San Mateo County Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program 

Mission

The Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program (FYSCP) is a program designed to serve the unique educational needs of children in foster care. Through our partnership with San Mateo Human Services agency, we seek to serve all foster youth as defined under EDC 48853.5

FYSCP ensures that health and school records are obtained to establish appropriate placements and coordinate instruction, counseling, tutoring, mentoring, vocational training, emancipation services, training for independent living, and other related services. FYSCP seeks to improve the children's educational performance and personal achievement, increasing the stability of placements for foster youth.

Welcome

This site is specifically designed for San Mateo resource parents, social workers, short-term Residential Treatment Program (STRTP) providers, CASAs, and shelter-care staff in San Mateo County to provide information and resources to support our foster youth's education. 

Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program is a program of the California Department of Education, resulting from Assembly Bill (AB) 854, effective 2016. Our program seeks to improve educational outcomes for foster youth by establishing a level of collaboration and communication between schools, social service agencies, and foster youth caretakers that previously did not exist. 

Educational Liaisons provide the following services:

  • Consultation regarding educational issues
  • Gather educational records
  • Participate in meetings related to education 
  • Advocate for foster youth and their families on educational issues
  • Assist with educational transitions
  • Provide resources and referrals
  • Provide training to local education agencies, STRTPs, social services, probation on educational issues affecting foster youth and other community partners 

The Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program in San Mateo County is a partnership between Çï¿ûÊÓƵ and Human Services Agency and works in collaboration with multiple agencies and non-profit organizations across our county. 

District Foster Youth Education Liaisons

DISTRICT NAME TITLE EMAIL PHONE
Bayshore Elementary Erin Haley  Director of Student Services  ehaley@thebayshoreschool.org  415-467-5443 x 210
Belmont-Redwood Shores Elementary Julie Eastburn Foster Youth Liaison jeastburn@brssd.org 650-637-4800 x1061
Brisbane Elementary Aida Wong Gamba Assistant to Superintendent agamba@brisbanesd.org 415-467-0550 x 105
Burlingame Elementary Darren Lee  District Behaviorist  darrenlee@burlingameschools.org 
Cabrillo Unified James Barne Director, Student Services barnesj@cabrillo.k12.ca.us  650-525-6364
Hillsborough City Elementary Bhavna Narula Director of Student Services bnarula@hcsdk8.org  650-548-4211
Jefferson Elementary Stephanie Martinez Program Director of Student Services smartinez@jeffersonesd.org 650-991-1000
Jefferson Union High Melissa Ambrose  Wellness Coordinator  mambrose@jeffersonunion.net  (415) 498-0231
La Honda-Pescadero Unified Amy Wooliever Superintendent awooliever@lhpusd.com 650-879-0286
Las Lomitas Elementary Marta Grau Batlle Director, Special Education/Student Services mbatlle@llesd.org  650-854-1215
Menlo Park City Elementary Chris Arrington Wellness Coordinator/Mental Health Lead carrington@mpcsd.org 650-464-3673
Millbrae Elementary Catherine Waslif Director of Educational and Administrative Services cwaslif@millbraesd.org  650-697-5693
Pacifica Martha Ladd Director of Special Education and Student Services mladd@pacificasd.org 650-738-6607
Portola Valley Elementary Lynette Hovland Principal lhovland@pvsd.net 650 851-1777
Ravenswood City Elementary Valeria Miranda Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Coordinator vmiranda@ravenswoodschools.org 650.329.2800
Redwood City Elementary Antonio Perez Director of Student Services and Assessment aperez@rcsdk8.net 650-482-2457
San Bruno Park Elementary Anjelica Zermeno Director of Educational Services azermeno@sbpsd.k12.ca.us  650-624-3111
San Carlos Elementary Meagan Vizier Student Services Director mvizier@scsdk8.org  650-508-7333 x943
San Mateo Union High Don Scatena Director Attendance/Welfare dscatena@smuhsd.org 650-558-2258
San Mateo-Foster City Suzi Riley  Coordinator, Student Services 

sriley@smfcsd.net

650-312-7248
Sequoia Union High School District Jarrett Dooley Director of Student Services jdooley@seq.org 650 369-1411 x 22389
South San Francisco Unified Ryan Sebers Director of Student Services rsebers@ssfusd.org 650-877-8744
Woodside Elementary John Bartfield  Student Services Director 

jbartfield@woodsideschool.us

650-851-1571 Ext. 4007
SMCOE Foster Youth Services Program Renee Vorrises Educational Liaison rvorrises@smcoe.org 650-802-5436
SMCOE Foster Youth Services Program Rosanna Anderson Educational Liaison randerson@smcoe.org

650-802-5435

SMCOE Foster Youth Services Program Lauren Sneed Educational Liaison lsneed@smcoe.org 

650-312-5323

SMCOE Foster Youth Services Program Thashmika Singh Administrative Assistant tsingh@smcoe.org 

650-802-5424

Events/Training 

FYSCP Roadmap/Enrollment

SEP 26
2024

School of Origin/Best Interest Determination

OCT 24
2024

Graduation and FAFSA

NOV 14
2024

AB740 Discipline

JAN 23
2025

Transportation

FEB 27
2025

Educational Rights Holder (ERH)

MAR 27
2025

Information Sharing/Access to School Records/Confidentiality Considerations

APR 24
2025

Executive Advisory Council

2024-2025

Foster Youth Site and District Liaisons are invited to attend the Executive Advisory Council with the SMCOE FYSCP, Youth Experiencing Homelessness team, and San Mateo County's community partners. We meet every other month, on Thursdays, from 9am-11am.

Meeting Dates:

Sep 19, 2024
 
Nov 21, 2024
 
Jan 16, 2025 
 
Mar 20, 2025 
 
May 15, 2025 

 

Education Success Information

The Ed Success Handbook is the product of the Ed Success Working Group, a partnership working to ensure the educational needs of San Mateo County's dependent youth are met. The Ed Success Working Group is composed of staff from Foster Youth Services, Children and Family Services, CASA of San Mateo County, the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, and Legal Advocates for Children and Youth. 

This guide serves to give caretakers, social workers. and probation officers an overview of key information to support our foster youth educationally. Statistically, foster youth have unique challenges as they move through their years of K-12 education, especially those that result from multiple school placements due to changing home placements. The links to Foster Ed Connect (our statewide foster youth website) provide a wide array of resources if you wish to research any of these topics in more detail. Keep in mind that you will need to register (free) with Foster Ed Connect to access the information on that site. 

Chapters 

College Planning Handbook

This section is designed to provide basic information for assisting youth planning to attend college after high school. It is important to remember that each plan is unique and that colleges vary in their requirements and application process, so choosing a school early on and connecting with that specific school is most important. Also, identify someone who will be an education advocate and who will encourage and assist the student with the process.

Much of the information provided is available through ,  and various other websites included at the end of this section for the reader's reference.

Chapters

Dr. Ben Gonzales

Executive Director, Safe and Supportive Schools

Email: bgonzales@smcoe.org

Phone: (650) 802-5648

Rosanna Anderson, MSW, PPS

Educational Liaison,
Foster Youth Services

Email: randerson@smcoe.org

Phone: (650) 802-5435

Renee Vorrises, MSW, PPS

Educational Liaison,
Foster Youth Services

Email: rvorrises@smcoe.org

Phone: (650) 802-5436

Lauren Sneed

School Counselor/Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program -Hillcrest, Kemp, Canyon Oaks and Community School

Email: lsneed@smcoe.org

Phone: (650) 312-5323

Thashmika Singh

Administrative Assistant II

Email: tsingh@smcoe.org

Phone: (650) 802-5424