SACRAMENTO – The California Community College Chancellor’s Office announced today it is renaming the Cooperating Agencies Foster Youth Educational Support program to NextUp.

NextUp gives current and former California foster youth extra support when pursuing their higher education goals at a local community college.

The new name was chosen to help foster youth feel encouraged and excited about the next chapter in their lives.

“The name might have changed but the mission to support California foster students and their higher educational goals remains the same,” said California Community Colleges Executive Vice Chancellor Laura Hope. “Students in foster care face circumstances that are far more challenging than those faced by many of their peers. Such circumstances often make their futures uncertain. NextUp is an important first step to changing foster youth outcomes.”

NextUp was established through the enactment of Senate Bill 1023 (2014), which approved up to $15 million to fund foster youth programs at up to 10 community college districts across California.

Senate Bill 12 (2017) allows the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges to expand the number of community college districts operating NextUp to up to 20, depending on available funding.

Currently, NextUp students at 26 community colleges participate in this program.

NextUp promotes academic success by using an in-person, individual approach when offering support and services, including books and supplies, child care, counseling and career guidance, educational planning, emergency housing assistance, food assistance, health services, life skills, financial literacy, mental health services, transportation assistance and tutoring. Support and services vary by college.

The renaming campaign is part of an overall effort to better help students connect with NextUp, as well as raise awareness about the program among current and prospective community college students, high school foster youth, their influencers and champion, key stakeholders and legislators.

“NextUp helps education leaders and community members better understand the scope of the challenge, and work toward a more successful scholastic experience and better life outcomes for foster youth,” Executive Vice Chancellor Hope said.

With the new name also comes the launch of several exciting new activities to help promote awareness about NextUp.

A new NextUp website (http://nextup.cccco.edu/) and several videos are available to help tell the NextUp story through peer-to-peer communication.

The Web site will serve as a statewide resource for California foster youth to help them understand what NextUp offers and connect them with a NextUp program.

The Student Services and Special Programs Division of the California Community College Chancellor’s Office administers NextUp.

The California Community Colleges is the largest system of higher education in the nation composed of 72 districts and 114 colleges serving 2.1 million students per year. Community colleges supply workforce training, basic skills education and prepare students for transfer to four-year institutions. For more information about the community colleges, please visit http://californiacommunitycolleges.cccco.edu/.