Butte College
News Announcement

Butte College Selected to Expand Foster Youth Program

The California Community Colleges announced the expansion of the NextUp foster youth program to 15 additional California community colleges, and Butte College has been named one of the colleges to expand. NextUp, formerly known as Cooperating Agencies Foster Youth Educational Support (CAFYES) gives current and former California foster youth extra support when pursuing their higher education goals at a local community college.

“Students in foster care often face a more challenging path to higher education than many of their peers,” said California Community Colleges Chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley. “Expanding this important program to more colleges will give more foster youth the tools they need to succeed in college and help them accomplish their higher educational goals.”

NextUp was initially established through the enactment of Senate Bill 1023 (2014). Senate Bill 12 (2017) allows the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges to expand the number of community college districts operating NextUp, depending on available funding.

NextUp promotes academic success by using an in-person, individual approach when offering support and services, including books and supplies, child care, counseling and career guidance, educational planning, emergency housing assistance, food assistance, health services, life skills, financial literacy, mental health services, transportation assistance and tutoring. Support and services vary by college.

More information can be found on the NextUp website, including statewide resources for California foster youth to help them understand what NextUp offers.

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The California Community Colleges is the largest system of higher education in the nation composed of 72 districts and 114 colleges serving 2.1 million students per year. Community colleges supply workforce training, basic skills education in English and math, and prepare students for transfer to four-year institutions. The Chancellor’s Office provides leadership, advocacy and support under the direction of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges. For more information about the community colleges, please visit http://californiacommunitycolleges.cccco.edu/, http://www.facebook.com/CACommColleges, or http://twitter.com/CalCommColleges.