The First Star Sacramento State Academy for Foster Youth at California State University, Sacramento (Sacramento State) is a collaborative effort by California State University, Sacramento; First Star Inc.; the Sacramento County Child, Family, and Adult Services Department (DCFAS), and other local stakeholders.

The First Star Sacramento State Academy is a free, comprehensive four-year college readiness program for youth in foster care that aims to provide the academic support, enrichment, resources, and encouragement needed to assist youth in becoming competitive college applicants to enroll and succeed in college.

The program engages high school students in a variety of fun and active learning opportunities that include college credit, priority registration, independent studies, social/cultural activities, field trips, service learning, recreational activities, and a Sac State residential summer experience. We offer caregiver support and resources as well as advocacy in child welfare and school meetings.

Each summer students live on the Sacramento State campus in the Residence Hall, take courses, develop skills to help them succeed in high school and prepare for college while soaking in the college environment and learning about college life while still attending high school. Students develop close relationships with supportive staff, student youth mentors, and peers who understand the unique obstacles they face on their educational journeys.

During the academic year, students continue to receive ongoing support and programming through monthly Saturday Sessions on campus to provide foster youth with academic and personal support through tutoring, mentoring, college and career/major exploration, and many other services. The program provides an academically challenging program curriculum and addresses specific areas/needs of high school students in foster care.

All students participating in the program are also assigned youth mentors who are Sacramento State students who provide academic and life skills assistance. Youth Mentors review students school records, tracks their progress towards high school graduation, and identifies and secures any supports needed to succeed in school. They work with the youths’ caregivers, social workers, attorneys, and schools to develop an academic plan for high school graduation and admissions to higher education.

Youth Mentors utilize Casey Life Skills curriculum to ensure the youth are prepared for adulthood. Youth mentors focus on psycho-social and self-efficacy skills, and include topics such as budgeting, nutrition, healthy relationships, substance abuse, gender identity, along with learning about and practicing everyday needs to become an independent young adult.

First Star Sacramento State Academy works with social workers, attorneys, and CFT teams to advocate for youth and track placement moves and engage caregivers to ensure they have the supports needed to support youth academically. The goal of these efforts is to ensure that youth transition into adulthood with strong relationships with adults who can provide ongoing and continued support. First Star Sacramento State Academy’s goal is to provide long term support and lay a foundation for success.