Orangewood Foundation   

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.