SVCF Brochure

SVCF Misson & Impact

We Grow

About Silicon Valley Children’s Fund The Silicon Valley Children’s Fund is a public benefit organization based in San Jose, California. Formed in 1987 as a public-private partnership with Santa Clara County’s Board of Supervisors, SVCF has been dedicated to improving life outcomes for foster youth

About Foster Youth

for the past twenty years. Our work is made possible through broad support from the community’s

In 2005, there were 3,100 children in Santa Clara

most respected philanthropic, business, civic and

County’s foster care system due to abuse, neglect or

education leaders.

abandonment. A pproximately 200 foster care youth

For more information about the Silicon Valley Children’s

“age-out” of careeach year Statewide, approximately

Fund, please contact us at:

30% of foster youth function below grade level, 50%

4525 Union Avenue

are held back in school, and 46% drop out before

San Jose, CA 95124

obtaining a high school diploma.Nationally, only 25% of foster youth consider college and of those, only

(408) 558-5430 www.svcf.org

3% graduate, with 67% dropping out due to lack of money for housing, books, food and other needs.

Within 2-4 years of emancipation: • 51% of foster youth in California are unemployed • 63% of foster youth had not maintained a job for at least one year • 40% of foster youth receive public assistance • 25% experience homelessness

Photography: Brian Moore, Erica Britto Photography, Climate and Ecosystems Change Adaptation Research University Network

SVCF Mission & Impact Silicon Valley Children’s Fund invests in the development and expansion of the most effective practices and programs that transform educational and life outcomes for foster youth in Santa Clara County and beyond. Our strategy is to extend the scale of successful programs and services for foster youth by launching public-private partnerships that build the institutional capacity of foster youth-serving agencies, educational institutions, and communitybased organizations. The impact of our efforts for foster youth will be: • Improved K-12 learning outcomes • Improved academic preparedness for post-secondary education • Increased financial aid and support for education • Increased connections to campus community • Higher post-secondary entry, retention, and graduation rates • Increased engagement with employment

Advocacy and Education Policy SVCF advocates for education policy in Santa Clara County and beyond that makes the educational needs of foster children a priority and focus for the

Improving Life Outcomes for Foster Youth Silicon Valley Children’s Fund helps foster youth become self-sustaining, successful adults by improving education outcomes and access to education - both through the direct impact of SVCF-supported initiatives and by serving as a catalyst for change within the child welfare and education systems. SVCF investments and initiatives mobilize and propel public and private agencies and educational institutions to restructure their operations, develop more effective services, and transform program and education delivery in support of foster youth success. We measure these results based on the direct impact our investments have on three primary outcomes: • High school graduation rates • Post-secondary education matriculation and completion rates • Post graduation outcomes including sustained high-wage employment.

To help us achieve our goals, we deploy resources in four areas: • Advocacy and Education Policy

SVCF partners with organizations and agencies to launch enrichment programs that support the educational success and healthy development of children and youth in foster care. SVCF invests in programs that provide youth with opportunities to identify new interests and career opportunities, improve critical thinking and creative processing skills, and strengthen their self esteem and overall social, physical, and emotional well being.

• K-12 Education • After-School Enrichment Programs, • Post-Secondary Education.

child welfare agency and education community; leads to a strong, collaborative relationship between

After-School Enrichment Programs

Post-Secondary Education SVCF partners with the higher education community and vocational system to strengthen their capacity to reach out to students from foster care and to

child welfare and the education community; and,

K-12 Education

results in all foster children having increased access

SVCF partners with public agencies to strengthen

to educational services and resources.

the education ecosystem and invests in the

develop and institutionalize effective academic support programs and services that result in higher retention and graduation rates.

development and deployment of new programs and practices that strategically help to raise literacy rates,

We also offer the Youth Education Scholarship (YES)

high school graduation rates and improve student

Program, a comprehensive scholarship program that

learning outcomes for children and youth

provides financial assistance and connects students

in foster care.

to an extensive support network that includes mentorship and professional services in academics, financial fitness, counseling, and life-skills coaching.