Britney Rodriguez is an advocate. She'll do whatever it takes to get her needs met, even if that means putting her own goals on hold.

Rodriguez, a graduate student studying social work at USC in hopes of one day working with unaccompanied minors, took a leave of absence in February 2020 — one month before the pandemic shutdown.

"My program caused a lot of my childhood trauma to resurface, so I had to take a step back and take that time to go to therapy," she said.

Many of her class assignments at USC focused on self-reflection and personal development, aiming to prevent future social workers from projecting their biases onto their clients.

Rodriguez has spent time in the foster care system and says that getting a higher education without the monetary support of a parent or guardian has been a struggle. Some days, she recalls not having anything to eat besides oranges. For her birthday, instead of asking for gifts, the only thing on her wish list was school supplies.

While providing emotional support to high school students, Rodriguez found it more challenging than others to separate her clients' traumas from her own.

"Whatever they felt, I felt," she said. "If they had a really bad relationship with their mother and they talk about it in therapy, I would go home and cry because it would bring out all of my mother wounds."

Britney Rodriguez plans to work with unaccompanied minors after graduating from USC. (Photo Courtesy of Britney Rodriguez)

Rodriguez said she underwent intensive therapy for nearly two years before returning to USC last spring.

But this time, she wanted to prepare herself by building a support system. She turned to the Trojan Guardian Scholars, a program dedicated to supporting USC students who have experienced foster care, kinship care (the care of children by relatives or close family friends) or have been adopted.

The program is open to undergraduate and graduate students and is one of many Guardian Scholars chapters throughout the country. Other chapters in the city of Los Angeles include UCLA, Loyola Marymount University and California State University, Los Angeles.

L.A. County has more than 33,000 children in foster care — nearly half of the total in California’s foster care system. Research shows that placement in the system is a risk factor for other experiences like homelessness and incarceration. The risk of experiencing homelessness among those exiting foster care ranges from 11-36%, according to the Homelessness Policy Research Institute at USC.

Dr. Royel Johnson, an associate professor of higher education at the USC Rossier School of Education, researches the intersection of education and foster care. He said that young people in foster care often get thrown into adulthood without the support to help them navigate life transitions, such as starting college.

“Students who may be in the Guardian Scholars program, like those here at USC, sometimes don’t have the safety net of personal support and coverage in the way that lots of students do,” he said. “The Guardian Scholars program is designed to be a buffer to help mitigate the negative impact that they may have and be a support system for them.”

TGS finds a new place to call home

To focus more on fostering a sense of belonging among the students, USC’s 10-year Guardian Scholars program recently transitioned from the Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences to the Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work.

Leading the charge on the shift was Dr. Wendy Smith, retired clinical professor and associate dean of curriculum planning and assessment at the USC School of Social Work, who founded TGS in 2013. The School of Social Work, which champions social justice to help individuals, families and communities cope with problems, has been involved in TGS since its inception. As the program’s primary sponsor, it can leverage its resources to boost the program to new heights.

“Social workers understand the kind of challenges that youth in foster care experience,” Sara Jimenez McSweyn, the program coordinator of TGS and a senior lecturer at the School of Social Work, said. “Because of our discipline, training and the work that we do in the larger community, it felt like a natural fit for the Guardian Scholars program to come to us.”

In May of 2022, McSweyn stepped into her newly-created position. After completing her first year with the program, McSweyn said her highlight was seeing the TGS community come together.

“I’m really happy about that sense of community that we’ve built,” she said. “I appreciated how the TGS students took care of each other. That’s a real priority for me — for them to connect with each other and to embrace each other.”

As of May of 2023, there are 27 students in the program.

Rodriguez joined TGS after having a positive experience with the Guardian Scholars program at her alma mater, Cal State Fullerton. Expecting to graduate from USC in May, she says the TGS program has helped her feel a part of the Trojan Family.

"When I first got into USC, I just didn't know anybody. I didn't have many friends. It wasn't until this past semester — my first semester in the program — where I started getting along more with classmates," Rodriguez said. "The Guardian Scholars program has also made me feel like I belong somewhere now. I have somewhere where I can go and build a community."

