The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion by Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich to expand upon existing opportunities for emancipated foster youth to engage in nursing studies and participate in a scholarship program initiated by Antonovich in 1991.

“Our emancipated foster youth deserve an opportunity to access resources that will help them achieve their academic goals and prosper in productive nursing careers serving the community,” said Antonovich.

Modeled after the United States Military Academy program, student nurses who benefited from the Antonovich Nursing Scholarship would serve a required number of years after graduation in a County facility. Currently, the scholarship program provides scholarships of up to $4,000 to individuals who are enrolled or accepted as undergraduate nursing students in accredited schools. In the last three years, 55 applicants applied for the scholarship. Of those applicants, over 30 received the scholarship, and 50% of these graduates went on to serve in local health department facilities as nurses.

The motion directs the Department of Health Services to collaborate with the Department of Children and Family Services and report back in one week on opportunities for transitional aged foster youth to engage in nursing studies and participate in the scholarship program.