Meet the Team of Youth Ambassadors for Fiscal Year 2025-2026!

Sonoma, San Francisco, Marin Introducing a seasoned foster youth contractor with 15 years of invaluable firsthand experience, specializing in supporting vulnerable young individuals through various stages of their lives. With a comprehensive understanding of the foster care system, I am well-equipped to guide and empower transition age youth, probation youth, and group home residents as they navigate critical transitional periods. Throughout my career, I have not only provided direct support to foster youth but also contributed to the development of impactful programs. I have successfully designed and developed user-friendly websites, creating platforms that connect foster youth with essential resources and opportunities. Furthermore, I have played a pivotal role in establishing and managing mentorship programs, matching experienced mentors with youth in need of guidance and support. Recognizing the importance of collaborative efforts, I have actively served on boards of directors, leading fundraising initiatives and overseeing teams of dedicated individuals. By fostering an inclusive environment, we have implemented effective strategies that significantly improve the lives of the youth we serve. Passionate about fostering positive change, I am dedicated to empowering foster youth to realize their full potential and discover a brighter future. With an unwavering commitment to their well-being, I strive to make a lasting impact on the lives of vulnerable young individuals, helping them overcome challenges and achieve personal and professional success.

Mendocino, Tulare, Los Angeles

I am 26 years old and a former foster youth from Stanislaus County. I have been working with the Youth Engagement Project (YEP) since October 2015 and am currently getting my Associates degree in Psychology and plan to continue my education in Psychology and Social Work. I also currently work at the Youth Navigation Center in Stanislaus County supporting youth who are experiencing homelessness and youth who are in crisis ages 13-24. I have advocated for foster youth on numerous topics and issues that are faced within child welfare and I really enjoy focusing on creating focus groups on issues foster youth face and educating child welfare staff and those who work with children and youth on various trainings. My passion and hope for youth engagement is that every county in California has youth invoice imbedded in their policies and procedures.

I am a mom to a four year old boy, three month twin girls and a step mom to two children, a fifteen and nine year old. In my free time I enjoy spending time with my husband and children whether at home watching movies, playing in the backyard or traveling to the coast. We love to travel to new places and exploring the outdoors. Our favorite place to visit is Disneyland and really enjoy going during the holiday season.

Glenn, Butte, Fresno

My name is Aliyana Montevirgen. I am currently serving as a Lead Youth Ambassador for the Youth Engagement Project (Y.E.P), assisting the Far North Region. Working with Glenn, Butte, and Fresno Counties, I also serve as a case supervisor and the Successful Transitions Coordinator for CASA, supporting TAY Youth. I am a recent graduate from Sonoma State University with my Bachelors Degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice and have participated in Seawolf Scholars, Trio and EOP on campus. In these roles, I am passionate about advocating for foster youth. Drawing from my own lived experiences within the foster care system, I am motivated to help youth navigate the complexities of the system and advocate for their best interests.

San Luis Obispo

I am Nancy Perez, a youth in the Youth Engagement Project and the Lead Youth Ambassador in the Central Region, incorporating San Luis Obispo County. I am committed to continue to help make a difference in the child welfare system by sharing my voice as a former foster youth.

I attend several YEP Meetings, Quality Parenting Initiative Meetings and Youth Advisory Board Meetings monthly. Through my work as a youth I have worked in the YEP program. I have participated in supporting the development and provided feedback on several projects such as local teen resource guide, “About Your Child Questionnaire”, “About Your Child Letter to Birth Parent”, and “About Your Child, All About Me Letter to Resource Parent” documents. Additionally, I have played a key role in the development of National Foster Care Awareness month video and participated in presenting this video and accepting proclamations of May being National Foster Care Awareness month at the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors and at Paso Robles City Council meetings.

I am a team player and enjoy working on projects with my fellow YEP ambassadors. I am excited to continue learning and make a change in the future of the foster care system. I’m looking forward to continuing working with all the ambassadors this fiscal year. Let’s continue to make a change! We all have a voice and it matters. Thank you for having me be part of this year’s YEP Ambassadors committee. Have a good one.

I am hoping to work on helping siblings stay together in the foster system. This is something I am passionate about as I was separated from my twin sisters. I know how it feels to be pulled apart from the few people you know and are protective over while being in the foster system. Kids are being put into the system and being separated from their siblings without realizing that this is only hurting them so much more. I also hope to work on anything related to adoption, as my twin sisters were adopted while in foster care. My family and I had no clue that since my siblings and I were taken into the system, that my twin sisters were being considered for adoption. I wish I knew because I said goodbye without realizing it was goodbye. It has been 10+ years since I last saw them and that wound that it left me hasn’t begun to heal. I want other kids to know that they will be okay, I didn’t have anyone telling me that when I needed it the most.