Beyond a sense of belonging, the program provides its members with additional resources so they can concentrate on finishing their degrees.

Less than 5% of former foster youth graduate from a four-year college, according to the National Foster Youth Institute. McSweyn said the graduation rate of former foster youth students at USC is roughly 39% lower than the overall university rate of 91%.

“That’s a troubling statistic,” she said. “Our students should be able to graduate in four years if they’re doing the work that they want to be able to do and be able to move into the world of work and just have that sense of personal agency.”

Taylor Bazile joined the program in 2019. She was taking a summer class at USC when she found out she needed to pay off her student balance before enrolling in courses for her final semester. In addition to working and interning, she contacted TGS to obtain financial support available to current and former foster youth.

Taylor Bazile joined the TGS program when she transferred to USC in 2019. (Photo Courtesy of Taylor Bazile)

“They helped me understand what my options were,” said Bazile, who graduated from USC in December with a bachelor’s degree in communication. “If it weren’t for them, I don’t know if I would have enrolled in my classes on time. I don’t know if I’d be graduating in this time frame.”

McSweyn advocates for TGS members at the university level, addressing issues with academic support, accessibility services and financial aid. She also connects students to the Trauma Recovery Center at USC, which offers free counseling services.

When students have questions or concerns, McSweyn is available every day of the week at the TGS Center, located in the Montgomery Ross Fisher Building. She is accompanied by an intern who works 16 hours a week.

“They can drop in at any time,” she said. “Sometimes questions are related to food insecurity. Sometimes they need a gift card from Trader Joe’s because their food stamps have been cut off. Sometimes they’re having issues with books.”

The center has tables for studying, a desktop computer, a small library and a refrigerator stocked with food and drinks. TGS also hosts monthly community events like financial literacy workshops and holiday dinners.

“I’ve gone to our Christmas gathering. That was a lot of fun,” Bazile said. “We did a white elephant gift exchange, which was hilarious. For Halloween, they had us come into this space, and we decorated the space together.”

How involved students are with the program is up to them. McSweyn says some TGS students are at the center every other day, while others attend social events and request items like scantrons, blue books, batteries and laundry soap when needed.

In Bazile’s view, moving the program to the School of Social Work was a step in the right direction.

"I think they have a more direct understanding of how systems work and the changes that they think need to be made," she said. "Time will continue to tell, but thus far, I think it's been a positive transition."

Rodriguez agrees with Bazile, adding that McSweyn’s expertise has been beneficial.

"I think having the Trojan Guardian Scholars located at the social work building is a really good place compared to where it was before," Rodriguez said. "If we're having a crisis, Professor McSweyn is a professional who can help us in the moment."

Below is a map to the Montgomery Ross Fisher Building, where the TGS Center is located.

‘Miles to go’

But the successes of the program don’t translate to the entire campus community.

When Rodriguez told USC's financial aid office that she needed more money to get through the semester, Rodriguez said the adviser laughed in her face.

"How am I expected to survive a whole semester with $700 that I get back after my tuition is paid from my loans," she said. "[The adviser] was like, 'You're already getting the max amount of money. How can you want more?'"

Brandon Castro studies film and television production at USC. (Photo Courtesy of Brandon Castro)

Brandon Castro, a graduate student studying film and television production at USC's School of Cinematic Arts and a member of the TGS program, said he often experiences a financial disconnect from his peers at USC.

He recalled when he had to budget $1,500 for a film project. He said he applied for scholarships to pay for it, while some students received money from their parents.

“I had to spend so much extra time,” Castro said. “People are like, ‘Well, maybe he’s just lazy.’ I’m like, ‘You have no idea how little sleep I get and how much I have to constantly do.’”

Castro thinks this feeling of being misunderstood is common among students impacted by foster care.

Johnson said USC students, faculty and the administration need to work toward creating a culture in which people feel safe enough to share their identity.

“There are lots of negative stereotypes that people hold about why people get placed in foster care, and it’s not always in alignment with reality,” he said. “That gets in the way of being able to disclose that you were in foster care and for what reason.”

He added that institutions must ensure foster youth feel seen and have access to equitable opportunities.

