FYI Welcomes 200th Foster Youth Into its Community of Support
Significant milestone underscores continuing commitment to help local youth succeed as they age out of foster care system
SANTA CLARITA (June 5, 2025) – Fostering Youth Independence has achieved a significant milestone as it welcomed its 200th foster youth into the FYI community, underscoring its commitment to help local youth succeed as they age out of the foster care system without being adopted or reunified with their birth parents.
“When we started FYI, we knew intuitively that one caring adult could forever change the life of a foster youth,” said Carolyn Olsen, FYI’s executive director and co-founder. “Since then, we’ve witnessed firsthand how healthy relationships heal trauma and help youth reach their full potential. The impact has been lifechanging.”
Olsen explained that every one of FYI’s youth has been provided with a caring adult volunteer “Ally” and a community of support and, as a result, some beautiful relationships have developed. For instance, one Ally walked her youth down the aisle at her wedding. Others have cared for their youth while they recovered from injuries or surgeries. Allies have celebrated youth milestones like birthdays, graduations and awards, sometimes being the only “family” present at the ceremonies.
FYI Ally Linda Teeter described FYI as being “a safe place for young people, a community, a place that will help them develop life skills, reach their education goals, and belong to a ‘family.’ She added, “giving someone the knowledge that they’re loved, that they’re special, that they’re important, that they matter, and extending a guiding hand – how do you put a value on that?”
Along with an Ally and a caring community, each of the 200 youth has received a comprehensive range of support services. They have obtained help with student financial aid applications, enrolling in college or trade programs and registering for classes. They have received academic assistance and tutoring at “The Study Place,” and many have earned their driver’s licenses thanks to FYI’s “Ready, Set, Drive! Program. FYI’s youth have received emergency financial assistance, school supplies and holiday gifts. They have been connected to the resources they need, and 80 youth have secured safe and stable housing with help from FYI.
“The youth and Allies have formed a nurturing community that the youth consider their family,” said Olsen, adding that as more youth join the FYI community, more volunteer Allies are needed.
She concluded, “Our consequential milestone means that FYI is 200 youth closer to our vision of a future where every youth leaving the foster care system feels safe, connected and loved.”
Further information about Fostering Youth Independence and how to support this organization can be found at www.fyifosteryouth.org.
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About Fostering Youth Independence (FYI)
FYI is the largest Santa Clarita-based nonprofit supporting local foster youth who have aged out of the L.A. County foster care system without being adopted or reunified with their birth parents. FYI addresses the serious challenges faced by these youth, which include not finishing high school or pursuing higher education, homelessness, and incarceration. FYI offers local foster youth numerous resources to help overcome past traumas, complete an education, gain employment, and become successful, independent adults.
FYI currently serves 85 transition age (16-25 years) foster youth in the Santa Clarita Valley and has supported 200 local youth since its inception in 2017. It assigns each youth a caring adult volunteer Ally and a coordinator to help them set and achieve goals in areas such as education, employment, housing, finances, health, transportation, assistance with college applications, enrollment and class registration, and referrals to resources for food, housing, health, mental health, and employment. It also provides emergency financial assistance when an unexpected expense such as a car repair threatens to derail a youth’s educational plans. FYI offers The Study Place for learning support and tutoring, a Ready, Set Drive! program to assist youth in obtaining their drivers license, personalized Money Matters financial literacy education, hosts events throughout the year where the youth can connect with other youth and Allies to create a community of support, and partners with College of the Canyons for referrals and counseling. It also provides school supplies, holiday gifts and household items for youth moving into new homes with few possessions.
Website: www.fyifosteryouth.org
Instagram: @fyifosteryouth
Facebook: www.facebook.com/fyifosteryouth
Contact:
Carolyn Olsen
Co-founder and Executive Director
colsen@fyifosteryouth.org
(661) 360-1500 ext. 700