Preparing Foster Youth for a Future That Works

Pathways Program Alumni*

86% of active alumni are in stable housing

68% of active alumni are employed

Education Program Students

95%earned high school diploma**

68% earned bachelor's degree***

At the core of who we are and what we believe are the proud moments of the young people in our programs. Renee is proud of getting into UCLA, even when her family told her she couldn’t do it. JP is proud of the career he began at Target, when he was down on his luck for so long and unable to find employment. Brian is proud of learning how to trust others and break down the walls around him. At UFC we are proud of all the positive experiences we share with our youth, from the completed college application or first job to helping them establish healthy relationships with people who care about their futures. It is these moments that help our kids feel valued, and worthy of success and it is these moments that we share with all of you – our volunteers, donors, and supporters. Once again, we thank you for your time, energy, donations, support and commitment to ensuring foster youth have the opportunities they need to lead successful lives.

During 2010-2011, we reached a greater number of foster youth through the expansion of our Housing and Education programs, as part of our overall strategic plan. We continued to open College Readiness community hub sites in locations where our students live, to bring quality programming directly to the youth and their families. We increased the number of students in our College Readiness Program, which resulted in a greater number of students entering our College Sponsorship Program and a 17% increase in students provided with the services they need to graduate from high school and attend and graduate from college. Our Pathways Transitional Living Program focused on increasing the availability of critical mental health services to residents and enhancing life skills programming to offer a new Health and Wellness Program. Expansion of the Pathways Program continued with construction starting on a new site in Whittier and renovations wrapping up at the historic Long Beach Palace Hotel. Both sites are due to open this year and will provide housing and in-depth support to an additional 23 youth.

As we come to a close of the final year of our strategic plan this May, we are reviewing our successes and challenges over the last five years and strategically planning for the future. We have big plans for the next three years that involve the opening of new housing projects and several more community education sites so UFC can continue to create positive outcomes for even more foster youth. The 2015 fund, our first major gifts campaign, was kicked-off by a generous donation last June and will help support the continued expansion of our Housing and Education Programs, by nearly 40% in Pathways and by more than doubling the number of youth in College Readiness. We have big goals ahead of us but are certain to reach them with a group of dedicated staff, board members, volunteers and supporters all committed to one core belief – that foster youth deserve the opportunity to be successful and live healthy lives.

*UFC remains in contact with 77% of Pathways Program alumni. The alumni statistics are taken from that pool of youth.
**2005 College Readiness class graduated in June
***2005 College Sponsorship class graduated in six years or less