Santa Clara Co. Stages Stage Foster Youth Graduation Ceremony

SAN JOSE, CA — Being a foster youth isn't the easiest existence. Many teenagers drop out of school. Others become runaways. Some find a worse path.

But having a support system can make all the difference in the world to the youngsters in the this alternative type of living.

That's why Santa Clara County is honoring the more than 70 current and former foster youth by giving the achievers their due credit for graduating from high school, obtaining a GED and earning a Vocational Program Certificate, Associate Degree, Bachelor or Master’s degree in the 2018-2019 academic year.

Local foster youth will be treated to a special event Thursday at 6 p.m. at Levi’s Stadium that will include an awards ceremony and dinner. Current foster youth graduating from high school and continuing to higher education were eligible to apply for a DFCS Scholarship, with four to be awarded at the event. All graduates will receive special ‘swag’ bags that will include gifts from the San Francisco 49ers and Google as participant businesses supporting the special program.

The 2nd Annual Foster Youth Graduation will be hosted by the county Department of Family and Children’s Services, Child Advocates of Silicon Valley, aka CASA, the Bill Wilson Center, Pivotal, and the San Francisco 49ers.

As of April 2019, almost 1,100 foster youth reside in Santa Clara County, with 53 graduating from high school and 25 going on to higher education to obtain an AA or BA. This year, 176 foster youth participated in the county's Intern & Earn program.

More information may be obtained here.