Welcome,
BRAVO Scholars
The BRAVO Scholars Program provides a sustainable network of academic and personal support services that promote degree attainment, completion of certificate programs and or transferring to a four-year institution for current and former foster students. BRAVO works with students who have foster care or homelessness experiences to develop interpersonal skills to help students become self-sufficient role models and competent adults.
What is a Foster Student
A child or youth who has been removed from their home pursuant to WIC 309 (temporary custody), is the subject of a petition filed under WIC 300 (dependent-victim of abuse or neglect) or WIC 602 (juvenile who has violated the law), or has been removed from their home and is the subject of a petition under WIC section 300 or 602. EC 48853.5(a).
For purposes of the Los Medanos College (LMC), “foster youth” will be defined as any of the following:
• A child or youth who is the subject of a petition filed under Welfare and Institutions
Code (WIC) Section 300 (meaning a court has taken jurisdiction over a child and declared
the child to be a dependent of the court due to the presence or risk of abuse or neglect).
This includes both children who are living at home (i.e., with their biological
parents) while a dependent of the court as well as children who the court has ordered
to be removed into the care, custody and control of a social worker for placement
outside the home.
• A child or youth who is the subject of a petition filed under WIC Section 602 (meaning a court has taken jurisdiction over a child and declared the child to be a ward of the court due to the child’s alleged violation of certain criminal laws) and has been ordered by a court to be removed from home pursuant to WIC Section 727 and placed into foster care as defined by WIC Section 727.4(d) (e.g., placed into a foster home or short-term residential therapeutic program).
• A youth between ages 18 and 21 who is enrolled in high school, is a non-minor dependent under the placement responsibility of child welfare, probation, or a tribal organization participating in an agreement pursuant to WIC Section 10553.1, and is participating in a transitional independent living case plan.
• A youth who is or was a ward of the court through a kinship, Kin-GAP, a non-related legal guardianship, or were adopted, with verification of such circumstance
Foster Care to Fame
Monthly Spotlight: Colin Kaepernick
At the age of 19, Heidi Russo, put her son Colin up for adoption at the mere age of six weeks old. Colin was adopted by Teresa and Rick Kaepernick. Despite being biracial raised by white parents, Colin always felt like the odd one out, and his childhood experiences have played a crucial role in making him the man he is today. After graduating from the Nevada Wolf Pack, he was selected by the 49ers in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft. Originally starting as the backup quarterback, he became the starter mid-2012. In 2017, Kaepernick started receiving attention for more than just his athletic skills but because he kneeled as the US national anthem played, as it does before every sporting event. His reasoning was to protest racial injustice, police brutality and systematic oppression. Kaepernick was largely criticized for disrespecting the United States. After the 2016 season, the 49ers told Kaepernick that he would be released by the franchise. On March 3, 2017, Kaepernick opted out of his 49ers contract, thus entering free agency. Today, Kaepernick remains vigilant in his efforts to fight for racial equality through movements and protests. While he is not playing on the football field at the moment, he is creating plays to make change in America.
Russo has attempted to reach out to Kaepernick many times and he has refused to meet her, declaring “It’s not really a respect thing. It’s just—that's my family. That's it."
What is considered homeless?
A homeless/houselessness student is a scholar who is experiencing a "lack of a fixed,
regular, and adequate night-time residence; and... has a primary night time residency
that is: (A) a supervised publicly or privately
operated shelter designed to provide temporary living accommodations... (B) an institution
that provides a temporary residence for individuals intended to be institutionalized,
or(C) a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular
sleeping accommodation for human beings" (National Coalition for the Homeless,).
Contact Us
- T'Sendenia (Ms. T) Gage
- Student Success and Retention Programs Coordinator
- Foster Youth Liaison
- (925) 473 - 7420
- tgage@losmedanos.edu
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