Foster-Care Students Get Life Skills Guidance Through I-City

Publish Date: Dec. 8, 2022

On November 5, the Crafton Hills College EOPS/Guardian Scholars Program hosted the San Bernardino County Children and Family Services Independent City or I-City. I-City is an annual event that the County of San Bernardino Independent Living Program holds for 16-18-year-old foster youth to prepare them for independent living.

I-City is a fun, interactive and informative event. Foster youths are placed in a simulated city where they practice money management and test their decision- making skills as they experience various scenarios that they will confront when they turn 18, leave foster care and begin living independently.

Participants circulate through different I-City workshops where they learn about health, government, childcare, banking, transportation, housing and utilities, shoppingatagrocerystore,thecourts,fines and collection, enter tainment, educational opportunities, and careers. Community partners provide these workshops and promote their services to expose foster youth to the different resources in their communities. Par ticipating students navigated through the simulation and learned about money management, housing, transportation and supporting a family.

Delmy Spencer, vice president of student services, and Ivan Peña, dean of student services, delivered welcoming remarks to the students, community partners and foster care parents.

Two former CHC Guardian Scholars students participated in the event: CHC Alumnus JoeShay Walker, who currently works for the County of San Bernardino Independent Living Program, served as the emcee for the event. Walker graduated from UCI in 2017 with a degree in Political Science and is continuing her studies to become a clinical psychologist. Alumna Angelica Barrera represented the Renaissance Scholars Program at CSUSB, where she is currently pursuing a degree in Nutrition with an anticipated graduation date of May 2024.