John Burton Advocates for Youth

John Burton Advocates for Youth Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from John Burton Advocates for Youth, 235 Montgomery Street, Ste 1142, San Francisco, CA.

JBAY improves the quality of life for youth in California who have been in foster care or homeless by advocating for better laws, training communities to strengthen local practices and conducting research to inform policy solutions. John Burton Advocates for Youth improves the quality of life for youth in California who have been in foster care or homeless by advocating for better laws, training communities to strengthen local practices and conducting research to inform policy solutions.

Last week, JBAY met with staff from Senator Sabrina Cervantes’ office to discuss AB 2251 (). Thank you to Adonis and Ric...
07/31/2026

Last week, JBAY met with staff from Senator Sabrina Cervantes’ office to discuss AB 2251 ().

Thank you to Adonis and Ricardo for the productive conversation. We were joined by Esmeraldo Nuño Mora, a constituent and recent UC Berkeley graduate, Bryan Almazan, a constituent and recent UC Riverside graduate, and Stephen Morales from UC Riverside’s Office of Foster Youth Support Services. This bill would improve transparency around college Cost of Attendance calculations and make it easier for students to access the full financial aid they need.

We’re grateful for the partnership and look forward to continuing our work to ensure California’s most vulnerable students can afford and succeed in college.

JBAY Senior Project Manager, Christina Lomeli, presented at the 2026 NASFAA National Conference. The panel, SAP Happens:...
07/24/2026

JBAY Senior Project Manager, Christina Lomeli, presented at the 2026 NASFAA National Conference. The panel, SAP Happens: Innovative Communication Strategies to Support Student Appeals and Aid Retention, also featured Daniel Barkowitz (University of Miami), Paul Friebus ( Tech Community College), Keri Gilbert (Stephens College), Christina Tangalakis (Antelope Valley College), and Karla Weber Wandel (University of Wisconsin-Madison).

The panel highlighted practical, student-centered approaches to SAP communication and appeals. JBAY shared how its Overlooked Obstacles research helped inform more transparent, consistent, and equitable SAP practices through the passage of California's AB 789.

Thank you to NASFAA and our fellow panelists for a thoughtful discussion on supporting student success.

It is not too late to claim the CA Foster Youth Tax Credit! What could $1,189 mean for a young adult who's been in foste...
07/23/2026

It is not too late to claim the CA Foster Youth Tax Credit! What could $1,189 mean for a young adult who's been in foster care?

It could help them:
📖Pay for college application fees or textbooks not covered by financial aid
👔Buy professional attire for job interviews or work
🚗Cover transportation costs to get to school or their first job
💡Contribute to rent, utilities, or other essential living expenses
💵Provide some financial freedom to invest in their future

The Foster Youth Tax Credit is a lifeline for current and former foster youth, offering much-needed support as they work toward independence and success.

💪Spread the word so no one misses out! Learn more and check eligibility at jbay.org/resources/FYTC.

Will you help foster youth claim the money they have earned? 600 fewer foster youth have claimed the Foster Youth Tax C...
07/15/2026

Will you help foster youth claim the money they have earned?

600 fewer foster youth have claimed the Foster Youth Tax Credit than last year, leaving approximately $500,000 unclaimed. But there is hope! More than 4,000 current and former foster youth have already filed and gotten their money this season.

A conversation. A text message. A referral. Small actions can put real money back into the pockets of young people.

Take the pledge: tinyurl.com/2026FYTCPledge

It is not too late for California current and former foster youth to claim the Foster Youth Tax Credit!Last year, over 5...
07/10/2026

It is not too late for California current and former foster youth to claim the Foster Youth Tax Credit!

Last year, over 5,400 youth took advantage of the FYTC Youth who filed received other credits too–the average return for single filers who received the FYTC was $1,857; for parenting filers it was $4,008!

Youth can claim this credit today by using a FREE virtual self-filing guide or by making a one-on-one appointment with a local Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site! 📞Links available at jbay.org/resources/FYTC.

💪 Together, we can raise awareness, offer support, and help foster youth navigate tax season with confidence.

🎉 Great News from JBAY! All of John Burton Advocates for Youth’s priority bills have advanced to Appropriations Committe...
07/06/2026

🎉 Great News from JBAY!

All of John Burton Advocates for Youth’s priority bills have advanced to Appropriations Committees! This is a major step forward for foster youth and young people experiencing homelessness in California.

Here’s a quick look at each bill:

🏠 AB 2766 (Ahrens) – Improves access to priority class registration and student housing for foster & homeless students by expanding priority campus housing, deferring housing fees until financial aid arrives, and expanding priority class registration eligibility.

🔑 AB 2162 (Bryan) – Prevents homelessness among former foster youth by strengthening housing navigation services, extending age eligibility, and maximizing federal Housing Choice Vouchers.

💰 AB 2251 (Rodriguez) – Improves student access to financial aid by increasing transparency around Cost of Attendance calculations and making it easier for students to get needed aid adjustments.

🏡 AB 2764 (Ahrens) – Ensures equitable access to extended foster care statewide, by standardizing eligibility rules so support doesn’t vary by county, court, or caseworker.

📊 SB 1421 (McGuire) – Strengthens accountability for transition-age foster youth by adding key education and poverty reducing measures to the state’s main accountability system.

🍎 AB 2765 (Ahrens) – Protects access to CalFresh food support for foster youth and helps protect current and former foster youth from harsh federal work requirements so they can access food assistance.

These bills reflect real solutions rooted in lived experience. Huge thanks to our authors, co-sponsors, and everyone advocating for change. The fight continues — but we’re making progress!