My name is Emily Hampson and I am eager to work as a Youth Ambassador for CFPIC to tackle issues which have negatively impacted my life, as well as those who have experienced the foster system. I’d like to focus on how we can recruit more foster families and strengthen the relationship between foster parents and agencies to keep more homes in service which would combat frequent change in permanent placement. Access to mental health and substance abuse treatment for birth parents may also allow them to reenter their children’s lives, increasing chances of reunification. Necessary changes must be made in ensuring foster youth have adequate access to resources and support; the current system of reporting issues between foster youth, foster parents, and social workers need to be improved for the comfort and safety of the foster youth especially. Paperwork is prioritized over the actual foster youth in some cases. Regulations can be set to ensure that social workers have more time to spend one-on-one with their clients. To ensure the further progress of positive change made in the foster system, I believe that we should implement exit interviews for foster parents who decide to end their services to collect data on how agencies can better support future foster families.

Michael Jaydan navigated a complicated life and struggled to find his purpose. It wasn’t until he entered the foster care system that he discovered his true calling by helping other foster youth like himself. Michael draws on his real-life experience to inspire hope for those on similar paths. Currently working as an Ambassador at Cerritos College for the LINC/Nextup program, he supports social events and sits on conference panels.

Mike is passionate about helping foster youth and advocating for those who have disabilities and are on the autism spectrum. As a YEP Ambassador, he hopes to make a positive difference in the child welfare system. He studies political science at Cerritos College and his goal is to get his associate degree and transfer to a 4 year university.

In his free time, he enjoys doing mixed martial arts, exercising, watching anime and reading books on politics.

Christian Morgan is a recent graduate of UC Santa Barbara with a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences and minors in Applied Psychology and Music. Currently working as a Behavioral Health Residential Counselor at PathPoint in Santa Barbara, CA, he supports individuals with severe mental health diagnoses in pursuing the lives they choose.

Passionate about psychology, Christian aims to advocate for improved accessibility to behavioral health care, educational equity, and positive outcomes for foster youth. Interested in school psychology and neuropsychology, he hopes to make an impact through early mental health intervention.

In his free time, he enjoys playing the clarinet, playing PC games, and indulging in Star Wars, a nostalgic favorite of his. As a native of Southern California, Santa Barbara’s local community and beautiful beaches have grown on him while attending UCSB.

Next, Christian plans to pursue a master’s degree before applying to PhD programs in Clinical Psychology, fueling his dedication to mental health advocacy and bringing visibility to foster youth’s resilience and systemic challenges. Through psychology, diverse interests, and advocacy, he strives to promote mental health, facilitate equity, and empower foster youth.

My name is Mia Villa and I am writing to introduce myself as the At-Risk Youth Specialist at the Glenn County Office of Education and Youth Ambassador for YEP. I continue to look forward to making a positive impact in the lives of the youth we serve through the YEP Program. As a former foster youth and Americorps Member, I have experienced firsthand the challenges and adversities that at-risk youth often face.

My personal journey through the foster care system has ignited a deep passion within me to make a difference in the lives of young individuals who may be going through similar struggles. During my time as an Americorps Member, I had the privilege of working with vulnerable populations and saw the transformative power of mentorship and support. These experiences solidified my commitment to working in the helping field and inspired me to pursue a career focused on empowering and advocating for at-risk youth. Currently, I am a student at Butte College, where I am furthering my knowledge and skills in areas that align with my aspirations. My ultimate goal is to transfer to Chico State.

Hello, my name is Leobardo Moreno Villanueva. I am originally from Guerrero, Mexico. I will study Art, Media, and Design at CSU San Marcos and am the first generation to graduate from community college and transfer to a university. In addition, I speak three languages and am a YEP ambassador.

Outside of my academic pursuits, I am deeply committed to positively impacting the community. I have been involved in meaningful projects, such as working with local organizations to create art and provide resources for foster care. I am dedicated to developing a website that will serve as a valuable resource for the public.

My name is Jaxon Wood and I’m 20 yrs old from Butte County. I’m attending Butte College to achieve my Associate’s Degree in Business and Entrepreneurship. I’ve been in the foster care system since I was 9 months old. It became worse once I was 12 and got sent to a group home after experiencing homelessness. While in the system, I experienced a lot of tension for being a part of the LGBTQ community, so I hope to make a difference for future youth impacted by the system so they don’t experience the same issues.

Marin

My name is Joshua Ramos, and I am honored to introduce myself as a candidate for the YEP Youth Ambassador Program. I earned my High school diploma at San Rafael High School. Shortly after graduation, I was offered an opportunity to work with the San Rafael City Schools District, and I currently serve at Coleman Elementary School, where I support students and contribute to creating a positive learning environment.

In addition to my work in education, I am actively pursuing higher education at College of Marin to expand my knowledge and make a greater impact in our community. I am deeply passionate about learning, especially in areas such as languages, cultural understanding, and personal development.

Outside of school and work, I enjoy spending my time reading, practicing karate, and going for walks to stay active and reflective. I strongly believe in the importance of lifelong learning and the power of community engagement, which is why I am incredibly excited to be part of the Marin YEP Youth Ambassador team. I look forward to collaborating with others, sharing ideas, and growing both personally and professionally through this program.

Thank you for the opportunity to be part of this inspiring initiative. I am eager to contribute my energy, passion, and dedication as a Marin Youth Ambassador.

Warm regards,
Joshua Ramos