Meet the Team of Youth Ambassadors for Fiscal Year 2024-2025!

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.

Plumas, Santa Clara, Nevada

I am a 26-year-old former foster youth from Sonoma County. I have enjoyed advocating for foster youth ever since I began extended foster care. I’ve previously started and facilitated a study group for foster youth and was a peer mentor at TLC’s Transitional Housing Program. I have also done advocacy for Santa Rosa Junior College’s Next Up Program. They were to see a 70% reduction in financing, leading to layoffs and a reduction in student support services. This reduction was stopped, and Next Up was given further funding after discussions with state congress and meetings with the state budget subcommittee. I currently work with special needs and emotionally distressed children as a behavior and educational specialist, where I share my knowledge of effective ways of working with the developing brain, early childhood education, trauma-informed practices, and behavior intervention. I am continuing my education at Sonoma State, where I plan to become a special education teacher. I enjoy working as a Youth Ambassador in Sonoma County, using my experience and collecting those of other former foster youth to strengthen projects and policies involving them. I firmly believe in the saying “Nothing for us, without us,” and I apply it to everything I do. I look forward to reviewing over 75 youth who participated in my previous focus groups and establishing a young advisory council that the county can consult for guidance. I aim to lay the groundwork for youth and the county to use and build upon after I eventually move on.

Riverside, San Bernardino, Stanislaus

My name is Sophia, and I am highly devoted to improving the educational outcomes of foster youth and other special populations. My young professional career has been focused on educational equity and access to higher education. As a TIP’s Trainer for VCOE, I helped facilitate training for educators and foster parents seeking a better understanding of the health outcomes of trauma-impacted youth. In this role, I gained invaluable knowledge about childhood adversity, its presence in schools, health outcomes, warning signs, triggers, and practical interventions to ensure every child’s equitable education. As a Foster Youth Services Coordinator, I have gained great insight into the challenges that foster youth face in their ability to successfully reach college preparedness, and for those who are, social, psychological, and basic needs issues may serve as obstacles in obtaining a 4-year degree. Given my experience, I am eager to work on any projects focusing on topics such as education and public health!

 Sacramento, San Joaquin, Yolo

My name is Brisa Barragan Huerta and I went into care in Alameda county. Though I was only in care from ages 16 to 17, just in that year I was able to see how much work needed to be done. As a proud Mexican-American I was disappointed to see how few Spanish speaking workers there were, my mother having to struggle to not only understand the system and its laws but also the language. I experienced first hand how teenagers are put aside, forgotten, all because of the stigma around us. Lastly I realized how incredibly slow, confusing, and hard it was to receive mental health services. I hope to increase awareness on the need for cultural competency, help destigmatize foster youth, and spread awareness on the extensive need for mental health services.

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.

Hello, my name is Madisyn Arreola and I am a 20 year old former foster youth in San Luis Obispo County. When I was thirteen my life was completely altered as one summer day I woke up having my parents and by the evening I was a foster youth. I was placed into the foster care system with my sister and one of my biggest worries was being separated from her. I believe it is greatly important to keep siblings together as they are all each other has during the very difficult situation. I am also very passionate about the reunification of parents and children as in my situation my mother did everything in her power to get us back but there were moments it felt no one wanted her to get us back. I am also passionate about Prevention and have been able to spend some time working with focus groups in my county. What I have experienced has pushed me to receive my education in hopes to become a social worker and help children and families in the foster care system.

My name is Angelique Becerra and I’m currently majoring in child and adolescent development. I plan on working with foster children as a therapist in the future. My main goal is to help  teenagers in the system assess their needs and wants. Once being a teenager in the system myself, I understand the lack of access to hygiene items or appropriate clothing as a teen girl. Teenagers are often overlooked when living an ordinary life,  factoring in foster care it is easy to misunderstand the items that are a necessity to making life in the system more enjoyable. There is a plethora of access for younger children when it comes to clothing and enjoyable items like toys and bath products for children. You don’t really see many donations aimed at teenagers like receiving clothing, items for fun, or feminine/bath products that are designed to appeal to teens. This is a very personal goal because having experienced the lack of access to appropriate items designated for teen girls and boys made me feel less valued than the younger children. I want to build a comfortable environment that caters to their needs.

