September 20, 2016 The Honorable Dianne Feinstein 331 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510
The Honorable Barbara Boxer 112 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senators Feinstein and Boxer, We are writing as a group of 397 current and former foster youth from California to ask you to stop the Family First Prevention Services Act in its current form. While this bill is wellintentioned, if passed, it will hurt foster youth in California for years to come. As current and former foster youth, we know better than anyone what is needed to reform foster care. We don’t want to be raised in group homes, but we also don’t want to be pushed into settings where our needs are not met. We want more prevention services for our families, but don’t want to give up other services to get them. As current and former foster youth in California, we understand that the FFPSA in its current form will: • • • • • • •
Deny foster care benefits to our families. Close down group homes but without creating new, special housing options for foster youth with specific mental, behavioral, and physical health needs. Put foster youth in placements that cannot meet their needs and endanger both the youth and everyone in the home. Rush the assessment process. This time crunch can end up leading to bad placements that can make life more difficult for foster youth and the families they are placed with. Result in placement decisions made by people who don’t know the foster youth, taking the power to place youth away from staff and social workers who have often worked us with for years. Cut funding to transitional housing that offers support to youth age 16 to 18. Raise the requirements for youth to be able to access residential services. This can lead to children suffering in unsafe homes for longer, until things get worse and they finally meet the requirements to get the help they need.
Please listen to the voices of California foster youth and oppose this legislation unless it is amended. Sincerely, Charlette Abelar Hawthorne, Ca
Maria Aldaba Cerritos, Ca
Catherine Aleman Salgado Irvine, Ca
Gloria Acosta Chico, Ca
Jonathan Aleman Los Angeles, Ca
Willow Allen Chico, Ca
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Kelly Allison Santa Cruz County
David Astrup Magalia, Ca
Jasmine Bell Los Angeles, Ca
Jasadela Alvarado Riverside, Ca
Anyssa Avalos Paramount, Ca
Paige Benjamin Garden Grove, Ca
Estephanie Ambrocio Temple City, Ca
Joaquin Avila Inglewood, Ca
Katherine Berg Fremont, Ca
Dominic Anderson Compton, Ca
Jonathan Avila Inglewood, Ca
Jennina Berg Oxnard, Ca
Davon Anderson Northridge, Ca
Michalla Baker Chico, Ca
Jocelyn Bermudez Santa Ana, Ca
Elizabeth Anduja Santa Rosa, Ca
Seleste Banuelos Oxnard, Ca
Stacy Best Gridley, Ca
Nevine Ankir La Quinta, Ca
Alexis Barbosa San Marcos, Ca
Jamal Bills El Cajon, Ca
Tatiana Apelu Huntington Beach, Ca
Molly Barney Palmdale, Ca
David Birt Butte County
Katie Arca Merced, Ca
Sara Barocio San Bernardino County
Olivia Blea Pittsburg, Ca
Danielle Arnold San Diego, Ca
Vanessa Barrera Lake Elsinore, Ca
Dymond Blossom-Davis Corona, Ca
Sandy Arriaga Lynwood, Ca
Bianca Batista Los Angeles, Ca
Isaiah Bolanos San Francicsco, Ca
Rosangelica Arriola Riverside County
La Tanya Battle Vista, Ca
Khylan Bolden Whittier, Ca
Christian Asa Martinez, Ca
Ramses Bautista Riverside County
Launae Bowling Moreno Bowling, Ca
Joseph Asican Stockton, Ca
Billie Beard San Francicsco, Ca
Jacqueline Breunig Los Angeles, Ca
Kalyn Askew Cerritos, Ca
Angelica Becerra Los Angeles, Ca
Erika Briceno San Marcos, Ca
