How Learn4Life Helps Foster Youths Earn a Diploma National Foster Care Month

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May 07, 2019, 08:36 ET

LOS ANGELES, May 7, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Learn4Life, a network of nonprofit public schools that helps at-risk and socioeconomically disadvantage students earn a diploma, has become a haven for foster children who want to stay in school and graduate. May is National Foster Care Month and a time to honor these brave youth who, due to no fault of their own, find themselves in extremely stressful and often deplorable conditions.

Learn4Life is a network of non-profit public schools that provides students personalized learning, career training and life skills. Each school is locally controlled, tuition free and gives students the flexibility and one-on-one attention they need to succeed. Serving more than 40,000 students across California, we help students prepare for a future beyond high school. For more information, please visit http://www.learnfourlife.org

National Foster Care Month is observed annually in May and is a time to honor our brave foster youth and for organizations to recognize that we can play a part in enhancing the lives of those foster youth. One success story is Otani, who spent her childhood in group and foster homes with the odds against her. Last year Otani earned her MBA with a specialization in international business from National University.

In California alone, nearly 100 times a day a child is placed in foster care. And most will remain in the system for years. What's worse, the dropout rate for foster children is three times higher than other low-income students.

"We provide extra support for our nearly 500 foster care and 1,800 homeless student population," said Caprice Young, national superintendent of Learn4Life's 80+ schools and who grew up with foster brothers and sisters herself. "Our students tend to have behavioral issues, evidence of trauma and are in need of basic services. They are also bright, creative and resilient. Most of our public schools simply are not equipped to handle foster teens. We are."

All of our schools have an on-site counselor who acts as a foster liaison, working with other members of the student's support team to provide wrap around services. A multi-tiered support includes the basics of safety, food, clothing, transportation and financial aid options. Their education program is customized to their needs, infused with trauma-informed practices and enriched with experiences like field trips, job training and mentoring.

One success story is Otani, who spent her childhood in group and foster homes with the odds against her. Severally neglected as a child, she was abandoned by her mother at age seven and placed in foster care. By 17 she had a baby and soon dropped out of high school. And then she found Learn4Life. Not only did she graduate high school but she did so with honors and was the commencement speaker at her graduation. Last year Otani earned her MBA with a specialization in international business from National University. See where Otani is today in this video.

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About Learn4Life
Learn4Life is a network of non-profit public schools that provides students personalized learning, career training and life skills. Each school is locally controlled, tuition free and gives students the flexibility and one-on-one attention they need to succeed. Serving more than 40,000 students across California, we help students prepare for a future beyond high school. For more information, please visit http://www.learnfourlife.org/.

MEDIA CONTACT
Ann Abajian, Learn4Life
(844) 515-8186
[email protected]

SOURCE Learn4Life