CHC Professor Imparts Importance of Mentoring Foster Youth Students

Publish Date: Dec. 22, 2022

A Crafton Hills College (CHC) administrator is making a difference in the lives of foster youth students through mentorship and advocacy.

Rejoice Chavira, a 30-year counselor and current associate dean of EOPS, CARE, CalWORKs, Guardian Scholars, and Dreamers at the Yucaipa-based college, values the important work advocates do to help students reach their goals and find success in and out of the classroom, particularly through CHC’s Guardian Scholars Program.

This program was developed to support foster youth students and prepare them for the college experience by teaching them how to apply for admission to colleges, financial aid, and scholarships and access other resources.

“The reality is that once a foster youth reaches the age of 18 years old, [their] foster family no longer receives the financial assistance to support the youth, and some do not want anything to do with [them],” Chavira explained. “This is the time when our foster youth need to decide about their future, but there is no one they can turn to.That is where the program and its advocates step in,” she continued.

In addition to developing a plan for higher education, the Guardian Scholars Program also provides students with emergency shelter and housing assistance, nutrition, and food services, and much more. The program is also tailored to serve foster youth who meet certain criteria: they must be a current or prospective CHC student between the ages of 18 and 25 years old and have been in the foster care system at any time after the age of 13.

Once on board, students will have access to workshops held year-round, receive priority registration, and have access to staff members dedicated to the program and their success, including Chavira, who credits her own mentors with helping her achieve so much in her career and personal life.

“Having a mentor will provide [our] youth with a significant person that believes in them and challenges them to be the best versions of themselves,” she explained, adding that mentors act like a helping hand when a crisis arises, or things get tough. “It is important for our foster youth to have a caring and consistent adult they can turn to when they experience challenging situations and have to make adult decisions.”

Chavira says she is looking forward to watching the program grow. And as students returned to the classroom this last Fall to continue working toward their goals for the current school year and beyond, Chavira believes Crafton has a lot in store for the program and its students, aka the next generation of changemakers.

“I am looking forward to working with San Bernardino Valley College (Crafton’s sister college) to develop a robust Guardian Scholars Program through our combined advisory committee,” she said, adding, “I also look forward to working with our partners to reach out to foster youths to support and guide them to achieve their dreams.”

To learn more about the program or other similar services under the EOPS/Care/ CalWORKs/Guardian Scholars/Dreamers umbrella, go to www.craftonhills.edu/eops.