August 2021

New Housing Model Allows Youth to Experience College-Style Living

Youth who are driven to improve their academic performance and desire to learn and apply independent living skills may be good candidates for the new Youth Connected Program (YCP). Orangewood Foundation and Samueli Academy in Santa Ana are partnering to provide youth, seventh through twelfth grades, an opportunity to attend Samueli Academy, live on campus in college-style dormitories and receive support from program and school staff and resource families.

This new approach to caring for children in out-of-home care gives youth the option to either live on campus from Sunday night to Friday afternoon and then with their resource families on the weekends and nonschool days or live with their resource parents full time. Resource parents will co-parent with dormitory staff and are expected to nurture relationships with the youth during the school week in an effort to create stability. Brothers and sisters of youth will also live with the YCP resource parents full time and, if old enough, may attend Samueli Academy and have the option to live on campus.

Like the youth, YCP resource parents will have access to specialized support services to assist them in their parenting journey. Currently, there is a need for more YCP resource parents. For more information about the program and the process to become a YCP resource parent, click here.