Orangewood Foundation

Orangewood Foundation envisions a community where every youth thrives. By working with youth individually to formulate goals regardless of their experiences, it is our mission to strive for equity for our youth by valuing and supporting the life they envision.

The Orangewood Foundation was established in 1981 as the first public-private partnership of its kind to build a shelter for abused and neglected children in Orange County. The Orangewood Children & Family Center opened its doors in 1985, which the Foundation deeded to the county to own and operate. Orangewood next turned its attention to supporting transitional age youth in their transition out of the foster care system and into adulthood in four key areas: Health and Wellness, Housing, Life Skills and Employment, and Education.
Many of our youth seek Orangewood’s services both to heal and recover from early life trauma resulting from food and housing insecurity, sex trafficking, mental illness, substance abuse, poverty, legal system involvement, or placement in the foster care system. These early life traumas destabilize families and result from systemic inequities that disproportionately impact historically under-resourced and under-served communities, often weighing heavily on communities of color.
We strive to work as thought leaders around key issues facing transitional aged youth building a network of innovative resources, programs, and direct services that respond to the needs, challenges, and strengths of our youth. By deepening our work across current partnerships and building new relationships establishing a continuum of care, we are building a comprehensive response to the overlapping barriers that youth face while also educating our partners and the community on trauma-informed care. Orangewood’s efforts have created a wider safety net for our youth to access the resources they need to build the life that they envision.

Orangewood Foundation continually evolves to meet the needs of foster and transitional-aged youth (TAY) in Orange County, providing education, housing, and supportive services. To improve graduation rates, we founded Samueli Academy in 2013, later expanding to a middle school and dorms. In 2017, we launched Project CHOICE, a trauma-informed drop-in center for survivors of human trafficking. In 2021, we enhanced Casa de Rosemary with the Young Mother and Infant Program, equipping young mothers with parenting and workforce skills. Our Youth Connected Program (YCP) now supports foster youth and caregivers, and in 2024, it became a licensed Resource Family Agency (RFA) to strengthen placements in stable homes. In November 2024, we will launch Hope’s Corner, a transitional housing program for historically marginalized youth, including LGBTQ+ individuals and male-identifying trafficking survivors. Recognized as California Nonprofit of the Year in 2023, Orangewood remains committed to innovative solutions that foster resilience, independence, and brighter futures.

Here’s a revised version within 1,000 characters (with spaces), incorporating mental health and basic needs support:

The 2024 Point in Time (PIT) Count showed a 30% rise in youth homelessness, though many unhoused youth—like those couch-surfing—go uncounted. Rising living costs, the end of COVID-era subsidies, and inflation have worsened housing instability. Orangewood Foundation has seen increased demand at our Orangewood Resource Center (ORC), which provides case management, groceries, and fresh meals. In response, we provided 9,834 meals and housed 44 youth, including young parents. Meanwhile, demand for mental health services has tripled, increasing our therapy budget from $5,000 to $15,000 per month, fully funded by private donations. Our transitional housing programs—Rising Tide, Casa de Rosemary, The Lighthouse, and Hope’s Corner (launching Nov. 2024)—offer trauma-informed case management, therapy, and wraparound services, ensuring youth achieve stability and independence.

Orangewood Foundation serves all transitional aged youth, ages 18-24, from the communities of Orange County, CA.