Colony High School Counseling Corner  

Foster youth are also eligible for:

• Federal Pell Grants: Federal grants of money for low-income students that do not need to be paid back.

• Cal Grants A, B, C, T: State grants of money for low-income students that do not need to be paid back.

• EOPS and EOP: Financial aid programs at community colleges and public four year universities that provide grants and stipends that do not need to be paid back.

• Federal loans: Money that must be paid back after students graduate from college.

• Fee waivers: Community College programs that waive the cost of classes for low-income students.

• Scholarships: Grants of money from different sources that youth must find and apply for that don't need to be paid back.

Scholarships specifically for foster youth:The California Chafee Grant. This program gives money to current or former foster youth to use for career and technical training or college course. You don't have to pay this money back as long as you are in school and can use it for things like child care, transportation and rent. This program is also known as the Education and Training Voucher (ETV). Money for the Chafee Grants come from the federal government. Foster youth need to apply for Chafee ETV at the Financial Aid Office of a state or community college, even if they will be attending a technical training program. To find information on Chafee grants for all states, click on State Vouchers 

The Orphan Foundation of America Scholarships for Youth in Foster Care. The Orphan Foundation of America is committed to helping parentless teens make the difficult transition from foster care to independent adulthood. As part of its mission, the foundation awards scholarships ranging between $1,500 and $10,000 a year to students pursuing two- or four-year degrees, or a vocational training certificate. Applicants to the OFA/Casey Family Scholars program must have been in foster care or a ward of the court for at least one year (twelve months) on their 18th birthday; be under the age of 25 on April 1, 2004; and be enrolled in or have applied to college or a vocational training program. See the Orphan Foundation website for complete program guidelines and application procedures.

For more information about how foster youth can attend
community colleges and four year colleges,
call the Office of the Foster Care Ombudsman at
1-877-846-1602