“Part of that means making sure that there is awareness on campus about this particular population, their unique experiences and what it means to support them,” Johnson said.

Castro, Rodriguez and Bazile said they are not aware of any other organizations at USC that directly support current and former foster youth.

McSweyn says she has received immense support from the School of Social Work but wants the university to take more action.

“We have miles to go,” she said. “I would love to see a university-wide commitment to letting former foster youth and those who have experienced kinship care and those who’ve been adopted know that this is a good place for them if they want to pursue their education.”

In the fall, McSweyn will continue trying to raise the number of TGS students at USC. She plans to provide incoming freshmen with packets of resources and help them buy textbooks, hold more community events and coordinate with other services on campus.

“I would love all of our Guardian Scholars to be able to feel as if USC is as much of a home to them as it should be,” she said.

For Castro, the TGS leaders and students have been a big part of his life.

"I wouldn't have probably even gotten past the first semester without them," Castro said. "And there are other students that when I see them, I'm like, 'Oh hey, you're part of the Guardian Scholars program.' It's cool because you don't have to explain yourself, and that's the biggest thing. When you had trauma early in your life, and it shapes the way you look at the world, it's something you can't really part ways with."

To join or learn more about the TGS program, contact Sara Jimenez McSweyn at mcsweyn@usc.edu.

TGS alum prepares foster youth for life ahead

Demontea Thompson’s great-uncle and guardian Lorenzo left him and his twin brother with a few words of advice: “Don’t get in no rush.”

Those words have stuck with Thompson, who graduated from USC in 2017 with a master’s degree in education and was also a member of TGS. He has used them to guide how he runs his nonprofit, Together We Inspire.

“What he was saying was direction is more important than speed because there’s a lot of people going nowhere fast,” Thompson, the co-founder and executive director, said. “One thing we emphasize at Twinspire is that each person is on their own journey.”

Twinspire is an organization dedicated to educating young adults to become self-sufficient scholars and change agents through financial literacy workshops, social justice training and culinary experiences.

“Twinspire is a community and an organization that was created for young people who are often invisible,” Thompson said, which includes foster youth and young people experiencing homelessness. “We created an organization that provides them with the tools and the resources that they need to succeed inside the school and outside the school.”

Thompson and his brother, Tray, have experienced foster care in Compton. They graduated from Cal State Northridge and launched Twinspire in 2019 after they began researching how many young people who come from foster care didn’t make it to college.

A big part of Thompson’s research looks at the factors and conditions that help youth who are in foster care to succeed. So far, he has found that seeing and being in a community with other successful youth has been a significant factor.

Thompson says his experience in the foster care system makes Twinspire different from other organizations geared toward supporting foster youth.

“This lived experience is an asset that we deem as being necessary to provide the proper skills and programs for young people,” he said.

Cooking is just one of these skills, but Thompson provides a professional kitchen for those coming to learn.

Every month, Twinspire hosts “My Brother’s Kitchen,” a culinary cooking experience for young people across L.A. The organization partners with catering company Heirloom L.A. — known for their lasagna cupcakes — and the Alliance for Children’s Rights every third Tuesday of the month in Cypress Park at 6 p.m.

“We bring young people together for a mentorship experience for them to be able to learn how to cook and yet also meet someone they can begin to get career advice and support from,” Thompson said.

Kevin Green attended My Brother's Kitchen on Feb. 21, 2023.

Kevin Green, a former member of the Alliance for Children’s Rights, attends these cooking events often. He says it’s more than just new recipes that keep him coming back — it’s also the connections he creates with people.

“Besides all the cooking, we talk as human beings. We talk about the future. We talk about the present,” Green said. “It’s more than just cooking. You learn something and get something out of it every time.”

Thompson looks forward to growing Twinspire and solidifying partnerships with organizations like Friends L.A. and United Friends of the Children to create more programs that equip young people with the skills and support they need to succeed.

“We don’t have a ‘Hunger Games’ mentality, where it’s either us or no one,” he said. “We love being in community with other organizations across L.A. County and California to get young people in touch with what they need.”

To get involved with or support Twinspire, visit their website here.