Pepperdine University

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About Pepperdine University Coastal 5k/10k Run/Walk for Foster Youth

Location:

6100 Center Dr. 5th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90045, US

Mission Statement

A family-friendly event, the 6th annual Coastal Run/Walk for Foster Youth will raise funds for GSEP initiatives to improve the lives of foster children in Los Angeles County.

Description

Pepperdine University's Graduate School of Education and Psychology (GSEP) prepares leaders to serve their communities in the areas of education and mental health. GSEP also manages three counseling clinics, which offer support to the Pepperdine and external communities.

Funds raised will help improve the lives of foster children in Los Angeles through several initiatives at Pepperdine - mentoring and tutoring through the Foster Grandparents program, therapeutic services through our Community Clinics, and academic and wellness support to LA County high school foster youth and their families through a college access program.

California has the largest foster care population of any state in the USA, with the number of foster youth tripling in the last 20 years.

The Center for Social Services Research reports that over 40,000 children are currently in foster care system in California, with 19,899 of them in the Los Angeles County. Children are placed in foster care for many reasons: neglect (83.1%); physical abuse (8.5%); sexual abuse (2.2%); and other reasons - caretaker inability, emotional abuse, etc. (6.3%).

Not surprisingly, the young people in foster care struggle with family and identity losses and unpredictable events that interrupt normal life plans.

Please join Pepperdine University in an effort to support these children through the Coastal Run/Walk for Foster Youth.