Amy Lemley

Overview

Amy Lemley currently works for the John Burton Foundation for Children Without Homes and she founded The First Place Fund For Youth with her Echoing Green Fellowship from 1998 2002. The First Place Fund for Youth which is still operating in San Francisco CA. This Fund is an Oakland based nonprofit organization founded in 1998 to remedy the lack of services available to youth who are making the difficult transition from foster care to independent living.First Place targets its services to 16 to 23 year olds who are preparing to age out of foster care or who have recently aged out of care. Once discharged from care county funded foster care services are discontinued for the vast majority of these young adults. Moreover there are limited community based services available. Instead of receiving support and guidance during this critical transition emancipated foster youth are without housing a source of income adult encouragement or community support. Amy received the Peter E. Haas Public Service Award in 2001.