Berkeley Hope Scholars (BHS) offers a welcoming community focused on building a safe and caring space with peers who have similar life experiences. We welcome students of all ages and experiences to participate in BHS. This is an inclusive program where all current and former foster youth, youth in guardianship or kinship, probation foster youth, and students who were orphaned before the age of 18 are invited to participate and enjoy community support. Our program includes students who enter Berkeley directly from high school, students who transfer from other colleges and universities, and graduate students. This includes students who are themselves parents and also re-entry students who are 25 years and older.
If you meet eligibility as set forth below, please complete the registration form found below and you will be contacted.
- Current or former foster youth
- Probation foster youth (foster home/group home)
- Students in kinship guardianship or other guardianship established by the Dependency Court
- Students who were orphaned (both parents deceased) before the age of 18
- Students who were registered McKinney Vento by a homeless youth liaison during their high school years
- Students who were adopted in the US
Current UC Berkeley undergraduate and graduate students may participate in BHS programs and services by providing the following documentation of their history in foster care, kinship foster care, guardianship placement, or orphan status:
- Verification in writing of foster care youth status from:
- County child welfare agency
- County independent living program
- Documentation from the California Department of Social Services Foster Care Ombudsperson or, if you’re from out of state, reach out to your state’s ombudsman office for similar documentation.
- Verification in writing of orphans status before age of 18 (Letters of Guardianship or death certificate(s).
- Verification in writing of registered McKinney Vento status a letter of verification from high school homeless youth liaison
*If you have difficulty securing documentation of foster care or orphan status, please contact BHS staff for assistance.