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YESS Independent Living Program (ILP)

The Youth Empowerment Strategies for Success Independent Living Program (YESS/ILP) prepares foster youth aged 16 to 21 to move into independent adult living.

Each year, approximately 4,000 of California's foster youth turn 18 and become independent, many without the necessary skills to support themselves. Studies show that as many as 50 percent of emancipated foster youth become homeless, have serious money problems, or are incarcerated. To better prepare foster youth for independence, Youth Empowerment Strategies for Success - California (YESS-California) aims to help current and former foster youth transition successfully into self-sufficiency and adulthood. The program was developed in 2007 through collaboration between the Foundation for California Community Colleges and the California Department of Social Services.

Contact Dana McKnight Flentroy for more information.

Empowering Greatness Classes

Spring 2023 Empowering Greatness Class Schedule

Empowering Greatness is a series of five classes. Current foster youth ages 16 to 18 are invited to join. Foster youth who live in foster or group homes are welcome.

Classes are held on Zoom and Face to Face:
When: On Wednesdays
Classes are from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Pacific Time.
Face to Face classes will be held at American River College, 4700 College Oak Drive, Sacramento, CA 95841, Conference Room 1, behind cafeteria

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Topic: Getting to Know Each Other

Instructor: Tori Garcia
Date: September 6th FACE To FACE American River College
Description: Introduction Day

Topic: Daily Living Skills

Instructor: Tori Garcia
Date: September 20th (Zoom)
Description: How to maintain a healthy, safe, and clean-living environment. Self-care, and identity exploration.

Topic: College and Career Finder

Instructor: Tori Garcia
Date: October 11th (Zoom)
Description: Explore the many different options of College, careers, and vocational opportunities.

Topic: Financial Literacy

Instructor: Tori Garcia
Date: October 25th (Zoom)
Description: Topics diverse bank accounts, loans, credit, and fun interactive activities. Making Your Money Last.

Topic: Career and Employment

Instructor: Tori Garcia
Date: November 8th: (Zoom)
Description: Learn techniques on communicating feelings, active listening, love languages and how to practice and enforce boundaries

Topic: Budgeting Wellness

Instructor: Tori Garcia
Date: November 22nd: (Zoom)
Description: We will bake our recipe we created together and create and share our personalized budgeting plans together.

Topic: Budgeting Wellness

Instructor: Tori Garcia
Date: December 6th: (Zoom)
Description: Cover ways of picking the right places to shop, planning in advance, food waste, and various budgeting plans.

Topic: Cooking Demo and Budgeting

Instructor: Tori Garcia
Date: December 20th (Zoom)
Description: We will bake our recipe we created together and create and share our personalized budgeting plans together.