Sierra College Receives Funding For Emancipated Foster Youth

Rocklin, CA – The Sierra College Foundation is excited to announce that the City of Roseville has granted funds to purchase basic-needs care packs for young people who have come out of the state foster care system and are attending Sierra.

These packs will include basic personal care products and school supplies to help students get started at College. The generous gift is funded by the City of Roseville’s R.E.A.C.H. and Citizen’s Benefit Fund grants.

Each year 50-100 former foster youth enroll at Sierra College. These youth face an extraordinary challenge to not only pay for their basic needs, but to also pay for college, registration, books, parking permit, and school supplies.

‘We are very grateful for the support provided.’ said Sonbol Aliabadi, Executive Director of the Sierra College Foundation. ‘These young people are facing significant challenges as they move on to college and this funding will provide some important support to them.’

In November 2007, a group of staff and faculty at Sierra College decided to take action on the growing lack of resources for former foster youth. They came together and formed the College Transition Support Team (CTST). This volunteer group is a partnership between community foster youth services professionals and Sierra College Faculty and Staff addressing the needs, Concerns and issues that affect the success and retention of former foster youth students attending Sierra College.

In the midst of compiling educational resources for foster youth, the CTST found a major gap in the services provided to these students. That missing piece was how to address the financial need that exists to purchase basic hygiene products and food.

Grant funding from the City of Roseville will purchase nearly 50 care packs for emancipated foster youth attending Sierra College during the Fall and Spring semesters. These packs will include the basic items needed to help these students get on their feet and give them a good start to a successful educational career as well as help reduce the anxiety and stress they experience.

Contact the Sierra College Foundation at: (916) 660-7020

The mission of the Sierra College Foundation is to give the members of our community the opportunity to assist and invest in the development of quality educational opportunities for all.

In concert with Sierra College and the community it serves, the Foundation commits itself to work toward educational excellence, and to assist in the implementation of the Mission of Sierra College.