On Thursday, the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) voted to approve the iFoster Lifeline Pilot Program within the California Lifeline Program. The two-year pilot program will provide a smartphone and monthly cell phone service, including unlimited voice, unlimited text, unlimited data, and hotspot capabilities, free of charge to up to 33,000 current and former foster youth ages 13 to 26 inclusive across California through a simple eligibility and application process. RCRC staff joined iFoster and a number of its partners at the PUC hearing to testify in support of this groundbreaking program.
In December 2017, RCRC and its affiliate, National Homebuyers Fund, Inc. (NHF), allocated a total of $400,000 to support the iFoster 1 Laptop Program in 35 of RCRC’s member counties. The one-time contribution provided a laptop to every eligible foster youth and former foster youth aged 16-21 in care within 35 of RCRC’s member counties (1,139 individuals).
Currently, only about 1 in 20 rural foster youth have regular access to technology. This lack of access makes it even more difficult for rural foster youth to navigate academic and career pathways, stay connected to their support network, access the resources they need, and remain safe, thus impeding their ability to transition from foster care into successful and self-sufficient adulthood.
“The 1 Laptop Program for Foster Youth will change the legacy of many of California’s current and former foster youth, providing them with access to essential resources, job training and the connectivity needed to succeed in today’s online world,” said Greg Norton, President and CEO of RCRC, and President of NHF.
Early results of the RCRC/NHF investment have shown that providing rural foster youth with access to technology helps bridge the gap to securing employment, improving academics, and enrolling in higher education.
The iFoster Lifeline Pilot Program builds upon the 1 Laptop Program, and will help advance the bridging of the digital divide facing many California foster youth. RCRC’s support letter can be accessed here. An article from U.S. News & World Report outlining the program can be accessed here.