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.

Vicclaudiana Hernandez is currently a first year student at Cal State University-Los Angeles pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. Vicclaudiana aspires to work for legislators to improve the child welfare system. Through the Youth Engagement Project, Vicclaudiana wants to help spread cultural awareness, breaking the stigma around age and mental health awareness within the system.

Hi, I’m Sarah Hughes, and I am incredibly passionate about making a difference in the lives of foster youth in my county. I find great fulfillment in working alongside the county to bring positive change and support to these young individuals. As a resident of Butte County, I have dedicated myself to advocating for and assisting foster youth. It is my heartfelt belief that every child deserves a loving and stable environment, and I am committed to ensuring they receive the care and opportunities they deserve.

Anjru Jaezon is a former California foster youth. He studied political science at San Jose State University and is an aspiring attorney in Dependency Law. He served as chair of the San Mateo County Foster Youth Advisory Board, with California Youth Connection as a Commissioner, Policy and Legislative Committee member, and founder of the Voices from the Underground Podcast. He has spent half a decade meeting with legislators and county leaders across the state to improve outcomes for students and foster youth in education, mental health, and housing.

Hello, my name is Michael Jaydan. I am passionate about helping foster youth and enhancing the foster care system. When I was fifteen years old, I entered the foster care system and gained firsthand experience of what it’s like to be in foster care. This experience made me realize how many people are struggling, and I understand that I am not the only one facing these challenges.

My goal is to equip individuals with the essential life skills necessary for their transition out of the foster care system.

I am looking forward to attending events and traveling to different places to participate in Zoom meetings, with the aim of making a positive impact. I am eager to share my knowledge and establish meaningful connections with foster youth. I would like to share my firsthand experience in foster care and serve as a representative. for this organization in engaging with young individuals.

As part of the Nextup program at Cerritos College’s foster care program, I had the opportunity to meet with fellow foster youth who shared their experiences with me. Some of them expressed fear about moving forward, but I was able to reassure them that they are not alone in this journey. There are people who care about them and want them to succeed.

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.

Pilar Ortega is a former foster Youth and youth advocate from San Luis Obispo County, CA. Pilar is a youth ambassador and chair president of the San Luis Obispo County Youth Empowerment Program (YEP) where she uses her lived experience of growing up and aging out of the foster care system to empower and inspire others. Through her work with YEP, engages with youth, school systems, and schools to facilitate the human trafficking curriculum, The Cool Aunt Series. In addition to this work through YEP, Pilar has also supported projects related to cultural inclusivity and community advancement to provide ongoing support to child welfare agencies. Pilar Ortega was also involved in the National Foster Care Awareness Month video for her county. She spoke at her County’s Board of Directors meeting when they proclaimed May as National Foster Care Awareness Month and this video was debuted. Pilar Ortega is also an AmeriCorps partner where she serves as a youth mentor and partners with county agencies focused on family strengthening and linkages. As a youth mentor, she provides peer support to foster and at-risk youth. Pilar is passionate about making a difference in the foster care system and in the community. In her free time, Pilar is an artist and enjoys going to the beach with her family and friends where she can be outdoors and in nature.

My name is Chantel Palmer and I am 20 years old. I currently attend Cal State University Dominguez Hills and am in my 3rd year majoring in Criminal Justice to eventually become a criminal defense attorney for individuals who are incarcerated to make the world a better place and more open opportunities to succeed in life. Toro Guardian Scholars is a program at my school that I happen to be apart of because I am a former foster youth and they gather all the necessary resources that I need to become who I am and who I also want to be. As a YEP Youth Ambassador, I plan to help those in need find their purpose in life.

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.

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.