Foster Youth Services
The mission of our Foster Youth Services Coordination Program (FYSCP) is to support the county's approximately 350 youth living in foster care to access their education and attain their educational goals. This support takes the form of collaboration with students and families, school and district staff, and other county agencies in order to remove barriers to educational access and expand educational opportunities.
In partnership with all of the agencies serving youth in the foster care system, the role of FYSCP is to provide resources and support to school staff and families in order to create a bridge that will help students succeed.
Contact Us
For general questions about the Sonoma County Office of Education Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program or education rights of youth in foster care, please contact:
Debra Sanders, Ed.D.
Foster and Homeless Youth Education Services Coordinator
Sonoma County Office of Education
dsanders@scoe.org
707-524-2661
Foster Youth Data
Foster youth data on enrollment, test performance, and more is available at the California Department of Education's Dataquest website. This Foster Youth Fact Sheet (pdf) explains how foster youth are doing in Sonoma County and some measures SCOE is taking to encourage Foster Youth success and help school districts.
Family Urgent Response System (FURS)
On behalf of the CDSS FURS Implementation Team, the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) is proud to announce the launch of:
Family Urgent Response System (FURS)
MARCH 1, 2021 at 8:00 a.m.
FURS includes a 24/7 Statewide Hotline and a 24/7 County-based Mobile Response and Stabilization!! FURS will provide current and former foster youth (up to age 21) and their caregivers with immediate, trauma-informed support by caring and trained professionals when they need it.
FURS is intended to:
- Prevent placement disruptions and preserve the relationship between the child or youth and their caregiver
- Reduce the need for a 911 call or law enforcement involvement and the needless criminalization of traumatized youth
- Reduce hospitalization and placement into congregate care
- Promote healing as a family
- Provide a safe and judgement-free space for youth and caregivers
Please help us spread the word by sharing the attached flyers (youth and caregiver versions) with organizations, agencies, contacts, youth and families.
If you would like more information or have questions about FURS, please feel free to contact the FURS Implementation Team at FURS@dss.ca.gov or check out our website: cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/cdss-programs/foster-care/furs
Program Goals
By removing barriers that occur due to frequent changes in home placement, this program helps ensure that foster youth can benefit from uninterrupted educational access. Specific goals are to:
- Reach out to foster youth and their families and provide education-related support, such as helping them make contact with school districts and access educational resources.
- Coordinate, support, and expand foster youth tutoring programs.
- Strengthen relationships with partner agencies serving foster youth, including county departments, VOICES Sonoma, and Santa Rosa Junior College.
- Implement the Foster Focus software, which allows for the transfer of student information to expedite school enrollment.
School District Liaisons
District Foster Youth Education Liaisons support foster youth in their districts by:
-
Facilitating immediate enrollment in school
- Ensuring the timely transfer of education records when a foster youth changes school placements
- Supporting academic achievement
- Encouraging school attendance and reducing truancy and drop-out rates
- Reducing incidents of student discipline problems and juvenile delinquency
- Communicating with foster youth and appropriate supporting individuals such as foster parents, education rights holders, social workers, and CASA in order to provide coordinated support to foster youth.
- Ensuring that foster youth receive the appropriate safeguards under: AB 490 (School Stability and Timely Transfer of Records) and AB 167 (High School Graduation Requirements)
| District |
Liaison |
Phone |
Email |
| Alexander Valley Union |
Matt Reno, Superintendent |
707-433-1375 |
mreno@alexandervalleyusd.org |
| Bellevue Union |
Tracy Whitaker, Director Student Svcs |
707-542-5197 x3 |
twhitaker@busd.org |
| Bennett Valley Union |
Sue Field, Superintendent |
707-542-2201 x12 |
sue.field@bvusd.org |
| Cinnabar |
Kristina Arcuri, Superintendent |
707-765-4345 |
karcuri@cinnabar.k12.ca.us |
| Cloverdale Unified |
Stephanie Alexander, Director Student Svcs and Special Ed |
707-894-1994 |
alexanders@cusd.org |
| Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified |
Matt Marshall, Director Student Svcs |
707-792-4540 |
Matt_Marshall@crpusd.org |
| Dunham |
Daniel Hoffman, Superintendent/Principal |
707-795-5050 |
dhoffman@dunhamsd.12.ca.us |
| Forestville Union |
Renee Semik, Superintendent/Principal |
707-887-9767 x7702 |
rsemik@forestvilleusd.org |
| Fort Ross |
John Markatos, Superintendent |
707-847-3390 |
fresd@mcn.org |
| Geyserville Unified |
Debra Bertolucci, Interim Supe. |
707-857-3592 |
dbert@gusd.org |
| Gravenstein Union |
Dave Rose, Superintendent |
707-823-7008 x213 |
drose@grav.k12.ca.us |
| Guerneville |
Dana Pedersen, Superintendent |
707-869-2864 x116 |
dpedersen@guernevilleschool.org |
| Harmony Union |
Matthew Morgan, Superintendent/Principal |
707-874-1205 x11 |
mmorgan@harmonyusd.org |
| Healdsburg |
Diane Conger, Director Student Svcs |
707-431-3480 |
dconger@husd.org |
| Horicon |
Jeff McFarland, Supe/Principal |
707-886-5322 |
jmcfarland@horiconsd.org |
| Kashia |
Frances Johnson, Administrator |
707-785-9682 |
fjohnson@scoe.org |
| Kenwood |
Bob Bales, Superintendent |
707-833-2500 |
bbales@kenwoodschool.org |
| Liberty |
Chris Rafanelli, Superintendent |
707-795-4380 |
crafanelli@libertysd.org |
| Mark West Union |
Rachel Valenzuela, Director Student Svcs |
707-524-2799 |
rvalenzuela@mwusd.org |
| Monte Rio Union |
Nathan Myers, Superintendent/Principal |
707-865-2266 |
nmyers@mrusd.k12.ca.us |
| Montgomery |
Judy Mercieca, Principal |
707-632-5221 |
jmercieca@mescaz.org |
| Oak Grove Union |
Amber Stringfellow, Superintendent |
707-545-0171 |
astringfellow@ogusd.org |
| Old Adobe Union |
Cindy Kerr Friberg, Director Student Svcs |
707-765-4319 |
cfriberg@oldadobe.org |
| Petaluma City |
Liz Chacon, Assistant Superintendent & Title IX Coordinator Students |
707-778-4960 |
lchacon@petk12.org |
| Piner-Olivet Union |
Tami Pallingston |
707-522-3000 |
tpallingston@pousd.org |
| Rincon Valley Union |
Cathy Myhers, Spec Ed Director |
707-542-7375 |
myhers@rvusd.org |
| Roseland |
Moises Fernandez, Counselor |
707-546-7089 x2179 |
mfernandez@roselandsd.org |
| Santa Rosa City |
Sydney Smith, Coordinator SAFE Office |
707-890-3800 x 80418 |
sysmith@srcs.k12.ca.us |
| Sebastopol Union |
Linda Irving, Superintendent |
707-829-4570 |
lirving@sebusd.org |
| Sonoma Valley Unified |
Charles Wilson, Director, Educational Services |
707-935-4224 |
cwilson@sonomaschools.org |
| Twin Hills Union |
Barbara Bickford, Superintendent |
707-823-0871 |
bbickford@twinhillsusd.org |
| Two Rock Union |
Eric Hoppes, Superintendent |
707-762-6617 |
ehoppes@trusd.org |
| Waugh |
Mike Gardner, Superintendent |
707-765-3331 |
mgardner@waugh.k12.ca.us |
| West Side Union |
Kris Menlove, Superintendent/Princ. |
707-433-3923 x12 |
kmenlove@westsideusd.org |
| West Sonoma County Union High |
Laura Schmitt, Director - Special Education |
707-824-6405 |
lschmitt.do@wscuhsd.k12.ca.us |
| Wilmar Union |
Sheila Garvey, Supe/Principal |
707-765-4340 |
sgarvey@wilmarusd.org |
| Windsor Unified |
Allison Griggs, Program Coordinator |
707-837-7700 |
agriggs@wusde.org |
| Wright |
Adam Schaible, Superintendent |
707-542-0550 x102 |
aschaible@wrightesd.org |
