John Burton Advocates for Youth Helps EOP Students Succeed
In the Division of Student Affairs, campus and community partnerships help us ensure CSUSB students receive the programs, services, and resources they need to be successful inside and outside the classroom. Since 2013, the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) and Renaissance Scholars Program have partnered with John Burton Advocates for Youth and received its Burton Critical Needs and Opportunity Fund award to provide assistance to select students. Through this partnership, funding from the award has assisted hundreds of students with groceries, dorm essentials, dental care support, optometry needs, gas to get to and from school, textbooks and other educational supplies for classes, and more. The funding will continue during the 2023-24 academic year.
"The John Burton Foundation along with other nonprofit agencies have been instrumental partners in having the ability to provide comprehensive support services to foster youth students pursuing higher education at CSUSB,” said Veronica Ramirez Amerson, EOP Director. “These essential needs being addressed have assisted in removing barriers that can interrupt a student's ability to persist at the university."
She added, “Many students have been retained due to the Burton Critical Needs and Opportunity Funds and have been able to continue working towards earning their baccalaureate degree at CSU San Bernardino."
John Burton Advocates for Youth is a nonprofit that was founded by former President of the California State Senate John Burton in 2004. The nonprofit works to improve the quality of life for youth in California who are unhoused or in the foster care system. This is accomplished by advocating for better laws, training communities to strengthen local practices, and conducting research to inform policy. John Burton Advocates for Youth is headquartered in San Francisco, with an office in Los Angeles and in San Diego.
John Burton Advocates for Youth has fought for change and has made a significant impact in the University of California and California State University (CSU) systems. It has successfully advocated for the passage of 52 legislative reforms that have resulted in over $3.6 billion in new state investment for youth who have been in foster care or unhoused. Additional key victories include:
- Expansion of foster care from age 18 to 21
- Increased investment in campus support programs at all community college, California State University, and University of California campuses
- Expansion of state investment in housing for foster youth
- Financial aid reforms, resulting in higher rates of college attendance among foster youth
- Establishment of the California Foster Youth Tax Credit
EOP is one of the CSU’s primary vehicles in increasing access and providing retention services to historically low income, underrepresented students. The EOP Program at CSUSB designs, administers, and provides comprehensive support services to EOP-eligible undergraduate students, which includes outreach and recruitment, admission assistance to university, a summer transitional experience, orientation, academic advising, career and personal counseling, tutoring, graduate school assistance, and co-curricular experiences that enhance the student’s university experience.
The Renaissance Scholars (Foster Youth) Program component was established in 2003 under the Educational Opportunity Program and is committed to providing comprehensive support services to current and former foster youth as they transition into the university and through to graduation.