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Danielle Bridgewater Long Beach, Ca
Daniel Carpena Whittier, Ca
Laurastina Coffman San Marcos, Ca
Simoriah Bridgman Riverside, Ca
Samuel Carter Simi Valley, Ca
Latrice Lavonne Cole Sacramento, Ca
Michael Brown San Francicsco, Ca
Genesis Casco Los Angeles, Ca
Myeisha Coleman Chico, Ca
Tiffany Brown San Francicsco, Ca
Ruby Castro San Diego, Ca
Tony Colin Marina, Ca
Danielle Brunetta San Diego, Ca
Yarely Castro El Centro, Ca
Gequasha Collins San Diego, Ca
Tiana Bullard Perris, Ca
Deserri Castro Ventura, Ca
Hughes Corlaine Santa Cruz, Ca
Anntoinette Burleson Los Angeles, Ca
Beatriz Chavez Downey, Ca
Sienna Coronaramos Los Angeles, Ca
Cian Burley Santa Rosa, Ca
Candy Cheatham San Francicsco, Ca
Alejandro Corrales Riverside County
Zzzahkia Burnley Northridge, Ca
Kanisha Chesterfield Moreno Valley, Ca
Michael Crane Fullerton, Ca
Iiliayah Callen Pittsburg, Ca
O'Shion Christ San Francicsco, Ca
Ashley Cross Lynwood, Ca
Betsabe Camara San Bernardino, Ca
April Clanourne San Francicsco, Ca
Gabriela Damazo Santa Ana, Ca
LaTonya Campbell San Francicsco, Ca
Leilani Clavesilla Whittier, Ca
Beatriz Damazo Santa Ana, Ca
Christina Camps San Marcos, Ca
Karly Clegg Riverside, Ca
Brittany Daniels Los Angeles, Ca
Alexis Canas Bermuda Dunes, Ca
Frincine Cloud Los Angeles, Ca
Carolyn Darr San Bernandino, Ca
Alexis Cancino Palm Desert, Ca
Anthony Coenen San Francicsco, Ca
Rebecca De La Cruz Camarillo, Ca
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Alexus Evans Los Angeles, Ca
Richard Galindo Perris, Ca
Andrew Fair South Gate, Ca
Crystal Gallegos San Marcos, Ca
Raul Dimas Gilroy, Ca
Unique Farrington Long Beach, Ca
Valeria Gallegos Vista, Ca
Caylin Din Chico, Ca
Magali Fermin Rialto, Ca
Alize Galloway Oxnard, Ca
Loretta Dodge Orland, Ca
Katelyn Fisher Chico, Ca
Savannah Gamble Rohnert Park, Ca
Dianna Dolan San Pablo, Ca
Benjamin Fishtrom Redwood City, Ca
Andrea Gamboa San Francicsco, Ca
Mariah Domingo Visalia, Ca
Leticia Flores Fillmore, Ca
Jennifer Garcia Los Angeles, Ca
Franklin Duriez Rocklin, Ca
Shabri Forrester Los Angeles, Ca
Juliana Garcia Riverside, Ca
Taylor Elizarraras Norwalk, Ca
Alexus Foster Riverside, Ca
Bulmaro Garcia Reseda, Ca
Kristyn Elrod Orland, Ca
Lailagie Franklin Sacramento, Ca
Daisy Garcia Martinez Vista, Ca
Mercedes Emesibe Hesperia, Ca
Teri Franklin Sacramento, Ca
Cecilia Garza San Bernardino County
Kaela Erving San Marcos, Ca
Crystal Frias Indio, Ca
Sandra Gates Santa Rosa, Ca
Miranda Estanol Ventura, Ca
Mercedes Frias Northridge, Ca
Edward Gathercole Santa Rosa, Ca
Angelica Estevane San Diego, Ca
Micah Adam Gabbard Madera, Ca
Destineh Gleason Oroville, Ca
Alyssa Estrada-Durnez Paradise, Ca
Maria Galindo Calexico, Ca
Jessica Godines Escondido, Ca
Marcos De La Sierra Oceanside, Ca Laura Deniz Madera, Ca
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Alexander Godinez Chico, Ca
Guadalupe Guzman Sacramento, Ca
Kristine Holmes San Marcos, Ca
Nohemi Gomez Oakland, Ca
Alexis Hackett Sacramento, Ca
Catiana Huante Riverside County
Jose Gomez Riverside County
Kathleen Halstead Garden Grove, Ca
Talayah Hudson San Francicsco, Ca
Antonio Gomez South San Francisco, Ca
Patricia Harris San Diego, Ca
Amnesty Huggins Long Beach, Ca
Courtney Gotreau Yorba Linda, Ca
Brittney Harvey Northridge, Ca
Kendra Jackson Sacramento, Ca
Bethanea Goudeau Rialto, Ca
Trell Hayes Merced, Ca
Pamela Jackson Ventura, Ca
Brianna Grant San Jose, Ca
Akisha Henri Van Nuys, Ca
Ciara Jackson Richmond, Ca
Nazja Gray San Francicsco, Ca
Mercedes Henry San Francicsco, Ca
Zemaye Jacobs Eastvale, Ca
