Ventura County Community College District (VCCCD) and the Ventura County Human Services Agency, Children and Family Services (VCCFS), recently entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to share information on foster youth for the ease of verifying students who register for classes and request services at either of the three colleges in the VCCCD, i.e. Moorpark College, Oxnard College, and Ventura College. Beginning July 1, 2016, through June 30, 2017, a list of former or current foster youth will be generated by the VCCCD, based on student’s self-identification status as a foster youth with CCCApply. VCCFS will verify the students and provide the VCCCD with a letter that includes the most recent dates that students entered and exited foster care. The MOU with the VCCFS will automatically renew for subsequent one-year periods unless terminated by either party upon 30 days prior written notice.

“We are working with the Ventura County Human Services Agency and Children and Family Services Department to provide access and support to foster youth,” said VCCCD Chancellor Bernard Luskin. “By using technology and the resources available through the county, we can streamline our processes and remove the burden of proof from the students. This allows us to more efficiently provide academic, career and mental health counseling to this special group of students,” stated VCCCD Board Chair Larry Kennedy.

Every year foster youth “age out” of the system when they turn 18, unless they meet certain criteria such as being enrolled in a postsecondary or vocational education institution.1 In addition to a full range of degree and certificate programs, Moorpark, Oxnard and Ventura Colleges teach independent living skills and provide a variety of services to support the development of foster youth.

“The VCCCD is at the forefront of collaborating with the county to help foster youth students succeed. Vice Chancellor, Educational Services, Rick Post worked diligently with his team to expedite this agreement,” said Luskin. “The Ventura County Office of Human Services and the Ventura County Community College District are increasingly working closely together in serving our county,” added Barry Zimmerman, Director of the Ventura County Human Services Agency.

1https://edsource.org/2015/budget-proposal-is-mixed-for-foster-students/80096

The Ventura County Community College District is a member of the 113-campus California Community College system, and serves more than 50,000 students annually. The District’s three colleges- Moorpark, Oxnard, and Ventura- offer programs in general education for degrees and certificates, transfer to four-year colleges and universities, career technical education, and provide opportunities to engage in co-curricular campus activities. For more information, please visit www.vcccd.edu.