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• Bridges to Higher Education: To increase high school graduation rates and <br />admission to college or trade schools, .foster youth with academic potential for col ege <br />success receive intensive preparation for the demands and opportunities of higher <br />education. <br />• California. Youth Connection: A leadership group made up of curl•ent and <br />emancipated foster youth-acting as Orange County's representative to this statewide <br />organization-who participate in policy development and legislative change in the <br />area of foster care. <br />• Time Out for Parents: Short-term. care for abused, neglected and at-risk children <br />that allows parents and foster parents to take a break and recharge the energy <br />necessary to care for them. <br />• Families and Communities Together (FaCT): A public, private partnership <br />supporting Family Resource Centers (FRCs) and non-profit organizations with <br />program development and administration, training, advocacy, and other support that <br />enh~lzZCes service delivery. FRCs are located in communities throughout Orange <br />County and provide an array of comprehensive human services for at-risk families <br />and children. Services are designed to prevent child abuse and neglect by <br />strengthening each. family's capacity to become self.-sufficient. <br />• Children's Health Initiatives: Comprised of ProjectConnections.FRC Health <br />Access a11d Bridges for Newborns, and made possible through the support of the <br />Children and Families Commission of Orange County. PCFRC F[ealth Access is a <br />health education. and in-home support services program for pregnant women and <br />families with children ages 0-5, delivered through Orange County Family Resource <br />Centers. Bridges for Newborns works with community-based organizations and <br />Orange County birthing hospitals to provide :health access support and in-home <br />services for families with infants who are in need of extra. support for up to two years <br />to ensure a strong start in life. <br />• CONNECT: Provides Orange County nonprofit organizations with resources and <br />skills to strategically build their capacity for long-term sustainability a11d growth. <br />2. What kind of experience do you have in incorporating parents, youth and employers into <br />your programs? <br />Due to the nature of the population we serve, we generally do not have access to our <br />client's parents. Foster youth are removed from their parents or custodians due to abuse <br />or neglect and are under the supervision and care of the Orange County Social Services <br />Agency. Many of the clients we serve reside in group homes, foster homes or with <br />relatives. <br />Orangewood Children's Foundation (OCF) is diligent about engaging potential <br />employers, our clients and their caregivers, which may inc ude biological parents. We <br />include them on our ILP newsletter mailing lists, publish program selvices in the Team <br />'l alk quarterly publication .f..rom the County of Orange to foster parents and in.vitc <br />caregivers to participate with our youth at ILP workshops and special events. OCF also <br />provides independent living skills assignments on our website, which are available to <br />clients and caregivers. Caregivers are encouraged to work with youth on these <br />assignments and some assignments require interaction with employers or potential <br />employers. <br />Some examples of our experience engaging youth, parents and employers are as follows: <br />OCF/Foster Youth Liaison Project 14 <br />