Pierce County Alliance is a private, non-profit agency in Tacoma with a 501©3 classification. It serves as an umbrella organization for a myriad of criminal justice/social service programs for youth and adults, servicing the needs of the Pierce/ Kitsap County communities.

Description:
Pierce County Alliance's Foster Care to College Mentor Program works with youth who are in or who have been in foster care and want to go to college and become successful in a field of their choice but need a mentor to help them get there. Foster Care to College mentors work one-on-one with foster youth to help them define their educational goals. Regular meetings with educational mentors help students identify and fine tune their unique educational plans. This in turn, provides the direction and impetus for students to master required academic skills, visit college campuses or vocational schools of their choice and learn how to apply for financial aid. In turn, the mentor will enrich their life by helping a local foster youth.
Foster care studies have shown fewer than 2% of foster children graduate with a bachelor’s degree or higher. This is compared with 27% from the general population.

History:
Pierce County Alliance has served our local communities since 1974 providing a broad range of social services. Our Youth Services Program addresses the needs of local foster children and has for the past 17 years. Our newest program, the Foster Care to College Mentor Program began this year and needs mentors for over 75 foster youth in Pierce and Kitsap Counties.

Contact people:

Stephanie Dornes, Foster Care To College Mentor Program Coordinator, (phone), (email) Kathy Bannon, Youth Services Coordinator, (phone)

Address:

510 Tacoma Avenue South Tacoma, WA 98402 (See a map)

Directions:

Located in Downtown Tacoma off of 6th Avenue and Tacoma Avenue South. From I-5, Take freeway going to Gig Harbor,. Take the First exit (Sprague Exit.) Take Right on 6th Avenue. Take Left on Tacoma Avenue South. 1/2 block up at 1125. . . (more)   Nearest Bus Stop: 6th and Tacoma Ave South, 1 minute walk