Pete Moye’
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Cerritos College Leaders In Creating Change (L.I.N.C.) began in spring semester of 2008, according Program Director of Foster Kinship Care Lori Switanowski.

Switanowski said, “The L.I.N.C program organization planning started three years ago when the department of financial aid and foster care met at a training focusing on foster youth emancipating from the system.”

Switanowski added that L.I.NC. helps former youth processing their education since most of them don’t have any financial help from family or relatives.

She also explained a study done by the John Burton Foundation, which states that former Foster youth are number 1 people that are homeless in the United States out numbering veterans on statistic.

Switanowski said “We currently have 130 students out of the 300 who are enroll in Cerritos College that are former foster youth.

“L.I.N.C students get many benefits like early enrollment” She said and explained the program also provides students with supplies for schoolbooks and personal help from financial aid L.I.N.C employers,” Switanowski said.

Switanowski also said “This L.I.N.C program is growing and our former Cerritos [College] L.I.N.C students who almost finishing up a four year college still keeps in touched with me grateful for this program.”

Another person working with L.I.N.C. students an Intern from Cal State Dominguez Hills, Stephanie Cooper.

Cooper explained that since she had been working with L.I.N.C. students, she learned a lot from Switanowski and Student Affairs Technician Yajayra Tovar.

“It’s something I kind of fell into I volunteer in Su Casa, that’s when I became interested helping older former foster youth,” Cooper said.

Cooper also added that she also teaches five weeks of Independent Living class to younger foster youth who are attending high school.

“My ultimate goal is to work in something where I feel am making a difference and leave here with a life experience.”

Financial Aid Student Affairs Technician Yajayra Tovar is one of the people L.I.N.C students go to if they need help filling out there financial aid.

Tovar added that part of her help for L.I.N.C students is to guide them in their financial aid and help them get the max amount they need as long they qualify.

She also added that L.I.N.C program provides workshop scholarship and also helps them with social, financial and academic support.

She explained they also help L.I.N.C students go through the process in how to be a Cerritos College student.

Interim EOPS Assistant Director Yvette Tafoya explained the purpose of L.I.N.C for students who decides to attend college.

“At the California community college chancellor office they ask each college to designate foster youth liaison” said Tafoya and explained right after L.I.N.C was established.