Foster Care Ombudsperson: Helping children and youth in foster care get the care, placement, and services they need.  

 LINK: California Foster Care Ombudsperson

Dear Students, Parents, Foster Parents, & Caregivers, 

We want you to know that your school is a place where you are supported and valued. Our dedicated team of teachers, administrators, school social workers, school counselors, school psychologists, and other staff are here to help you achieve your academic goals and meet your individual needs. We understand that being in the foster care system comes with unique challenges, and we are committed to providing the support you need to succeed. Our school teams can connect you with resources and services beyond what is available at your school. Our school team works closely with Orange County Social Services staff, Orange County Department of Education staff, probation, and other community members who are dedicated to supporting the needs of foster youth. We are all here to ensure you have the tools and resources necessary to thrive.

To our foster parents and caregivers, supporting a foster youth is a team effort, and we are committed to providing you with the assistance and resources you need to help your child succeed. Please feel free to reach out to us with questions or concerns.

If you ever feel like you need additional support, don't hesitate to reach out to your district Foster Youth Liaison. See the contact information below. 

Through our vision of "Unlimited You" together, we can create a supportive and nurturing environment where every student has the opportunity to reach their full potential.

AUHSD Team

To Know Is To Empower

You have the right to: 

• Remain in your school of origin
• Immediate enrollment in school
• Partial credits for high school students
• Graduation requirements waiver rights (3rd or 4th year of HS) 
• College rights
• School discipline rights
• Access to your school records
• Have and know your education rights holders
• Receive assistance with transportation

Follow this link to learn more: Rights of Youth in Foster Care

Physical & Mental Health Rights 

You have the right to: 

• Receive mental health services in California.
• Know about your diagnosis and treatment options in a way that you can understand.
• Help make all the decisions regarding your mental health, including treatment and services that meet your needs.
• Promptly receive mental health services and treatment in a placement that meets my needs.
•  After your 12th birthday, if you are mature enough, you have the right to seek and consent to mental health counseling and treatment on your own (except psychotropic medication).
• See a doctor, dentist, eye doctor, or talk to a therapist if you need to refuse to take medicines, vitamins or herbs (unless a doctor or judge says you must) 

Follow this link to learn more: Rights of Youth in Foster Care

Additional Information

You have the right to: 

• Contact social workers, attorneys, probation officers, Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), foster youth advocates and supporters, or anyone else involved with your case
• Go to court and talk to the judge
• See and get a copy of your court report and your case plan
• Keep your court records private, unless the law says otherwise
• Be told by your social worker or probation officer and your attorney about any changes in your case plan or placement

Follow this link to learn more: Rights of Youth in Foster Care

School Site Social Worker

• Care / transition meeting for new student in the foster care system.
• Care coordination intake meeting at the beginning of every school year. 
• Purpose of these meetings: 
• To help you develop a relationship with school site team. 
• Inform you of your rights and services available to you.
• Give you a voice in meetings being held on your behalf.
• Collaborate and communicate with your Social Services Agency staff, PO, CASA, and other outside providers
• Serve as support for your parent(s), foster parent, or care giver in navigating the school and child welfare system.
• If necessary support your mental health needs.
• Support you with enrollment needs; set up a meeting with all stakeholders; and advocate for your needs. 

School Counselor

• Develop a 6-year graduation plan
• Communicate with teachers and support you when you are having academic challenges
• Inform you of Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways
• Inform you and support with the Pledge, dual enrollment options, and guardian scholar programs in community colleges
• Support with social emotional needs

"Unlimited You"

Explore Your Options Follow the links for more information: 

• Career Pathways
• Anaheim's Innovative Mentoring Experience (AIME)

Additional Resources

Orangewood Foundation

The Orangewood Foundation programs help foster youth their overall wellbeing and independence. The agency support services such as, food, groceries, life skills, resource center, laundry, etc.

• Health & Wellness 
• Housing
• Life Skills & Employment
• Support with Educational Goals
• Contact

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)

To learn more bout CASAs and how they can help youth in foster care  follow this link. 

• casaoc.org
• californiacasa.org

Ask your county social services social worker about appointing a CASA for you. 

UNDERSTANDING THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM AND HOW SCHOOLS SUPPORT YOUTH

What is Foster Care:

• Foster care is a primary piece of the child welfare services system. 
• It is defined as the 24-hour out-of-home care provided to children in need of temporary or long-term substitute parenting because their own families are unable or unwilling to care for them. 
• The purpose of foster care is to keep children safe while child welfare services are provided so they can be reunited with their families.

