Alma Garcia Mendoza: Graduation is a big deal for foster kids, too

Aspiranet and Stanislaus County celebrated on June 9 a remarkable achievement for youth transitioning from foster care high/school graduation to participation in the Independent Living Program (ILP) Youth Center. The celebration included community partners and motivational speaker John “Push” Gaines. Graduates performed a guitar solo, a dance and read poetry. All graduates received certificates for achieving high school graduation and certificates from the offices of Senator Tom Berryhill and Supervisor Vito Chiesa. Celebrating the achievement of significant milestones is extremely important for foster youth tranisitioning to adulthood; they are sometimes a forgotten portion of our society.

Support for ILP program youth includes issues many teens take for granted: daily living skills, money management, decision making, building self esteem, educational resources, transitional housing and employment. Since the Stanislaus ILP center opened last year, it has helped 246 youth.

It is an honor for Aspiranet to celebrate our 2016 graduates. We want to thank members of the community for playing important roles in making this celebration possible: the Stanislaus County CSA team, Project YES and the Stanislaus County Office of Education. To see celebration photos and hear Gaines’ message, visit www.facebook.com/aspiranet/.

This story was originally published July 5, 2016 at 2:52 PM with the headline "Alma Garcia Mendoza: Graduation is a big deal for foster kids, too."