The program started in 2008 during Gloria Molina’s tenure as the Los Angeles County Supervisor due to her commitment of improving the educational outcomes of foster and probation youth under the County’s care. 

Nationally, between 35 to 50 percent of these youth perform below grade level, nearly half of foster youth fail to complete high school, and only 2 percent ever earn a bachelor’s degree. 

Using the assessment and case planning tools created by the program’s implementation team, the on-site School Based Children’s Social Workers complete a comprehensive educational case history assessment for each participating student, develop and implement an educational case plan through an individualized multidisciplinary team, connect students to local resources, and work to resolve any educational issues identified. 

Programs Goals
The ultimate goal for the program is to demonstrate that when County government, school districts, and DCFS collaborate to prioritize education for foster youth, these youth will have better educational achievement and outcomes.  Each participating youth has a team of people focusing on their education and education-related needs to ensure that they graduate high school, enroll in college (where appropriate), and reach their full career potential. 

(Note: Information taken from the Gloria Molina Foster Youth Education Program Protocols and Procedures)