Foster youth were significantly affected by Eaton Fire, report finds

The Eaton Fire in January affected 225 dependent children, 60% of whom are Latino and 44% of whom relied on either a permanent placement or extended foster care services, a newly published report from the UCLA Pritzker Center for Strengthening Children and Families found.

Meanwhile, 36% of the students were involved in family maintenance services, and 20% were receiving family reunification services, according to the research.

“Longstanding educational challenges facing children in foster care were compounded by the Eaton Fire — as Altadena rebuilds, equitable recovery and upholding the educational rights of children in foster care must be a long-term priority,” said Taylor Dudley, executive director of the UCLA Pritzker Center for Strengthening Children and Families, in a statement.

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Three months after the Eaton Fire swept through the region, 17% of youth were living outside of Altadena, an average of 16 miles from home, the report found.

And for foster youth, the fire added to a sense of ongoing displacement. It also interfered with high school seniors’ postsecondary plans.

“The response by education and community organizations in the face of significant loss and devastation is commendable and should be noted,” said the report’s lead author, Tyrone C. Howard, in a statement. He serves as the Pritzker Family Endowed Chair in the School of Education and Information Studies at UCLA and as the co-director of the UCLA Pritzker Center for Strengthening Children and Families.

“Yet moving forward sustained investments towards monitoring educational stability and implementing trauma-informed services through cross-system coordination will be essential to achieve equitable recovery in the short and long term.”