When a child is placed into foster care in Santa Clarita Valley, they often arrive with very few belongings. RISE responds by providing beds and bedding, clothing and shoes, hygiene kits, school supplies, and emergency placement essentials — delivered quickly and with care. For young adults aging out of care, we provide transition kits stocked with household essentials and life-readiness resources.

Los Angeles County is home to approximately 35,000 children in foster care — one of the largest foster care populations in the nation. Poverty is the leading cause of family separation, with an estimated 76% of removals tied to unmet basic needs rather than abuse. Foster parents and social workers are doing extraordinary work, but without community support, even the most loving home can feel overwhelmed on a child's first night.

RISE Foundation SCV is committed to changing this reality — by mobilizing the Santa Clarita Valley community to fill the gaps that formal systems cannot. We partner with DCFS workers, foster family agencies, schools, and transitional living programs to connect families with the right resources at the right time.

Each year, thousands of young adults in California reach age 18 and "age out" of the foster care system — often without a family safety net to support their transition to independence. Research shows that 36% become homeless within 18 months and face disproportionate rates of unemployment, poverty, and incarceration. RISE Foundation's Youth Transition Program provides transition kits, household essentials, and life skills support for young adults ages 18–25 across Santa Clarita Valley, helping them begin adulthood with stability and dignity.

Foster parents and DCFS caseworkers carry tremendous responsibility — often with little notice, limited resources, and high emotional demands. RISE Foundation SCV reduces caregiver burnout by supplying rapid-response placement support and ongoing resource assistance. When caregivers feel equipped and supported, they are better able to say "yes" to more placements and provide stable, loving environments for children who need them most.

You can support foster children and families in SCV by donating online at risescv.org/ways-to-give, sponsoring a specific program (such as "Sponsor a Bed" or "Fund a Transition Kit"), giving monthly to sustain ongoing operations, or contributing in-kind donations of physical items. Corporate sponsorships, church partnerships, and community drives are also welcome. Every gift is tax-deductible and goes directly toward serving foster youth in Santa Clarita Valley.

Volunteers are the backbone of RISE Foundation. You can get involved by joining a kit assembly event, participating in our lemonade stand fundraisers, supporting holiday events, assisting with donation sorting, or partnering through your church, school, or civic organization. Follow @rise_foundation_scv on Instagram or contact [email protected] to learn about upcoming volunteer opportunities in Valencia and the greater Santa Clarita Valley area.