General/Other Youth Resources

Community Resources for Youth

 

Beyond extracurricular, academic, and career needs, our youth may have general and unsupported needs that are not being met. This can range from an emergency need to a resource gap to transitional aged youth (TAY) needs. There are many local agencies that provide resources to support such needs, some of which are listed below. If you are in need of grant funding to support a particular need, please visit our Financial Support page and speak with your case supervisor. Know of a resource not listed below? Please let your Case Supervisor know!

  • Cake4Kids (entire Bay Area): Cake4Kids is a volunteer-based nonprofit that provides customized baked goods for birthdays, graduations, and other special events to our foster youth (or even just because!). If you are interested in requesting a cake, brownies, or cookies for your youth, please contact your case supervisor to submit a request. Please note that Cake4Kids requires that requests be submitted at least two weeks before the dessert is needed.

  • The Princess Project (San Francisco County, Silicon Valley, Sonoma County, and San Diego County); gives away prom dresses to high school students each March and April.

  • Make it Home provides furniture and household items for foster youth aging out of the system

  • iFoster; (in partnership with California Lifeline Program) provides mobile phones for foster youth between the ages of 13-26. Youth can apply here and FAQs can be found here.

  • One Simple Wish shares a foster child’s wish with a wide network of donors who anonymously grant the child’s wish. Please contact your case supervisor if you would like to submit a wish on behalf of your youth.

  • For Your Stuff provides free suitcases and bags to foster youth

  • Dress for Success SF empowers women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire and the development tools to help women thrive in work and in life.

Alameda County

Wardrobe for Opportunity provides interview clothes, and Wardrobe for Opportunity also offers interview, image, and wardrobe workshops

Contra Costa County - East

Antioch, Concord (also Pleasant Hill, Bay Point, Pittsburg, Brentwood, Oakley, Knightsen, Byron, and Discovery Bay)

Rainbow Community Center in Concord, CA offers a Youth Program designed to promote self-acceptance and a positive self-identity for all LGBTQ+ youth. The program provides education, develops leadership, promotes activism, and encourages socialization in a safe-space for LGBTQ+ questioning and ally youth.

  • Youth Groups are available for LGBTQ+ and ally youth ages 11-25 years old (Youth ages 11, must have parent/ guardian permission). Youth Groups include scheduled guest speakers, presentations, special projects, workshops and discussions. The groups are facilitated by Youth Outreach Counselors who are trained to hold fun and safe spaces.
  • Rainbow’s Youth Outreach Counselors, many who have graduated from the youth program, lead youth groups, supervise drop-in hours, provide 1-on-1 support services for youth members, and help organize and chaperone dances, youth events and field trips. Counselors also serve as a link from the youth program and other services at Rainbow, such as:
  • LGBTQ+ Homeless Transitional Youth Program provides services to youth experiencing homelessness ages 12-24, LGBTQ+ youth in the foster care system and LGBTQ+ TAY Victims of Crime. Youth are offered temporary housing by providing hotel vouchers, transportation, etc. For additional information, questions or support, please reach out to Youth Housing Program Director, Rasheedah S. Blake at rblake@rainbowcc.org or call (925) 692-0090 ext. 302.

San Francisco County

Dress for Success provides interview clothes, and Wardrobe for Opportunity also offers interview, image, and wardrobe workshops

SFILSP; provides resources like baby supplies for eligible and participating youth

City Youth Now; provides textbooks, school supplies gently used clothing, and toys

Santa Clara County

The Hub Youth Center is a youth-led and organized community center, dedicated to supporting current and former foster youth ages 15-24, by providing a safe and welcoming center where foster youth can feel a sense of belonging, empowerment, and be offered a variety of services by peers and other caring community members. Services include Independent Living Program Services, access to Computer/ Printer, HubMart (clothes, school supplies, etc), Shower/ Laundry, Health Van, Employment, Education and Legal Advice. The center also holds events such as holiday parties, birthday celebrations, movie nights, game night and more! For information on Special Events and ongoing services, please visit their website here. The Hub Youth Center is located on 591 North King Road, Suite 1 San Jose, CA 95133 and can be contacted to (408) 792-1750.

Nora Landis-Shack