Jonathan Green Chico, Ca
Jaclyn Hernandez Dinuba, Ca
Rodaisha James Chico, Ca
Alexis Griffin Carmichael, Ca
Valaery Hernandez Garden Grove, Ca
Stephanie Jaramillo Fullerton, Ca
Andrea Guarino Santa Rosa, Ca
Karen Hernandez Los Angeles County
Jasmine Jenkins Long Beach, Ca
Richard Gucciardo Sacramento, Ca
Alyssa Hernandez Norco, Ca
Isaiah Jimenez Dinuba, Ca
Kimberly Guest Indio, Ca
April Hernandez Elizondo Chico, Ca
Alexis Jimenez Long Beach, Ca
Mellisa Guiney Yuba City, Ca
Lorraine Hinkle Santa Rosa, Ca
Tariq Johnson Riverside County
Xitclary Gutierrez Riverside County
Natasha Hoffmann Oroville, Ca
Antoineisha Johnson San Francicsco, Ca
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Clyde Jones Oakland, Ca
Elizabeth lecona Perris, Ca
Georgette Martin Contra Costa, Ca
Danña Jordan Carson, Ca
Suzy Kim Lee Ventura, Ca
Melanie Martinez Fullerton, Ca
Martha Joseph South San Francisco, Ca
Elizabeth Leon Bellflower, Ca
Elvira Martinez Fullerton, Ca
Fatima Juarez Orange, Ca
Serran Lewis Riverside County
Guadalupe Martinez La Quinta, Ca
Vanessa Juarez Orange County
Jeresha Lockhart Moreno Valley, Ca
Stephanie Martinez Oxnard, Ca
Benito Juarez Orange County
David Logback Oceanside, Ca
Alauna Martinez Riverside County
Jacob Juarez Orange County
Reyna Lopez Compton, Ca
Ivy Martinez Sacramento, Ca
Elisabeth Kahrer Walnut Creek, Ca
Marcos Lopez Long Beach, Ca
Delilah Martinez Ventura, Ca
Allison Keck Chico, Ca
Lashanae Love San Francicsco, Ca
Emerald McColey Marina, Ca
Sarah Kim Anaheim, Ca
Keith Lutter Santa Rosa, Ca
Chelsea Mcconnell Riverside County
Roy Kitaoka Rohnert Park
Victor Madrigal Riverside County
Kyndra McDaniel Bellflower, Ca
Shawna Knapp San Mateo County
Alondra Madrigal Santa Rosa, Ca
Daryl McDaniel Northridge, Ca
Steffanie Kramer Wilton, Ca
Ivan Manriquez Jr. San Francicsco, Ca
Angelique McGuire San Francicsco, Ca
Cathia Lan San Francicsco, Ca
Thurman Marshall Butte County
Paola Mejia Downey, Ca
Andrew Landin Fullerton, Ca
Teaira Martin Carson, Ca
Maybelline Mejia Paz Montebello, Ca
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Tylina Mendez Downey, Ca
Rita Munoz San Diego, Ca
Janel Oliver San Francicsco, Ca
Jamie Mendez Orange County
Alicia Munoz Santa Rosa, Ca
Shaina Olmedo Chico, Ca
Alayna Mendoza San Diego County
Amelia Murillo Highland, Ca
Valerie Olson San Marcos, Ca
Jay Meranda Long Beach, Ca
Janet Muyisa Oxnard, Ca
Coral Olynyk Chico, Ca
Kennedy Meza Orange, Ca
Alyza Nava Oxnard, Ca
Sabrina Onofre-valadez Santa Ana, Ca
Nathaniel Mills Los Angeles County
Brittany Newton San Francicsco, Ca
Stacy Orduno El Centro, Ca
Emonie Minor Moreno Valley, Ca
Alicia Nichols Santa Rosa, Ca
Jennifer Orellana South Gate, Ca
Dakota Mitchell San Bernandino, Ca
Markel Nickerson Oroville, Ca
Regina Orozco Marina, Ca
Sarah Molina Sonoma County
Regina Nikki Sonoma County
Stephanie Parker Cathedral City, Ca
Margarita Molina-Corona San Diego, Ca
Jasmine Nutt Los Angeles County
Michelle Parrish Santa Rosa, Ca
Clara Montellano Pico Rivera, Ca
Judith Nwandu Los Angeles County
JessiCa Patino Corona, Ca
Gabriel Moralez YucCa Valley, Ca
Stephanie Ocampo San Bernandino, Ca
Tessa Pavia San Diego, Ca
Juan Moreno Redlands, Ca
Sarah O'Connell Oxnard, Ca
Michael Pavich Los Angeles County
Jennifer Mosch San Jose, Ca
Nancy Olivares Santa Ana, Ca
Alma Pelaez Franco Oxnard, Ca
Solomon Munguia Oakland, Ca
Jacqueline Oliver Concord, Ca
Leticia Pena Visalia, Ca
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Olivia Perryman San Francicsco, Ca
Coachella, Ca
Chico, Ca
Melissa Reagan Santa Cruz County
George Robertson IV Chico, Ca
