Woodland Community College has been awarded a grant totaling $41,000 from the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation Community Fund. This funding aims to enhance support for foster and kinship youth across Yolo County, focusing on access to technology, education, and life-skills mentoring.
The grant will significantly bolster the College’s Foster & Kinship Care Education (FKCE) and Independent Living Programs (ILP). These initiatives are designed to assist youth affected by the child welfare and dependency system. For students like Yvonne Hampton, the impact is profound. A former foster youth, Hampton received a laptop through the program after high school graduation. She now utilizes it daily as a student at California State University, San Marcos, where she is pursuing a degree in engineering.
This new funding expands crucial resources, including access to essential technology, trauma-informed educational mentoring, life-skills development, and graduation support for transitional-age foster youth and non-minor dependents aged 14 to 21. Many of these young individuals face significant barriers to success, such as academic disruptions, housing instability, and limited access to reliable technology and adult guidance.
Strengthening Educational Pathways
“This investment reflects the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation’s deep commitment to education, equity, and community well-being,” said Lizette Navarette, president of Woodland Community College. “By supporting foster and kinship youth during some of the most pivotal years of their lives, this partnership helps ensure students have the tools, encouragement, and opportunities they need to persist in school and build strong futures.”
The grant will be utilized in various impactful ways. It will provide laptops to graduating high school and college students to aid their continued education and workforce readiness. Additionally, it will support trauma-informed instructors and mentors who assist youth with college applications, financial aid navigation, housing assistance, financial literacy, and career planning.
Education on the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) and Native American history will also be provided, fostering cultural understanding and advocacy. Celebrating youth achievement through graduation ceremonies and educational awards will recognize the resilience and perseverance of these young individuals.
“Having consistent and reliable access to technology—along with community support—helped me navigate my time as a foster teen,” remarked Hampton. “I was mentored and encouraged to pursue higher education, and I began my college journey with confidence.”
Addressing Digital Inequities
Access to technology remains a vital issue for foster youth, particularly as reductions in federal internet support have exacerbated existing inequities. Reliable devices, coupled with consistent mentoring, are essential for ensuring continuity in education, connecting youth to support services, and promoting long-term stability.
Woodland Community College expresses gratitude to the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation for their commitment to fostering opportunities for foster and kinship youth. The College’s FKCE and ILP programs have a proven track record of improving educational outcomes, increasing college enrollment, and aiding successful transitions to adulthood.
This partnership embodies a shared commitment to community strength, cultural respect, and generational healing, ultimately empowering young people who have experienced abuse, neglect, or abandonment. The collaboration between Woodland Community College and the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation exemplifies a profound belief in the potential of these youth and the transformative power of education and support.
