Joseph Mariscal

He/Him/His

Joseph Mariscal is a Mexican-American student attending Citrus College and majoring in political science, with aspirations to become a lawyer. He is also a peer partner at Eggleston Youth Center. Joseph has been dedicated to helping and guiding youth on their journeys of becoming young adults. He has also spent time working with DCFS as a youth worker.

He’s very ardent and devoted to helping youth but also making a positive influence in each youth’s life. Spending time growing up in our child welfare system and working with our youth placement population, he understands the most important thing is trying to understand our youth for who they are and who they wish to become in life. He understands the challenges and hardships foster youth go through. He puts his real life situations into perspective to help advocate and support foster youth.

Joseph has been very involved with the foster care system from his time at DCFS, to working at Eggleston Youth Center as a peer partner. He has tutored, guided, encouraged and challenged our youth to always strive for more. “A situation doesn’t define you, it’s about how you go about the situation that does.”

Growing up in East Los Angeles and throughout LA County in poverty and not having strong role models, Joseph never thought going to college was ever a possibility for him. He hopes to be a strong role model to whoever he comes across. He wants to start the idea and pave a path in our deprived youth to go to college, to show them it’s possible, and to set them up with meaningful life skills. His dream is to make a positive impact on as many people as he can and see more foster youth attend college.

#CARES4Power

Follow us on Instagram to learn more about our work, the CARES Ambassadors, and the policies we are building to advance change for all transition age youth.

💬 "I want somewhere that I can have my own space and feel safe and at peace, and not worry about anything." — CARES Ambassador 

In LA, young people dream of a better housing experience—a safe sanctuary where they can focus on their goals and mental health, without the constant worry of instability. The CARES Initiative calls for a housing system that truly supports the needs of transition-aged youth. 

🏠 Join us TODAY in building a community that cares for young adults. Learn more at Policy in Action: Building a Community that CARES for Young Adults. 

Register by clicking the link in our bio!

#Equity #YoungAdults #TAY #TransitionAgeYouth #CARES4Power #HousingSupport #MentalHealth #Wellbeing #ChildWelfare #AgingOut
In New York City, housing costs are a major barrier for young people who are just starting out, especially those who live paycheck to paycheck and have little to no savings. With the median rent for those under 25 eating up almost 40% of income—and high upfront costs like first and last month’s rent and security deposits—affordable housing is out of reach for many. 🏘️ 

CARES Ambassadors in NYC are calling for better housing supports that are safe, stable, healthy, and affordable, and free from the bureaucracy that many young people, especially those aging out of foster care, struggle to navigate. 

Join us TODAY for Policy in Action: Building a Community that CARES for Young Adults to learn how we can create a better landscape of housing supports for young people. 

Register by clicking the link in our bio!

#Equity #YoungAdults #TAY #TransitionAgeYouth #CARES4Power #HousingSupport #MentalHealth #Wellbeing #ChildWelfare #AgingOut
In Georgia, access to mental health care is a challenge: the state ranks 48th—second to last—for access to mental health care and nearly all of Georgia’s counties face a shortage of mental health professionals. 

⚠️ Barriers like out-of-pocket costs, waitlists, disruptions in care, and a shortage of providers leave young people without the care they need to succeed in school, work, and life. 

The CARES Initiative calls for access to high-quality, accessible, affordable, and affirming mental health services and supports that meet their needs. Join us TODAY for Policy in Action: Building a Community that CARES for Young Adults to learn more about their vision. 

Register by clicking the link in our bio!

#Equity #YoungAdults #TAY #TransitionAgeYouth #CARES4Power #HousingSupport #MentalHealth #Wellbeing #ChildWelfare #AgingOut
Young people who have the mental health supports they need can succeed in school, at work, and throughout life. Yet all too often, young people struggle with their mental health and are unable to find the resources they need. In 2020, 45% of children and youth in Georgia had difficulty accessing or could not access the services they needed. 

✨ CARES Ambassadors envision a future where mental health care is accessible, respectful, and responsive to their needs. They deserve a system that supports their well-being and helps them pursue their dreams. 