Learn more, submit letters of support, & take action: jbay.org/2026-advocacy/

🎉 Thank You to California's Governor and Budget Leaders for Investing in Youth Homelessness Solutions 📣 JBAY and our coa...
07/02/2026

🎉 Thank You to California's Governor and Budget Leaders for Investing in Youth Homelessness Solutions

📣 JBAY and our coalition of more than 75 organizations are proud to celebrate the inclusion of $900 million for the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) program in the 2026-27 California State Budget.

We extend our sincere gratitude to Governor Gavin Newsom, Senator John Laird, Senator Monique Limón, Speaker Robert Rivas, Assembly Budget Chair Jesse Gabriel, and Assemblymember Chris Ward for their leadership and commitment to addressing homelessness and supporting young people across California.

📊 The results of HHAP speak for themselves:

✅ More than 50,000 young people served since 2019

✅ 34% decline in overall youth homelessness between 2020 and 2025

✅ 52% reduction in unsheltered youth homelessness between 2020 and 2025

🏠 This investment will help communities continue building on proven progress and ensure that thousands of young people have access to housing and supportive services. 👏Thank you to Governor Newsom and California's budget leaders for making youth homelessness a priority and including this critical funding.

07/02/2026

🎓 Celebrating the Class of 2026 & the Voices That Lifted Them Up 🎓

Last month, JBAY proudly hosted the 2026 Los Angeles College Graduation Celebration, honoring 44 remarkable foster youth graduates. These outstanding students achieved an associate degree, bachelor’s degree, or certificate from 18 different colleges and universities across the region.

The ceremony was filled with inspiration thanks to our wonderful speakers:

Tiffany Haddish, actress, comedian, author, She Ready Foundation founder and former foster youth told the graduates: “You made it. You finished this portion… You’re strong, you can handle this. You ready!”

Jada Martin, UC Davis Class of 2026 graduate and JBAY Youth Advocate, shared her personal journey and her dream of becoming a child advocacy attorney: “I’ve gotten the opportunity to speak before the state legislature, urging assembly members to prevent homelessness among foster youth like me. It’s amazing to take what I’ve been through and turn it into action – ensuring every young person feels safe, supported, and empowered. That they have hope and confidence in themselves and their futures.”

Dr. Daisy Gonzales, Executive Director of the California Student Aid Commission, inspired the room with her own foster care story and powerful message: “You’re not just going to survive…You are going to thrive.”

Each graduate was recognized with a certificate and special gift, surrounded by mentors, supporters, and the JBAY team cheering them on. Their resilience, determination, and achievements remind us why this work matters so deeply.

To every graduate: Congratulations on this incredible milestone! We celebrate your hard work, your courage, and the bright future ahead of you. The best is yet to come! 💛

Thank you to all our speakers and everyone who helped make the day unforgettable.

🎉 JBAY Honors LACOE Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program with the 2026 Champion of College Success Award 🎉 At...
07/01/2026

🎉 JBAY Honors LACOE Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program with the 2026 Champion of College Success Award 🎉

At JBAY’s Los Angeles College Graduation Celebration in May, JBAY recognized the Los Angeles County Office of Education’s Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program (LACOE FYSCP) for their extraordinary commitment to expanding pathways to higher education for foster youth across Los Angeles County.

Through their efforts to increase FAFSA and CADAA completion, strengthen cross-system collaboration, and connect students to critical college resources, they have helped transform college access across the county.

This year, 60% of seniors in foster care in Los Angeles County completed a FAFSA or CADAA — double the rate from a decade ago — thanks in large part to the dedication of the LACOE FYSCP team.

Because of their leadership and partnership, more foster youth across Los Angeles County are enrolling in and persisting through college, with strong systems of support behind them. Congratulations to the Los Angeles County Office of Education Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program, recipient of JBAY’s 2026 Champion of College Success Award! 🏆

Thank you for your outstanding commitment to supporting foster youth in pursuing higher education.

A new op-ed from JBAY’s Executive Director, Sarah Pauter, was published in The Imprint: "The state budget deficit is rea...
06/23/2026

A new op-ed from JBAY’s Executive Director, Sarah Pauter, was published in The Imprint: "The state budget deficit is real, and it is tempting to rest on our progress or piecemeal together less expensive solutions on a county-by-county basis. But research shows that lower spending today leads to greater costs down the line—on housing, yes, but also on emergency response, hospital stays, and justice system involvement."

On Monday, June 15, the State Legislature passed their budget bill, AB 109, which—if signed by the governor—will invest $900 million in the Homeless Housing, Assistance & Prevention (HHAP) program in 2026-27, nearly matching the $1 billion investments made between 2021-22 and 2024-25. This would provide at least $80 million to support services and housing for young people ages 12 to 24, preserving the infrastructure that helped drive the state’s 34% reduction in youth homelessness, at least for another few years.

“The stakes are high: youth homelessness is one of the strongest predictors of chronic adult homelessness, and HHAP remains California’s only statewide funding source dedicated to preventing and ending youth homelessness” says Pauter. To read the full op-ed, click here: https://imprintnews.org/opinion/california-is-reducing-youth-homelessness-now-is-not-the-time-to-stop/275514

Governor Gavin Newsom has until June 30th to sign the budget. To urge him to sign the budget bill, use JBAY’s email template here: https://jbay.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Governor-Email-Instructions-June-2026-1-1.docx

Address

235 Montgomery Street, Ste 1142
San Francisco, CA
94104

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+14153480011

Website

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