EDUCATING
Youth in State Care
Find Your School District
Coordinated efforts between agencies can make a difference to ensure educational success in the lives of children in foster care and youth involved in Juvenile Justice Services.
youth in foster care
in the U.S.*
earn a high school
or GED diploma*
graduate college
with a bachelor’s degree*
*Data Source:
Molly Sarubbi & Emily Parker. Policies to support the postsecondary success for Foster youth. Education Commission of the States. August 2017
Contacts
Utah State Board of Education
Steven Kaelin
Education Specialist
Utah State Board of Education
(801) 538- 7867
steve.kaelin@schools.utah.gov
Nic Shellabarger
YIC Education Specialist
Utah State Board of Education
(801) 538-7506
nic.shellabarger@schools.utah.gov
Utah Juvenile Court
Neira Siaperas
Juvenile Court Administrator
(801) 578-3812
neiras@utcourts.gov
Bridget Koza, J.D.
Court Improvement Program Coordinator
(801) 578-3939
bridgetk@utcourts.gov
Melanie Speechly
CASA Program Administrator
(801) 502-3804
melaniems@utcourts.gov
Department of Human Services
Trina M. Valdez, Ph.D.
State Education Liaison
Department of Human Services
(385) 630-9999
tmvaldez@utah.gov
Tanya Albornoz
Foster Care Program Administrator
Division of Child and Family Services
(801) 696-4866
talborno@utah.gov
Crystal Vail
Adolescent Services Program Administrator
Division of Child and Family Services
(385) 262-5044
cvail@utah.gov
Debbie Whitlock
Deputy Director
Division of Juvenile Justice Services
(801) 538- 4323
debbiew@utah.gov