Join us TODAY for Policy in Action: Building a Community that CARES for Young Adults to learn more about how we can build a youth-centered mental health system. Register now by clicking the link in our bio!

#Equity #YoungAdults #TAY #TransitionAgeYouth #CARES4Power #HousingSupport #MentalHealth #Wellbeing #ChildWelfare #AgingOut
Cara Baldari, Vice President of Family Economics, Housing, and Homelessness at First Focus on Children, will be a featured speaker at Building a Community That CARES for Young Adults on October 30th. 

With over a decade of experience at First Focus, Cara has played a leading role in advocating for policies that combat child poverty and homelessness, including her work on the U.S. Child Poverty Action Group and securing federal funding for the National Academies study, A Roadmap to Reducing Child Poverty. Her expertise will bring valuable insights into the housing policy solutions needed to support young people transitioning out of foster care. 

🗓️ Event Date: October 30th 
🕐 Time: 1:00 - 2:30 PM ET / 10:00 - 11:30 AM PT 

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear Cara’s perspective on youth-centered housing policies and ending youth homelessness. 

Register by clicking the link in our bio!

#Equity #YoungAdults #TAY #TransitionAgeYouth #CARES4Power #HousingSupport #MentalHealth #Wellbeing #ChildWelfare #AgingOut
Elizabeth Villa, a Close-In Ambassador for the CARES Initiative from Los Angeles, will be a featured speaker at Building a Community That CARES for Young Adults on October 30th. A dedicated parent and advocate, Elizabeth has channeled her personal experiences as a former foster youth with a child into her work with advocacy groups supporting youth impacted by the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. 

Her goal is to continue her advocacy journey, pushing for legislative change and helping young people, especially those from lower-income and marginalized communities, access essential resources like housing, education, and mental health support. 

🗓️ Event Date: October 30th 
🕐 Time: 1:00 - 2:30 PM ET / 10:00 - 11:30 AM PT 

Hear Elizabeth’s powerful insights on youth-centered housing policies that aim to create better futures for young people transitioning out of foster care. 

Register by clicking the link in our bio!

#Equity #YoungAdults #TAY #TransitionAgeYouth #CARES4Power #HousingSupport #MentalHealth #Wellbeing #ChildWelfare #AgingOut
Did you know nearly two-thirds of unhoused young people in Los Angeles cite economic hardship as the reason they can't secure housing? High costs and underfunded assistance programs are creating barriers for young people trying to establish stability. 

The CARES Initiative is calling for a different and better housing experience, including expanding eligibility for housing vouchers and removing barriers that exclude young people from accessing quality housing to help them find homes in safe, opportunity-rich neighborhoods. 

Explore their policy recommendations at Policy in Action: Building a Community that CARES for Young Adults. 

Register by clicking the link in our bio!

#Equity #YoungAdults #TAY #TransitionAgeYouth #CARES4Power #HousingSupport #MentalHealth #Wellbeing #ChildWelfare #AgingOut
Kayonda Branch, a Close-In Ambassador for the CARES Initiative, will be a featured speaker at Building a Community That CARES for Young Adults on October 30th. As an advocate counselor for Good Shepherd Services, Kayonda is dedicated to supporting youth in the foster care and juvenile justice systems. 

Her personal experience as a former foster youth drives her passion for improving housing solutions that better support young people transitioning into adulthood. 

Kayonda’s insights will contribute to a discussion on youth-centered housing policies in New York City and Los Angeles, highlighting the changes needed to ensure all young people have access to stable, safe housing in their communities. 

🗓️ Event Date: October 30th 
🕐 Time: 1:00 - 2:30 PM ET / 10:00 - 11:30 AM PT 

Don’t miss the opportunity to hear Kayonda’s perspective on housing policies that empower youth. 

Register by clicking the link in the bio!

 #Equity #YoungAdults #TAY #TransitionAgeYouth #CARES4Power #HousingSupport #MentalHealth #Wellbeing #ChildWelfare #AgingOut