FKCE supervisor honored for helping foster youth
On a recent weekday afternoon, Jorge Razo opened his email to find a pleasant surprise.
"San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools ... would like to congratulate you on being selected as one of the 2024 Children Deserve Success Award recipients!" the message read.
For Razo, who serves as the supervisor of the Citrus College Foster and Kinship Care Education (FKCE)/Guardian Scholars programs, the award was a meaningful honor.
"Being recognized for the work I do with foster youth in achieving higher education means a lot to me," Razo said. "Foster youth face many barriers when it comes to education, and knowing that I can help improve the educational outcomes for students in foster care means a lot."
Each year, the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools gives the Children Deserve Success awards to individuals who demonstrate outstanding dedication and commitment to meeting the needs of K-12 and post-secondary students in San Bernardino County.
To help more foster youth gain access to higher education, Razo has partnered with the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools in recent years and attended many foster youth events in the area.
"This has allowed me to introduce Citrus College to more students who would not necessarily know about the school or the support services we provide for foster youth," Razo said.
As a result of the partnership, San Bernardino County foster youth are invited to attend the annual Citrus College Guardian Scholars orientation, which introduces them to Citrus College and provides them with school supplies, meals and educational materials.
In addition to informing prospective students about the college, Razo oversees the college's programs that support foster youth currently attending Citrus College, as well as their families. Students receive priority registration, academic counseling and access to a computer lab, lounge and kitchen.
To learn more about these programs, visit www.citruscollege.edu/fkce.
This article originally appeared in the May 2024 edition of the Citrus View.