Foster and Homeless Youth Education Services Program 

Improving educational outcomes for foster and homeless youth in Tulare County

foster and homeless youth services logo

What are Foster & Homeless Youth Education Services?

Foster and Homeless Youth Education Services support students whose education has been impacted by housing instability or involvement with the child welfare or probation systems. These services focus on removing barriers to enrollment, attendance, and academic success by promoting school stability, connection, and access to support.

Through the Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program and Homeless Youth Education Services, the Tulare County Office of Education partners with school districts, families, and community agencies to ensure students in foster care and students experiencing homelessness are supported, enrolled, and able to succeed in school.

Vision

The Foster & Homeless Youth Education Services Team vision is a future where students experiencing foster care or homelessness feel supported, valued, and connected to their schools, with full access to the resources and opportunities they need to thrive.

Mission

The Foster & Homeless Youth Education Services Team mission is to support school districts and families through collaboration, advocacy, and responsive services that promote educational stability and success for students experiencing foster care or homelessness.

The Dream Center

Students smiling with
On-site resources

• Shower and laundry facilities
• Emergency hygiene, clothing
• Laptops / internet access
• Homework area
• Resource library
• School supplies
• Bus tickets (if eligible)

4 student smiling with backpacks on.
Services offered at The Dream Center
  • Assistance in navigating school enrollment/post-secondary education for foster and homeless students
  • Assistance with applying for and accessing CalFresh and Medi-Cal benefits
  • Assistance with obtaining employment (e.g., job search, help creating a resume)
  • Assistance in understanding your educational rights as a youth in foster care and/or youth experiencing homelessness
  • Linkage to the TKHA housing navigators
  • Referrals to community services
  • Public health education

Front of Dream Center Building

Collaborative Partners 

Location: 1730 W. Walnut Ave, Visalia, CA 93277
Mailing address: PO Box 5091, Visalia, CA 93278
All staff e-mail: dreamteam@tcoe.org 

Main Phone: 559-302-3622
Main Fax: 559-302-3653

The Dream Team

program coordinator

 

Courtney Venegas
Program Coordinator
courtney.venegas@tcoe.org
559-302-3622, Ext. 5156

dream center staff female

 

Jacqueline Montañez-Barajas
Administrative Secretary
jacqueline.montanez-barajas@tcoe.org
559-302-3622, Ext. 5144

program secretary

 

Misael Gomez
Program Secretary
misaelg@tcoe.org
559-302-3622, Ext. 5148

female fhys staff member wearing a blue blouse

Jaclyn Garcia 
Project Specialist
jaclyn.garcia@tcoe.org
559-302-3622, Ext. 5163

Dream center female staff wearing a blue dress

Jamie McFarland
Project Specialist
jamie.mcfarland@tcoe.org
559-302-3622, Ext. 5177

female dream center staff

Claudia Rodriguez
Project Specialist
claudia.rodriguez@tcoe.org
559-302-3622, Ext. 5161

Joe Martinez
Director of Psychological Services
jmartinez@tcoe.org
559-302-3622, Ext. 5164

Tammy Bradford
Assistant Superintendent - Special Services
tammy.bradford@tcoe.org
559-730-2910, Ext. 5120

Foster Youth

The TCOE Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program (FYSCP) provides support services for students who experience the trauma of being removed from their home, school instability, and multiple placements while in foster care. Our goal is to increase collaboration among child welfare, probation, education, and community agencies to improve the educational outcomes for students in foster care. FYSCP has project specialists assigned to school districts to establish networks, assist with challenges, and implement solutions in meeting the unique needs of students in foster care.

Services that we provide to districts and our community partners are:

  • Master list of resources [English, Spanish] for foster youth, caregivers, district liaisons, and community members
  • Current list of district foster youth liaisons within Tulare County
  • Guidance to school districts, placement agencies, and care providers in meeting the legal obligations and educational rights pertaining to foster youth
  • Collaboration with county departments and agencies, including Independent Living Programs
  • Protection of foster youth educational rights and assistance with immediate and appropriate, stable school placements
  • Training for all stakeholders on critical issues, including educational rights, legal mandates, best practices, and other school-related topics
  • Assistance with educational and motivational programs and events for a successful transition from foster care
  • Building awareness in schools and group homes on the understanding of laws, procedures, and needs for supporting a foster youth’s education
  • Maintaining Foster Focus, a database of foster youth students in Tulare County public schools, to ensure they receive appropriate educational supports and services as outlined in Local Control and Accountability Plans (LCAP)

Courtney Venegas
Program Coordinator
courtney.venegas@tcoe.org
559-302-3622, Ext. 5156

Report Abuse at 1-800-331-1585

Transportation MOU - Tulare County CWS and Tulare COE

Homeless Youth

Homeless Youth Education Services coordinates with the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, which addresses the problems that homeless children and youth face when enrolling, attending, and succeeding in school. Our program ensures that students experiencing homelessness are enrolled and provided with comparable educational services and resources to achieve academic success.

The McKinney-Vento Act defines “homeless children and youth” as students who lack fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, including children and youth who are:

  • Sharing the housing of others due to the loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason; are living in emergency or transitional shelters; or are abandoned in hospitals
  • Living at a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designated for, or ordinarily used as, regular sleeping accommodation for human beings
  • Living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings
  • Migratory children qualify as homeless because they are living in circumstances described above
  • Unaccompanied youth, including any youth not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian, such as runaways, or youth denied housing by their families

Educational Rights 

Under the McKinney-Vento Act, homeless children and youth have the right to:

  • Receive a free, appropriate public education
  • Enroll in school immediately, even if lacking documents that are normally required for enrollment
  • Enroll in school and attend classes while the school gathers needed documents
  • Enroll in the local school; or continue attending the school of origin (the school they attended when permanently housed or the school in which they were last enrolled), according to the student’s best interest

If the school district believes that the school selected is not in the student’s best interest, the district must provide the parent, guardian, or unaccompanied youth with a written explanation of its position and inform the parent, guardian, or youth of the right to appeal its decision.

  • Receive transportation to and from the school of origin, if requested
  • Receive educational services comparable to those provided to other students, according to each student’s needs
  • Receive free lunches for the duration of the school year
  • Receive equal access to education and have school fees waived

Homeless Children & Youth services also provides a master list of resources for homeless youth, caregivers, district liaisons, and community members to quickly access resources. Resources are available in English and Spanish.

Contact:

Courtney Venegas
Tulare County Office of Education
McKinney-Vento Education Liaison
559-302-3622, Ext. 5156
courtney.venegas@tcoe.org

California State Homeless Coordinator
916-319-0383
homelessed@cde.ca.gov

Resources

District Liaisons for Tulare County schools 
22 KB
Trainings

Calendar of Events

Access to Higher Education
March 13, 2026

Porterville College Tour 
October 2026

Spooktacular Open House
October 2026

FHYS Education Summit 
December 4, 2026

Tulare County Office of Education
Tim A. Hire, County Superintendent of Schools
P.O. Box 5091
Visalia, CA 93278-5091
(559) 733-6300