iFoster WINS Inaugural AARP Purpose Prize

iFoster is proud to announce that its co-founder, Reid Cox, has been selected as AARP's Purpose Prize winner! The AARP Purpose Prize™ which recognizes outstanding work by people age 50 and over that is focused on advancing social good. “The AARP Purpose Prize Award recognizes and rewards individuals who, in an encore career, are creating new ways to solve tough social problems,” said AARP CEO Jo Ann Jenkins. “All over the country, millions of older adults with fresh ideas and big hearts are finding unique ways to help people in their community and we are proud to highlight some of the very best examples of that phenomenon with the AARP Purpose Prize Award.”

iFoster Announces Employer Tax Bill for Foster Youth

iFoster is excited to announce the introduction of the Improved Employment Outcomes for Foster Youth (IEOFY) Act H.R.2060 was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congressmen Dave Reichert (R-WA), Danny Davis (D-IL), and Tom Reed (R-NY) on Thursday, April 6, 2017. On this same day, a Senate companion bill, S.885 was also introduced by Senator Bob Casey (D-PA). 

Creating employer incentives is key to growing employment opportunities for our most vulnerable youth. In an environment where the minimum wage is rising, tax credits up to $2,400 per eligible employee will make it more attractive to hire TAY in a range of positions across the country. When passed, this credit will enlist private employers as allies in improving outcomes for these youth while reducing their reliance on public benefits.

"We cannot eliminate all of the challenges faced by youth in foster care, but we can give them opportunities to help overcome those challenges, " said Rep. Reichert. "Helping youth find jobs and rewarding them when they do is a great way to help them become independent and give them hope for the future. Like all of our children, our youth in foster care deserve to have the opportunity to follow their dreams, and our bill gives them the independence to do just that."

"A good job is a path to the middle class, " said Senator Casey. "This legislation offers practical incentives to employers that work to support those who have already overcome so much. By strengthening foster youth's employment opportunities, we are making an investment in the next generation of workers."

1 Laptop per Foster Youth Coalition

iFoster has provided over 8,000 laptops nationwide to in college and college-bound foster youth. In California, iFoster has provided over 4,000 laptops and with the help of Professor Jeremy Goldbach from USC have conducted the largest study ever on the digital divide in foster care.

iFoster's 1 Laptop program has revealed that less than 5% of rural foster youth, and less than 21% of urban foster youth in California have access to computers - compared to 90% of all U.S. teens.

When provided with a laptop of their own, foster youth reported significant improvements in academic performance, better connection with their biological family and their support network, improved self-esteem and reduced depression and suicidality. (download report here)

Why do laptops matter? 

Listen to what our Foster Youth attending College without one have to say.