp and TRiO Services
Must provide court dependency letter with at least one day of foster care experience from 0-18 years old (e.g. foster home, group home, or placed with a relative by the court) to GSP office
Complete FAFSA/DREAM application
Complete Program Application
Complete an intake appointment with Guardian Scholar’s Counselor

Continuing Students Eligibility Requirements

Maintain continuous enrollment at Sierra College
Meet with a GSP Counselor three times per semester
Maintain a 2.0 GPA or above
Be enrolled in at least 6 units
Participate in at least one program activity or workshop provided by the Guardian Scholars Program
Agree to staff monitoring of academic performance and progress
Attend academic intervention services as recommended by the GSP counselor
Abide by all college standards for appropriate conduct and community behavior
Meet with mentor once a month (for freshmen students; optional for second year students)

Services

Professional staff and peer advisors, in partnership with a variety of on-campus departments and external agencies, work to best meet their academic and personal needs. Collaboratively, our goal is that these Former Foster youth realize that college is an option, and turn their dreams into reality by offering:

Counseling Services (Academic, Personal, and Career counseling)
Financial Aid Priority Processing (FAFSA application assistance, grants and scholarships)
Funds to buy required textbooks
Semester meal card/grocery card
Transportation assistance (parking permit/bus passes/Gas Card)
On-campus housing (ten dorm beds each semester for qualified FFY students)
Room bedding and furnishings for students who are selected to live in the dorm/residence hall

Care-Packs filled with basic hygiene and school supplies
College Transfer Assistance (transfer counseling services, college tours, referral to University reps)
Graduation Cap and Gown and GSP Stole
Each Semester recognition ceremony for academic success (for students above 2.0 GPA)
Referrals to campus and community resources
Access to Campus Food closet/CalFresh
Access to Scholarships
Access to Emergency Fund (based on available funds)

NEXTUP also known as CAFYES (Cooperating Agencies Foster Youth Educational Support)

NextUp provides enhanced support services to eligible current or former foster youth whose court dependency status was established or continued on or after his/her 16^th birthday and no older than 25 years of age at the beginning of the academic year.

Sierra College is among 1 of 45 Community Colleges in California that was awarded funding by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office to provide additional/enhanced support services for foster youth attending postsecondary education. The purpose of the NextUp Program is to strengthen the capacity of community college districts to support the higher education success, health and well-being of some of the nearly 13,000 current and former foster youth who are enrolled in California's community colleges.

NextUp Initial Program Eligibility:

Be enrolled in EOPS; and
Be enrolled in at least 9 units (or approved for less by DSPS); and
Have court dependency status that was established or continued on or after your 16th birthday; and
No older than 25 years of age at the beginning of the academic year.

In addition to receiving EOPS services, NextUp students at Sierra College will receive the following enhanced services:

Emergency housing assistance
Monthly NextUp grant
Additional funds to buy required textbooks
Additional funds to buy required school supplies
Monthly vendor cards for transportation and food
Enhanced one-on-one support from Counselor, Counseling Assistant and Financial Aid Technician
and much more

How to Apply:

Fill out the application:

GSP Application

If you need help, we are located on the
Rocklin Campus in L144. (Winstead)

Anyone can get involved

Volunteer Opportunities

Mentoring
Job placement and internships
Housing placement
Professional services
Workshops and training

Make a Gift to Guardian Scholars Program

The Sierra College Foundation handles gifts. More information is available at this Foundation web page.

Resources

On Campus Resources

Financial Aid
Chafee Grant
On campus housing
Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS)
TRiO First generation students
Pathways to Completion Program
Health Services
Tutoring
Disabled Student Programs and Services (DSPS)
Career Connections
Transfer Center
On campus clubs
HUB
RISE
Umoja
Puente

Guardian Scholars: Former Foster Youth