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Digital Inclusion
The Department of Technology announces a new program to provide free refurbished laptops to selected foster youth and other youth under the Juvenile Court system was announced today by the City and County of San Francisco. This program is the result of a generous grant from the John Burton Foundation and a partnership between the nonprofit City Youth Now, Redemtech, San Francisco'sDepartment of Technology, Human Services Agency (HSA) and Microsoft Corporation.
In order to receive the laptops, the youth are required to be college bound, enrolled in college or attending a certified vocational school. Applications are submitted on behalf of the youth by a probation officer, social worker, CASA, attorney, or other adult authorized by the court to provide services to the youth.
On Monday, August 4th the selected youth will attend a day long computer workshop at the San Francisco Independent Living Skills Program. Wells Fargo, MatchBridge, KQED and City College will conduct classes in Internet safety, online job search and financial management, digital media and other technical skills required to find a job and further their education.
Currently, in San Francisco, there are a 5,750 youth under the jurisdiction of the San Francisco Juvenile Court System. Of these youth, almost 300 of them will age out or emancipate out of the system this year. In the past, only 38% of these emancipated youth continued their education beyond high school or completed their GED.
With the odds stacked so high against them, this program gives these youth an important tool to point them towards academic and career success.
For more information about the program, see http://www.cityyouthnow.org/laptop_computers.php.
This program is part of the TechConnect Digital Inclusion Initiative - a citywide initiative to address the technology needs of San Francisco's underserved communities. The TechConnect Digital Inclusion programs provide ways for San Franciscans to access the Internet, to more easily obtain a computer for their home, and the training and support needed to use technology to better their lives. For more information, see http://www.sfgov.org/digital_inclusion
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