John Burton Advocates for Youth

11/17/2025

CalMatters highlighted findings from our latest report, showing that youth homelessness in California has fallen 24% from 2019 to 2024. This progress is closely tied to targeted state investment, including the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention program’s dedicated funding for young people.

Our report also warns that proposed cuts to the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention program could reverse these gains. Continued investment is essential to ensure young people have the housing and stability they need and deserve!

A new report says California has fewer homeless youth than in 2019, but reductions to the money that led to that could undo those gains.

11/13/2025

Earlier this year, we welcomed Sarah Pauter as JBAY’s Executive Director, and we couldn’t be more proud 💛.

Her journey — from aging out of foster care at 18 to earning a scholarship to SDSU, completing a master’s in public policy, founding a nonprofit for transition-age youth and young parents, and joining JBAY in 2020 — reflects the heart of our mission. Sarah leads with the rare combination of lived experience and deep policy expertise, and it shows in everything she does 🌟.

Sarah was also the personal choice of our late founder, Senator John Burton, who believed deeply in her ability to carry this work forward. Today, she leads with warmth, humility, and a fierce commitment to ensuring every young person who has experienced foster care or housing instability has the chance to thrive 🌱. We’re so proud to share her story.
Read more https://jbay.org/blog/

11/13/2025

Earlier this year, we welcomed Sarah Pauter as JBAY’s Executive Director, and we couldn’t be more proud 💛.

Her journey — from aging out of foster care at 18 to earning a scholarship to SDSU, completing a master’s in public policy, founding a nonprofit for transition-age youth and young parents, and joining JBAY in 2020 — reflects the heart of our mission. Sarah leads with the rare combination of lived experience and deep policy expertise, and it shows in everything she does 🌟.

Sarah was also the personal choice of our late founder, Senator John Burton, who believed deeply in her ability to carry this work forward. Today, she leads with warmth, humility, and a fierce commitment to ensuring every young person who has experienced foster care or housing instability has the chance to thrive 🌱. We’re so proud to share her story.
Link in bio 🔗

11/10/2025

🚨 Calling all foster youth + their champions!

💼 Ever dreamed of working in California’s Capitol?

Join us for “The John Burton Fellowship: Opening Doors for Foster Youth in California Government” — an inspiring webinar introducing a paid fellowship that places current & former foster youth in the Legislature and Executive Branch!

🗓 Nov 13, 2025 · 12:00 PM (Pacific)

💰 $4,888/month stipend

🎓 Grad-level coursework at Sac State

🏛 Hands-on experience shaping policy

Apps due Dec 8, 2025, so don’t wait!

🔗 Register now (https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_l0q085EESe-2HhB-L_TDEQ)

11/08/2025

#🌟 New Opportunity for Foster Youth in Public Service!

Join us on 📅 November 13, 2025, at 12:00 PM (Pacific) for

The John Burton Fellowship: Opening Doors for Foster Youth in California Government, a webinar introducing California’s first fellowship designed to place current and former foster youth in the State Legislature and Executive Branch.

Developed in partnership between John Burton Advocates for Youth (JBAY) and the Center for California Studies at Sacramento State, this groundbreaking initiative expands the state’s prestigious Capital Fellows Programs—one of the nation’s most respected public policy fellowships.

🎙 Hear from Capital Fellows staff and program participants as they share their journeys, insights, and advice for building careers in public service.

🗓 Applications for the 2026–27 Fellowship close December 8, 2025, at 11:59 PM PST.

Don’t miss this inspiring conversation about how foster youth are leading from the Capitol itself.

🔗 Register now: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_l0q085EESe-2HhB-L_TDEQ

10/29/2025

We’re so proud of our Executive Director, Sarah Pauter, who joined the Aging Out Podcast with Cheri Mitchell to share her powerful story and lifelong commitment to improving the foster care system.

As a former foster youth, Sarah helped pass Assembly Bill 12, extending foster care to age 21 — a landmark reform that changed thousands of lives. Today, through her leadership at John Burton Advocates for Youth, she continues to fight for opportunity and equity for youth across California.

