Koach, Rodgers Present Keys to Foster Youth Partnership Program to California School Boards Association

Bonita Unified School Board Member Diane Koach and Senior Director Student Services Mark Rodgers will speak at the December 2, 2016, California School Boards Association (CSBA) Annual Education Conference on caring for foster youth in a school district. Topics of discussion include forming and nurturing multi-agency partnerships, the direct and unexpected benefits of connection to partners, the role of school boards in facilitating positive outcomes, improved educational outcomes for youth in foster care, improved social success for youth in foster care, and foundations for future growth and innovation.

“Following the filming of a public awareness video, ‘Not Alone,’ the Bonita Unified foster support team was encouraged to submit a presentation to the annual conference,” Rodgers said in a memo to Dr. Christina Goennier, Superintendent. “We are pleased to say that our presentation was approved for inclusion in the conference. In addition, Bonita Unified will be represented on two additional presentations by Jill Rowland, Education Program Director at the Alliance for Children’s Rights, our primary partner in supporting foster youth.” “Not Alone” is a public service announcement video created by CSBA that featured Bonita Unified’s foster youth program.

Rodgers has been instrumental in developing connections to other agencies that support foster youth such as the Department of Children and Family Services, and has improved access to community mental health services for all students through a partnership with McKinley Children’s center.  

Partnerships with the Alliance for Children’s Rights and the McKinley Children’s Center, which will both be featured in the panel presentation at the CSBA conference, have led to numerous benefits for youth in foster care through improved procedures and deeper advocacy. Foster youth are now enrolled more quickly, get more partial credits, are more likely to graduate on time, and have higher rates of being eligible for college. Youth also receive a high level of support from the two foster liaisons to ensure that they have full access to all aspects of their education.

In addition to community partnerships, Rodgers conducts annual drives to collect needed supplies and personal items to support youth in foster homes.

“We are very excited about this opportunity to share the exciting work being done by the foster youth support team in Bonita USD, and are looking forward to state-level connections and influences that we hope will improve support for all foster youth in California,” Rodgers said.