Source: Foster Care Fundamentals: An Overview of California’s Foster Care System (12/2001)

AB 490 and AB 1933 - For more information about AB490 visit this page: Frequently Asked Questions & About Foster Care Legislation

Foster youth educational placements to ensure:           

• Access to same academic resources as all students
• Placed in least restrictive environment
• Decisions and actions that are in the child’s best interest
• Foster youth have a right to remain in “school of origin” 
• Right to Immediate Enrollment - Foster youth are required to be enrolled if missing records or owe fees
• If a dispute arises regarding the request of a foster child to remain in the school of origin, the foster child has the right to remain in the school of origin pending resolution of the dispute. The dispute shall be resolved in accordance with the existing dispute resolution process available to a pupil served by the local educational agency. Cal. Ed. Code § 48853.5
• School districts must have a Foster Youth Liaison. The educational liaison shall do both of the following:
  • Ensure and facilitate the proper educational placement, enrollment in school, and checkout from school of foster children. Cal. Ed. Code § 48853.5
  • Assist foster children when transferring from one school to another school or from one school district to another school district in ensuring proper transfer of credits, records, and grades. Cal. Ed. Code § 48853.5

California Education Code 48850, 48853, 48853.5, 51225.2

 AB167 - Foster Youth Graduation Exemption. For more information about AB167 visit this page: AB 167/216 Graduation: Overview of the Law

• Foster youth who transfer schools or districts in their 3rd or 4th year of high school may be exempted from local graduation requirements
• Within 30 days of enrollment, district must determine if student qualifies for exemption
• Exemption confers a regular high school diploma but impacts enrollment in UC/CSU and may impact acceptance into military

Education Code 51225.1, 51225.2, 51225.3 (Assembly Bills 167 and 216)        

Additional Laws: 

AB 1909 (Education Code 48918.1) - When recommend for expulsion for a discretionary act:

• District must provide notice of expulsion hearing to the child’s legal counsel and social worker
• at least 10 calendar days before date of hearing. 

AB 216 (Education Code 49069.5 and 51225.2)

• Requires partial credits for coursework completed

AB 12 (Welfare and Institutions Code 11403(v)). For more information about AB12 visit this page: AB 167/216 Graduation: Overview of the Law

• Non-minor foster youth may remain in the dependency system until age 21

Information for Parents, Foster Parents, and Caregivers

• Learn about Children & Family Services 
• oc4kids.com
• Foster Care Auxiliary
• Adoption/Foster Care

McKinney-Vento / Foster Youth District Liaison

Adela Cruz

• Anaheim Union High School District 
• 501 N Crescent Way, Anaheim, CA  92801
• 714-999-7734
• cruz_ad@auhsd.us 

OCDE Foster Youth Services Program

• Integrated Student Supports Unit 
• 714-966-4384​​​​​​
• Link: Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program

Orange County Social Services Agency

• Adoption / Foster Care 
• Link: Adoption / Foster Care & Youth Services

DISCLAIMER REGARDING THE MENTAL HEALTH INFORMATION ON THESE PAGES

The contents of the AUHSD website, such as text, graphics, images, and other material ("content"), are for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. AUHSD does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, efficacy, or timeliness of information posted on its site, whether by AUHSD, our employees, users of our site, or third parties. Always seek the advice of a mental health professional or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your child’s needs or condition. Never disregard professional advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the AUHSD website!

Please note that AUHSD and staff are not available 24/7, and our schools are not emergency response centers. If you are in crisis or you think you may have an emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately. If you, your child, or a loved one is having suicidal thoughts, call 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255) to talk to a skilled, trained counselor at a crisis center in your area at any time (National Suicide Prevention Lifeline). If you are located outside the United States, call your local emergency line immediately.

AUHSD does not recommend or endorse any clinicians, counselors, psychiatrists, social workers, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on the website or linked through an outside agency or provider. AUHSD has developed partnerships with community-based mental health care providers. However, it is up to the consumer (parent/legal guardian) of the child to accept or decline services and to ask questions about eligibility, costs, and insurance coverage.  Any links to other websites are provided only for the purpose of convenience or information and do not constitute a referral or endorsement of any of these sites or the owners, services, products, or content on those sites.

AUHSD is not responsible for any aspect of any third-party service providers or websites that may be linked from the AUHSD site, including without limitation the accuracy of the content on those services or use of information you may provide to those services. Your use of third-party websites is at your own risk and subject to the terms and conditions of use for such websites.

With input from a multidisciplinary team of administrators,  social workers, school counselors, and school psychologist, the  contents of this webpage are managed by:

Dr. Adela Cruz, LCSW

• Director of School Mental Health & Wellness
• McKinney-Vento Homeless & Foster Youth Educational Liaison
• Section 504 District Coordinator 

If you have questions or comments regarding its contents, please send an email to cruz_ad@auhsd.us.