STATE OF CALIFORNIA
BRICE W. HARRIS, CHANCELLOR
CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY COLLEGES
CHANCELLOR’S OFFICE
1102 Q STREET, SUITE 4554
SACRAMENTO, CA 95811-6549
(916) 445-8752
http://www.cccco.edu
August 10, 2015
To:
Chief Student Services Officers
From:
Denise Noldon, Ph.D., Interim Vice Chancellor, Student Services and Special Programs
Subject:
Cooperating Agencies Foster Youth Educational Support Program
The Chancellor’s Office is pleased to announce that funding for implementation of the Cooperating Agencies
Foster Youth Educational Support (CAFYES) Program was approved in the final 2015-16 state budget. The
Chancellor’s Office will be issuing an Application to Participate in the CAFYES Program in the coming weeks.
CAFYES was authorized in September 2014, when Governor Brown signed into law SB 1023. The law allows
“the Chancellor’s Office to enter into agreements with up to 10 community college districts to provide additional
funds, separate and apart from current funding, for services in support of postsecondary education for foster
youth through a supplemental component of the existing Extended Opportunity Programs and Services
(EOPS) program.” The purpose of the program is to strengthen the capacity of community college districts to
support the higher education success, health and well-being of some of the nearly 13,000 current and former
foster youth who are currently enrolled in California’s community colleges. The budget provides for “up to $15
million” for the program during the current year and is expected to continue in future years.
The Chancellor’s Office is in the process of developing an Application to Participate (ATP) in the CAFYES
Program. We plan to distribute the ATP in early September, with applications being due by mid-October.
Shortly after distributing the ATP we will hold a webinar for interested parties and we will be developing a
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document for distribution during the application development time frame.
Our plans include ATP review by early November, with recommendations of up to 10 districts going to the
Board of Governors at the November 16-17, 2015, meeting for approval.
We encourage districts interested in this opportunity to begin discussions with EOPS/CARE offices, Foster
Youth Success Initiative (FYSI) liaisons, Foster Kinship Care Education representatives, students, community
partners and other stakeholders in order to develop a strong application for funding. Program services can
include, but are not limited to: outreach and recruitment, service coordination, counseling, book and supply
grants, tutoring, independent living and financial literacy skills support, frequent in-person contact, career
guidance, transfer counseling, child care and transportation assistance, and referrals to health services,
housing assistance and other related services.
Please send any questions you might have to cafyes@cccco.edu, a special mailbox we have set up for this
purpose. Your questions will be compiled and answers given both in the upcoming webinar and in an FAQ we
will release shortly after the webinar.
cc:
EOPS/CARE Coordinators
Financial Aid Directors
FYSI Liaisons
Foster Kinship Care Education Representatives