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LA foster kids will get free smartphones starting in June

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 15:  Guests participate in the Korean Cuisine Master Class hosted by Atoboy at the Institute of Culinary Education on October 15, 2017 in New York City.  (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images for NYCWFF)
(File photo) A new pilot program will provide smartphones to current and former children and young adults in the foster system.
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Monica Schipper/Getty Images for NYCWFF
)

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LA foster kids will get free smartphones starting in June

The California Public Utilities Commissioners voted Thursday to approve a two-year pilot program that will give eligible foster youths across the state a free smartphone.

The program, a partnership between Boost Mobile and iFoster, a nonprofit that provides resources to foster youths, allocates $22 million to provide smartphones to current and former kids and young adults in the foster system between the ages of 13 and 26.

A version of this story ran on our partner site LAist

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