Yolo County is proud to celebrate the incredible accomplishments of our foster youth graduates. When communities come together to support transitional-age foster teens, we see transformative results — increased high school and college graduation rates, job readiness, housing stability, and improved mental health.

At the heart of this support is the Independent Living Program (ILP) at Woodland Community College, a collaborative partnership with Yolo County’s Health & Human Services Agency Child and Family Unit, and the Yolo County Office of Education. This program is dedicated to empowering one of our most vulnerable populations: youth impacted by foster care.

Under the leadership of Cherie Schroeder, Woodland Community College’s Director of ILP, a powerful circle of advocates and supporters includes Child Welfare Services Program Administrators Tony Kildare, Meghan Morris, Christina Macias, ILP Coordinator and Social Worker Ramiz Ali, Yolo County Superintendent of Schools Garth Lewis, AmeriCorps members Russetta Walker and Anne Happel, and countless foster families, resource homes, and community volunteers. Together, they guide, celebrate, and holistically empower foster youth through the ILP.

One of this year’s high school graduates shared:

“The Independent Living Program has been one of my greatest sources of support. They took me shopping for essentials, helped me complete my FAFSA, and constantly encouraged me to reach my goals. My go-to people are Ms. Cherie and Russetta. ILP classes have taught me about mental health, housing, job readiness, and financial literacy. They even made college applications achievable. I’ll be attending CSU San Marcos this fall, majoring in electrical engineering — I’m ready!”

This June, 20 remarkable foster youth graduates will be honored — each one having overcome significant challenges, including early childhood trauma, foster care placements, and, for some, experiences of homelessness. These graduates are resilient, inspiring, and full of potential.

Yolo County is proud to report a foster youth high school graduation rate of 80%, which is 30% higher than the national average (U.S. Department of Education). Thanks to dedicated partnerships and community support, we are making a real difference.

On June 2, a curated graduation ceremony is planned at Woodland Community College to celebrate all that these young achievers have accomplished. Graduates will be honored with gifts, including new laptops, luggage, household essentials, and a celebratory dinner — all made possible by community donations and the efforts of volunteers.

We invite you to contribute to this celebration; your donations, especially gift cards, new home goods, and small appliances, will help graduates as they transition into independent living.