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Home Academics Foster and Kinship Care YESS Independent Living Program

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 2024 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
  • Time: 6:00 to 8:00 pm SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Register in Advance for Empowering Greatness Classes

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

Topic: ILP Getting to Know You

  • Instructor: Tori Garcia
  • Date: January 31 (Zoom)
  • Description: Building your Transition Toolkit
  • We’ll take inventory of your current assets, identify resources, and map out an individual plan for you. Get to know you day!
    Let’s play some interactive games to get to know each other and what you want to learn!

Topic: Career and Major Exploration

  • Instructor: Tori Garcia
  • Date: February 7th (Zoom)
  • Description: College and Career
  • We will show you possible websites to use to seek a job and create an account, and build a resume, and cover letter. Also learn about all the majors and vocational opportunities ARC has to offer!

Topic: Get ready for the job world.

  • Instructor: Tori Garcia
  • Date: February 21st (On Campus)
  • Description: We’ll find help you discover your skills, qualities, and preferences to seek the best jobs for you that matches with the majors we discussed from last week.

Topic: Budgeting and Financial Literacy

  • Instructor: Tori Garcia
  • Date: March 6th (Zoom)
  • Description: Build your money management skills.
  • We will plan a financial future and learn about the types of bank accounts, terminology such as credit, taxes, and how to make your Money last.
    Tori Garcia

Topic: Make Housing Happen

  • Instructor: Tori Garcia
  • Date: March 20th (On Campus)
  • Description: We will look into how to find living arrangements, renting, and other living topic such as how to maintain a healthy, safe, and clean-living environment. Self-care, and identity exploration.

Topic: Cooking Demo and Budgeting

  • Instructor: Tori Garcia
  • Date: April 3rd (Zoom)
  • Description: What can you cook in a microwave?
  • Cover ways of picking the right places to shop, planning in advance, food waste, and what groceries we can use to make meals in a microwave.

Topic: Cooking Demo and Budgeting

  • Instructor: Tori Garcia
  • Date: April 17th (Zoom)
  • Description: What can you cook in a microwave pt.2?
  • We will bake our recipe we created together and create and share our personalized budgeting plans together.

Topic: Life Skills

  • Instructor: Tori Garcia
  • Date: May 8th (Zoom)
  • Description: Managing Feelings, Thoughts, and Communication
  • Learn techniques on how to communicate feelings, active listening, and how to build self-esteem, enforce boundaries, and model a positive view of ourselves.

Topic: Let’s Celebrate!

  • Instructor: Tori Garcia
  • Date: May 22nd (On Campus)
  • Description: Managing Feelings, Thoughts, and Communication
  • We will recap everything we have learned this semester and plan out an interactive check-list to makes sure your Transition Toolkit is covered.