1. California Youth ConnectionCreated by Jahaira Fernandez

2. MISSION CYC is a youth led organization thatdevelops leaders who empower each other and their communities to transform the foster care system through legislative and policy change. 3. GOALS Increasing CYC membership. Promoting skill development &leadership with youth. Expanding CYC financial & communitysupport. 4. CONT. Strengthen CYC organizational infrastructure. Advocating for effective implementation ofstatewide legislation & changes in practice at county & state levels. Strengthening & increasing the ability of thechapters to promote, create, & respond to emerging & current policies & being able to initiate at a state & county level. 5. Main Goals To increase youthmembership. In order to see an increase, members attend different events where they are able to establish relationships with other members. Change policies. 6. POPULATION-AT-RISK CYC addresses the needs of fosteryouth that are from ages 14-24. It focuses in trying to make changesfor youth from ages 0-24. 7. WHAT COMMUNITIES DOES CYC SERVE? Fresno Madera Mariposa Merced 8. MEMBERS INCOME LEVELS The income of all youthvaries: Depends on the type offoster parents they have. Some youth have jobsothers do not. 9. TRANSPORTATION BusSocial Worker AdultVolunteers Personal transportation 10. AGENCY INTERACTION Court Appointment Special Advocates: Advocatesspeak for those who have experienced neglect and abuse in the foster system. Independent Living Program: Prepare youth to becomeindependent. Building Healthy Communities: Hub of networkagencies that provide funding for the central valley office. 11. CONT. Youth Engagement Team: It is an extension ofBuilding Healthy Communities where youth organizations work together to change local policies. Youth Training Project: All CYC members workon curriculum and leadership (statewide level). 12. Services CYC does not give directmental health. Offers Indirect: Support services Moral support Emotional support Members have check-inswith other members or with Hector Cerda the Regional Coordinator. 13. BOARD OF DIRECTORS TOP MANAGEMENT California Youth Connection is a non-profitorganization founded in 1988. The Board Of Directors are: Parissh Knox is the Past-President in Los Angeles, CA(Attorney, Best Best & Krieger LLP, 2nd Generation Orphan). Edmund Fernandez is the Treasurer in San Bruno, CA(CPA, Oracle). Carlos Senior Admin Analyst, Management RotationProgram, City of Santa Monica (Former Foster Youth Collard, President, in Los Angeles, CA. 14. CONT. Cassie Morton, Resides in Coronado, CA Dean for the SanDiego Community College District (Retired). Daniel Heimpel, Resides in San Francisco (Director, FosteringMedia Connections). Jennifer Rodriguez in Davis, CA (Attorney, Youth LawCenter, Former Foster Youth) Karen Grace-Kaho, Resides in Sacramento, CA (Foster CareOmbudsman, State of California 15. CONT. Laura Ziemer, Youth Member in Arcata, CA (Trainer(PRIDE), College of the Redwood, Foster/Kinship Care Education Program; Former Foster Youth. Marilyn Mackel in Sausalito, CA (Commissioner in, Los AngelesSuperior Court (Retired). Myesha Jackson in Sacramento, CA (ChiefConsultant, Assembly Human Services Committee. Shawn Clark in Thousand Oaks, CA (Owner, Applied NetworkSolutions, Former Foster Youth. 16. CONT. Sokhom Mao Youth Member in Oakland, CA (DataSpecialist, UC Berkeley, Former Foster Youth) Sopheavy Clarke in San Antonio, TX (Student at UT SanAntonio, and Intern at Valero Energy Corp, Former Foster Youth). Tonya Hightower in Anaheim, CA (Senior Adjustor, InfinityInsurance, Former Foster Youth). Lazara Martinez, Secretary, Youth Member in Fresno, CA(Student, Former Foster Youth). 17. Executive Director Joseph Tietz Bookkeeper (Contact) Lynette CoxDirector of Program Jenny VinopalManager Programs NorCal Hermal Sharifzada Regional Coordinator Bay Area Kate Teague Regional Coordinator Central Valley Hector Cerda Regional Coordinator SoCal Kenny Brown Regional Coordinator SoCal Rebecca Leach Social Media Coordinator (Contact) Theo FowlesYTP Coordinator Sophia Herman HCTACY Admin Sarah Duncan Director of Training Jaime Lee Evans Conference Coordinator Jude Koski Director of Operations Tiffany JohnsonYTP Admin Jeanie Yoon Volunteer Coordinator Darryn GreenDirector of Development Jacque LindemanCYC Admin Assist/Development Associate Angela Martin Legislative Coordinator Chantel JohnsonDirector of Policy Vacant Contact Policy Coordinator Crystal O GradyRegional Coordinator NorCal Roderick Venter Regional Coordinator NorCal Chris Ketchum 18. FRONT-LINE WORKERS & INTERNS Jenny VinopalHector CerdaCYC Interns 19. ROLES In CYC, members are considered the clients and they worktogether as a team to find ways they can add or eliminate things on the foster care system. The consumers create trainings for foster parents so that they canhave more knowledge on how to help the youth be more dependent and learn how to open savings accounts. The constituents have meetings where they discuss what policiesthey want to change, help with foster care trainings, organize events, and make decisions of what person will make the best fit as a supporter. 20. HOW CYC FUNCTIONS Principle of social work: CYC brings justice to the foster youth who might nothave had rights before. It serves as a voice of foster population.Empowerment Model: The foster youth are the voice of fosters. 21. INTERNATIONAL AGENCY IN CANADA Federation of BC Youth in Care Networks is a non-profit organization and it is led my foster youth. The youth members from ages 14-24 work together to make positive improvements on the lives of many BC members. Some members are in foster homes, group homes, residential mental health, & independent living. FBCYICN helps the youth form their own voice in order for them to change policies in the foster care system.