Money for Foster Youth

FAFSA - The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form is an application for federal student aid. You need to complete the FAFSA form to apply for federal student aid such as federal grants, work-study funds, and loans. Completing and submitting the FAFSA form is free and easier than ever, and it gives you access to federal student aid—the largest source of aid— to help you pay for college or career/trade school.

For more information visit the FAFSA website.

CADAA - The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and California Dream Act Application (CADAA) are both applications for financial aid. Students eligible to complete the CADAA may:

• Be undocumented
• Have a valid or expired DACA status
• Be a U visa holder
• Have Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
• Meet the non-resident exemption requirements under AB 540

For more information visit the CADAA website.

DCCD - The DCCD Foundation offers scholarships for continuing and transferring students. Qualifications for scholarships vary from type of major, GPA, number of units completed, county of residence, transfer goal, personal circumstances, etc.

In order for students to be considered for a Foundation scholarship, they must complete the scholarship application and go through the eligibility and selection process. Scholarships are usually awarded to the student(s) who best fit the criteria as established by the donor and or organization providing the scholarship funds.

For more information visit the College of the Desert Scholarship website.

Chafee Grant - If you are or were in foster care for at least one day you may qualify for up to $5,000 a year for career and technical training or college for a maximum of five years. This money does not have to be paid back and it may be used grant to help pay for books, school supplies, child care, transportation and/or rent while you’re in school. The Chafee Grant can be used at any eligible California college, university or career/technical school, as well as schools in other states.

In order to qualify for the Chafee Grant students must:

• