Sonoma County Office of Education

Foster Youth Services

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.

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

Quick Links

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 Lexie Cala, Superintendent 707-542-2201 x112 lexi.cala@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 Rocky Schumann, Student Services Specialist 707-588-5700 Rocky_Schumann@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 Jennifer Dudley, Superintendent 707-847-3390 jdudley@fortrossschool.org
Geyserville Unified Debra Bertolucci, Superintendent 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 Nathan Myers, Superintendent 707-833-2500 nmyers@kenwoodschool.org
Liberty Chris Rafanelli, Superintendent 707-795-4380 crafanelli@libertysd.org
Mark West Union Rachel Valenzuela, Asst. Supe Ed. Svcs 707-524-2799 rvalenzuela@mwusd.org
Monte Rio Union Edward Navarro, Superintendent/Principal 707-865-2266 enavarro@monteriousd.org
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, Assistant Superintendent of Student Services 707-542-7375 cmyhers@rvusd.org
Roseland Moises Fernandez, Counselor 707-546-7089 x2179 mfernandez@roselandsd.org
Santa Rosa City Sydney Smith, Director Ed. Services 707-890-3800 x 80418 sysmith@srcs.k12.ca.us
Sebastopol Union Linda Irving, Superintendent 707-829-4570 lirving@sebusd.org
Sonoma Valley Unified Missy Jackson, District Social Worker 707-699-3009 mjackson@sonomaschools.org
Twin Hills Union Anna-Maria Guzman Superintendent 707-823-0871 aguzman@twinhillsusd.org
Two Rock Union Stephen Owens, Superintendent 707-762-6617 sowens@trusd.org
Waugh Michael Gardner, Superintendent 707-765-3331 mgardner@waugh.k12.ca.us
West Side Union Rima Meechan, Administration 707-433-3923 x12 rmeechan@westsideusd.org
West Sonoma County Union High Laura Schmitt, Director - Special Education 707-824-6405 lschmitt.do@wscuhsd.org
Wilmar Union Stephen Hospodar, Supe/Principal 707-765-4340 shospodar@wilmarusd.org
Windsor Unified Allison Griggs, Program Coordinator 707-837-7700 agriggs@wusd.org
Wright Adam Schaible, Superintendent 707-542-0550 x102 aschaible@wrightesd.org
Lisa Wittke Schaffner, Board Member
"The Sonoma County Board of Education sets policy for its alternative education program, serves in an oversight role for SCOE, and supports our educational agenda. We believe every student has a unique set of abilities, potential, and needs. Our board compliments the work and innovation of SCOE, and serves as an educational partner for the Sonoma County community." - Lisa Wittke Schaffner, Board Member