Rusty Rendon Madera, Ca
Destiny Robinson Riverside County
Ashley Resendez Visalia, Ca
Malaysia Robinson Sacramento, Ca
Ann Pleitez LanCaster, Ca
Selena Reycasa San Marcos, Ca
Joseph Robinson San Diego, Ca
Dasia Poe Moreno Valley, Ca
Janelly Reyes Downey, Ca
Veronica Robles San Bernardino County
Biridiana Prettybird El Centro, Ca
Doris Reyes Merced, Ca
Allysa Rockholt Camarillo, Ca
Zhana Priestley Riverside County
Vanessa Reyna Hanford, Ca
Juan Rodas Los Angeles County
Christopher Puca Irvine, Ca
Tianna Richardson El Cajon, Ca
Jessica Rodriguez Los Angeles County
Elizabeth Quiroz Santa Rosa, Ca
Kalob Riddle Moreno Valley, Ca
Isabella Rodriguez Indio, Ca
Lashawnda Rainey San Francicsco, Ca
Dorothy Riley Roseville, Ca
Juliana Rodriguez Pico Rivera, Ca
Gabriella Ramirez Oceanside, Ca
Tania Rios Oroville, Ca
Joseph Rodriguez Garcia Riverside County
Arisandi Ramirez Bernal Los Angeles County
Valerie Rios Riverside County
Stephanie Rogers Berkeley, Ca
Michael Ramos Santa Ana, Ca
Luis Rivera Brawley, Ca
Olivia Rogers Davis, Ca
Leslie Ramos Ventura, Ca
Kristal Robbins Santa Rosa, Ca
Lillian Romo Monterey Park, Ca
Maria Rangel
Susan Roberts
Geovannie Rosales
Girtha Phillips Walnut Creek, Ca Dmitria Pickard Santa Rosa, Ca Holly Pierce North Highlands, Ca
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Sun Valley, Ca
Chico, Ca
Stockton, Ca
Sarah Rubalcaba Fullerton, Ca
Matthew Small Los Angeles County
Roman Suarez Canoga Park, Ca
Jeremiah Rushing San Francicsco, Ca
John Smith San Francicsco, Ca
Micaela Subject Moreno Valley, Ca
Veronica Ruvalcaba Quincy, Ca
Javen Smith Los Angeles County
MyElla Sweet San Clemente, Ca
San Chan Saetern San Francicsco, Ca
Jeremiah Snipes Sonoma County
Ashley Szabo-Johnson Los Angeles County
Teresa Salcida Oceanside, Ca
Allan Solis Daly City, Ca
Michaella Taylor Chico, Ca
Gloria Salcida Riverside County
Vanessa Solorio Whittier, Ca
Rebecca Taylor Oakland, Ca
Tearra Samuels Corona, Ca
Sharley Somerville Riverside County
Nick Teresi Sacramento, Ca
Sammy Sanchez Sacramento, Ca
Crystal Soria Compton, Ca
Le'Victoria Thomas Pittsburg, Ca
Charina Sanchez Whittier, Ca
Hector Soto Osorio Tustin, Ca
Jacob Thomas Redding, Ca
Adrianna Saucedo Oroville, Ca
Arnice St. Remy Davis, Ca
Casey Thomas San Marcos, Ca
Arthur Savangsy San Francicsco, Ca
Edward Starski Hidden Valley Lake, Ca
Gina Marie Triplett San Jose, Ca
Lina Severino West Hills, Ca
Charles Stevens Sterling City, Ca
Kaela Trowel San Francicsco, Ca
Jarael Sexton Roseville, Ca
Wyatt Stokes Marina, Ca
Amy Tubao Eastvale, Ca
Harmony Simmons Santa Rosa, Ca
Cindy Stratten Stockton, Ca
Brittany Tuohy Irvine, Ca
Sarah Simpson
Rudy Stratten
Alissa Turner
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Moreno Valley, Ca
Oakland, Ca
Jessica Valadez Vista, Ca
Johnny Wilkins Chico, Ca
Jade Monique Valdez Brawley, Ca
Arvonique Williams Long Beach, Ca
Elizabeth Vasquez Sonoma County
Porschea Williams Pasadena, Ca
Jose Velazquez Butte County
Brandie Williams Riverside County
Lorena Velazquez Butte County
Mesia Williams San Diego, Ca
Chaina Velazquez Butte County
Rebekka Williams San Francicsco, Ca
Silvia Velazquez Butte County
Seymoura Wilson Los Angeles County
Tyona Veley Upland, Ca
Aashanique Wilson Riverside County
Ashley Vergara Oxnard, Ca
James Wilson San Francicsco, Ca
Anshul Verma El Monte, Ca
Meng Yang Long Beach, Ca
Blake Villa Pico Rivera, Ca
Alyssa Yount Oroville, Ca
Courtney Voorhees Vista, Ca
Karina Zamarron Rialto, Ca
Griselda Wa Santa Cruz County Eric Wagoner Oakley, Ca Carida Ward
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