April Barcus, 23, California’s Foster Care System
April was in foster care for six years. She experienced 31 different housing placements and attended 22 different high schools. Despite this, she finished high school and attended Antelope Valley College.
In college, April helped to start the Guardian Scholars program and ran it for 2 years. Now she is working but plans to go back to school in the next few semesters to continue her associate’s degree in political science. April has also served as a member of the California Youth Connection Policy and Legislative Committee. Where she worked with many other organizations to help improve the foster care system in her state and the Antelope Valley. April continues to work with a large amount of other local organizations that help foster youth such as the ILP program, Penny Lane Yellow Submarine, the local DCFS offices and Alliance for Children’s rights.
April’s goal is to become an attorney and work on policy change and advocacy for foster youth. She would also like to run for her assembly district seat in the next few years. She goes after any opportunity she has to advocate for foster youth.
“I give back because the negative experiences I had in foster care should not be the norm. I use my voice to make sure that other youth can do the same. No youth deserves to be mistreated and unheard.”
