Youth Empowerment Strategies for Success (YESS)

What We Do  /  Equity  /  Youth Empowerment Strategies for Success (YESS)
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Empowering youth to succeed.

Youth Empowerment Strategies for Success—Independent Living Program (YESS–ILP) is a comprehensive and integrated program that unites community partners and academic leaders to empower current and former foster youth to successfully transition into independent living. This program is in partnership with and funded by the California Department of Social Services and is hosted on California Community College campuses throughout the state. With a focus on higher education and career training, YESS-ILP provides youth with life skills and access to supportive campus connections to increase their ability to succeed.

YESS-ILP Application

YESS-ILP Application is NOW OPEN through March 31. To apply, please fill out and submit the YESS-ILP Application. 

For those of you that may have missed the information sessions, but are interested in learning more about YESS-ILP and the application process, please use the recording link and the supplemental information link for further information.

Application Timeline:

January 13, 2023 

Application open to system

March 31, 2023

Submissions are Closed

April 1-30, 2023

Application Review

May 5, 2023

Final Decisions made

May 12, 2023

Notify Colleges of approval status

If you have any immediate questions not covered by the recording or supplemental information document about YESS-ILP or the application, please reach out to Brooke Ford at bford@foundationccc.org before March 31.

Our Commitment

  • Increased youth enrollment in mentoring, life-skills training and transition services
  • Supported transition to higher education and career training
  • Improved youth retention throughout the multi-level training and learning experiences
  • Permanent connections to caring adults, institutions, and programs
  • Successful transition into independent living
  • Purposeful evaluation and constant program improvement

What We Do

  • Encourage a viewpoint that values youth for their strengths and assets
  • Provide lifelong campus and community connections
  • Provide a smooth transition from K-12 to community college campuses and foster youth education programs
  • Provide ongoing access to academic financial aid, vocational training, counseling, housing, and career development services
  • Collaborate with caregivers, group homes, county and state agencies, and community partners

Student Testimonial

My name is Jonathan and I am a student at Butte College in Northern California. I participate in the Inspiring Scholars program for former foster youth on campus. I recently received gift cards from them for The Grocery Outlet. I was so moved that I wanted to find out who had donated them and extend my thanks and gratitude.


Thank you so much to the Foundation for California Community Colleges for their donation of these gift cards! It was a tremendous help and relieved a lot of stress and anxiety for me in terms of food security. Foster youth, unlike many other students, don't have parents whose refrigerators and pantries they can raid and often, don't have anyone they can call on when times get tough. These gift cards made a huge difference in my quality of life, and in turn, help make my success in school more attainable. Again, my most sincere gratitude.

Contact Us

Brooke Ford
Program Specialist, Equity
E: bford@foundationccc.org

Fact Sheet

Download the YESS-ILP fact sheet >

Resources

Foundation for California
Community Colleges

1102 Q Street, Suite 4800
Sacramento, CA 95811

Toll Free: 866.325.3222
Fax: 916.325.0844

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Supporting our Work

Help the Foundation further its mission to benefit, support, and enhance the California Community Colleges.

The Foundation for California Community Colleges is a 501(c)(3) organization (EIN 68-0412350).

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Who we serve

The Foundation serves as the official foundation supporting the Board of Governors, Chancellor’s Office, and the entire California Community College system, including 116 colleges and 73 districts, serving nearly 2 million students.

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