> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.raincrossgazette.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Inland Empire Educators Gather at UCR to Improve Educational Opportunities for Foster Youth - URL: https://www.raincrossgazette.com/inland-empire-educators-gather-at-ucr-to-improve-educational-opportunities-for-foster-youth/ - Published: 2026-10-28T11:59:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-28T11:58:59.000Z - Description: University and school district leaders highlight a $1.2 million initiative, educational challenges and the urgent need to help foster youth succeed. - Author: Manny Otiko - Tags: Education, Higher Education, #top-tall, #herald-3feef165-d2ee-814e-b51e-c33808217ae6 Educators from across the Inland Empire gathered Thursday at the University of California, Riverside (UCR), to discuss ways to better serve one of the region's most vulnerable student populations: foster youth. The gathering was part of the First Star Inland Empire Lunch & Learn, which brought together education leaders, policymakers and community advocates to address challenges facing foster youth and explore ways to expand educational opportunities and support services. The event was organized by First Star, an organization that helps youth and young adults who have experienced foster care by providing resources, guidance and opportunities to pursue higher education. Founded in 2000, First Star initially focused on policy advocacy for children who had experienced abuse or neglect. In 2012, the organization launched a direct-service academy model designed to help high school students in foster care prepare for college. The program also provides mentoring and academic support. According to the organization, First Star has served more than 3,000 students who have experienced foster care. Ninety-five percent of First Star scholars graduate from high school, and more than 90% pursue higher education. Speakers at the event included UCR Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Dr. Brian Haynes and Moreno Valley Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Alejandro Ruvalcaba. During his remarks, Haynes highlighted UCR's commitment to foster youth and discussed a major investment aimed at helping more students successfully transition from high school to college. "It's a $1.2 million grant, and we believe it will be transformative across campus," Haynes said. The funding supports a partnership with First Star Academy to provide foster youth with educational guidance, mentorship and resources to help them navigate the challenges of higher education. "This transformative partnership will help us close gaps for foster youth, making higher education a clear, accessible path with a comprehensive program that starts in high school and follows students through college graduation," Haynes said. Haynes also emphasized the importance of ensuring that foster youth feel welcome and supported on campus. "We've always felt that this student population in particular needed more visibility," he said. As part of that commitment, UCR has relocated its foster youth support program to a more central location on campus, making it easier for students to access services and connect with the university community. Haynes said supporting foster youth aligns with UCR's broader mission of improving student success and strengthening community engagement. "Student success and community engagement are two of the four pillars, and we believe our program here and the work that you're engaged in across the state also fits within those two pillars," he said. Ruvalcaba focused his remarks on the academic and personal challenges foster youth face, emphasizing the responsibility educators have to advocate for students and help them overcome barriers to success. "As educational leaders, our call extends beyond our individual institutions, and we hold a profound responsibility to advance equity, dismantle systemic barriers, and create connected pathways for foster youth, who are some of our neediest students," Ruvalcaba said. He acknowledged that the education system has fallen short in meeting the needs of foster youth and urged educators to listen directly to students about what schools can do better. "Be honest and blunt. It is obvious that we are failing. Help us do better. And if you want somebody to be honest, ask the students. They will be honest," he said. Ruvalcaba shared stories illustrating how seemingly small acts of support can have a lasting impact on foster youth. In one example, he described how having the same school bus driver each day provided a young student with a sense of stability and security. "As little as that may sound, having that same person be your point of contact every morning made a significant difference in this young man's life. That daily driver was an anchor of trust," he said. Ruvalcaba also recounted the experience of a student identified as "Daniel," who had been out of school for four years before district staff stepped in to help him return to the classroom. "Our staff helped him immediately enroll in school, provided food, clothing, school supplies, and a haircut. Again, something as small as a haircut," Ruvalcaba said. He emphasized that educators must recognize that the challenges foster youth face often extend far beyond the classroom, including housing instability, transportation difficulties and a lack of consistent adult support. His remarks reinforced a central message of the gathering: Improving educational outcomes for foster youth requires more than academic programs. It demands collaboration, advocacy and a commitment to providing the stability and support students need to succeed.