California

Cody Stults spent 17 years in California's foster care system Cody is currently a third year Civil Engineering student at California State University, Northridge with an emphasis in Structural Design and Construction Management. He intends to also receive his Master’s in Business Administration, and ultimately become a private contractor. He... Read more

Jazmin Favela spent 3 years in California's foster care system. Earning her high school diploma early, Jazmin is already nearly done with her first year of college at Cabrillo College, a community college in California. She is majoring in Childhood Development and plans to earn a Early Childhood Education (ECE)... Read more

Mark spent 5 years in California's foster care system. Mark entered the foster care system at the age of 13 and spent 5 years in care. He is in his Junior year at California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) and is pursuing a degree in Psychology with a minor in Art... Read more

Cody spent: 15+ years in California's foster care system Cody Breeden spent several years in the foster care system, experiencing a wide variety of placements, and is now participating in extended foster care. He recently graduated from high school and is currently focusing on work and volunteer opportunities. Cody would... Read more

Veda spent 16 years in California's foster care system. Veda is a student, who wants to make a difference for youth. She currently attends Los Angeles City College where she is studying Psychology and preparing to transfer to Sacramento State University, a four year university. Veda’s career goal is to... Read more

Nancy spent 18 years in California's foster care system. Prior to the implementation of Assembly Bill 12, Nancy spent 17 years in the foster care system; her 18th birthday and high school graduation led to her emancipation. Aging out of the foster care system left her completely unprepared for adulthood... Read more

Alexis Barries spent 18 years in California's foster care system. At an early age, Alexis entered foster care with her siblings due to both parents facing life sentences. She experienced several placements, school changes and separation from her siblings, but remained resilient. At the age of 16, Alexis entered a... Read more

Davonna spent 10 years in California's foster care system. Davonna was born and raised in Pomona, CA with her three sisters and twin brother. At birth, she and her siblings were placed in the kinship program, which resulted in her grandmother gaining legal guardianship of Davonna at age 10 until... Read more

Rosalina spent 12 years in California's foster care system. Sometimes it feels like you are climbing up a mountain that is too steep and you don’t have the right shoes, every step you take forward you slide back two more”. This is how Rosalina (Rosie) Burton, a former foster youth... Read more

Tommy Diaz spent 13 years in California's foster care system. So accustomed to the living conditions with his mother at first, Tommy found it difficult to adjust to the many different placements throughout his 13 years in California’s foster care system. Through his struggles, Tommy found his way to independence... Read more