Since JBAY’s founding, we’ve championed 55+ legislative reforms and secured $3.6 billion in investments for youth in foster care and homelessness.

🎙️ Listen to Sarah’s inspiring conversation here: https://agingoutinstitute.podbean.com/

10/28/2025

💙 Every young person deserves a fair shot at a stable future.

Yet across California, thousands of youth leave foster care or experience homelessness without the support and stability they need to thrive.

At John Burton Advocates for Youth (JBAY), we work every day to change that — turning resilience into opportunity.

We help young people access safe and affordable housing, college financial aid, and career pathways that lead to long-term success.
We partner with state leaders, community organizations, and youth with lived experience to build systems that actually work — so every young person can transition to adulthood with dignity, stability, and hope.

“Emancipated from what? And into what?
Into not being able to have a roof over their heads?
Into being frozen out of a chance at higher education?
Into unemployment?
Into a life on the welfare rolls?
Into homelessness?
Into jail?”
— John Burton, JBAY Founder

Because when youth have a home, an education, and a fair chance, they don’t just survive —
they lead. 💙

10/07/2025

🎉 Fantastic news — SB 624 has been signed into law!

This significant step expands access to the Foster Youth Tax Credit (FYTC) in California and establishes education and outreach about FYTC and tax filing within county child welfare and juvenile probation departments.

A big thank you to Senator Anna Caballero and to Governor Newsom for their leadership and support in making this a reality!

10/02/2025

📣 FAFSA & CADAA “How-To” Webinar 📣

The 2025–26 FAFSA and CADAA are now open! Join John Burton Advocates for Youth (JBAY) on Tuesday, October 22 from 10:00–11:30 AM for a step-by-step training designed for adults supporting foster youth and unaccompanied homeless youth.

✅ Learn the latest FAFSA/CADAA updates
✅ Understand how students can qualify as independent
✅ Get guidance on next steps after completing the application
✅ Access JBAY’s refreshed financial aid resources

💻 Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ezXnA1xLT0KbFl-eLy2dRg

Let’s make sure every student gets the financial aid they deserve! 🌟

09/25/2025

From Sacramento to San Francisco, we celebrated the release of Senator John Burton’s memoir I Yell Because I Care with Willie Brown, Andy Furillo, State Librarian Greg Lucas, Sarah Pauter (JBAY Executive Director), Kimiko Burton (JBAY Board), Dr. Luke Wood (launching the John Burton Fellowship), Pro Tem Mike McGuire, Speaker Robert Rivas, and Governor Gavin Newsom, and honored leaders carrying his fearless legacy forward — including Chancellor Sonya Christian & the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, Senator Anna Caballero, the Tahbazof Family Foundation (Sufi Tahbazof Hariri, Sami Tahbazof & Sia Tahbazof).

💙 Thank you to everyone who joined us — your support fuels JBAY’s work to transform the lives of foster youth across California.

09/16/2025

On Friday, September 19, Senator John L. Burton will lie in state at San Francisco City Hall. Members of the public are invited to pay their respects from 8:00am to 12:00pm in the Fourth Floor South Gallery. Attendees may enter through 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place (Polk Street Entrance).

A private celebration of life service will follow for family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to John Burton Advocates for Youth (JBAY), the organization that John founded in 2004 to carry forward his vision of equity, opportunity, and justice for youth in foster care and those experiencing homelessness.

JBAY is honored to continue Senator Burton's legacy with the same conviction and compassion he brought to every fight.

09/07/2025

With a heavy heart, we mourn the passing of Senator John Burton, a once-in-a-generation leader who dedicated nearly six decades to fighting for justice, equity, and the rights of the underserved.

From the halls of Congress to the streets of California, his legacy lives on through and the lives of thousands of foster youth who now have hope, opportunity, and a future.

Read about his legacy here -https://jbay.org/remembering-john-burton/

Rest in power, Senator Burton. Your fight continues.