DPSS Annual Report 24_25 FLIP v16_compressed

Children’s Services Division

SKY’S THE LIMIT: Riverside County Foster Youth Graduates Soar Past Statewide Trends 148 youth in foster care graduated from high school in June 2025, with 16 of them heading to four-year universities in the fall.

Sixteen of the 148 Riverside County fos ter youth who graduated high school in June 2025 were heading to four-year universities in the fall, a milestone that surpasses the statewide trend and demonstrates what is possible when young people receive steady encour agement and support. Their achieve ments were front and center at Riverside County’s “The Sky Is the Limit” celebra tion, honoring foster youth high school graduates for the academic year. California’s foster youth typically grad uate at far lower rates than their coun terparts, with statewide foster youth graduation hovering around 55 percent compared to 85 percent for all students. Against those odds, Riverside County recognized its graduates at this year’s event at the March Air Museum in More no Valley. Seventy of the 148 graduates attended in person, joined by caregivers, county volunteers and community part ners who came together to celebrate their resilience and success.

them, they rise to the challenge and they soar past every barrier placed in their way,” said Renita Lewis, deputy director of Children’s Services. The evening featured a full dinner, a keynote speaker and a graduation walk for students who may not have partic ipated in a traditional high school com mencement ceremony. As each student crossed the stage to the familiar grad uation march, the room erupted in ap plause. The celebration was made possible through the generosity of Riverside County’s Faith in Motion partners, River side County Office of Education and lo cal organizations. Contributions included gift baskets, gift cards, candy leis, grad uation cookies and 150 new suitcases for the students. Together, these efforts created a joyful and memorable event that reminded every graduate that their hard work is paying off and that, truly, the sky is the limit.

“Our graduates showed the kind of de termination that rewrites expectations. They proved that when foster youth are surrounded by people who believe in believe in them, they rise to the challenge and they soar past every barrier placed in their way. — Deputy Director Renita Lewis, Children’s Services Division Our graduates showed the kind of determination that rewrites expectations. They proved that when foster youth are surrounded by people who

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Riverside County Department of Public Social Services | Annual Report 2024 - 2025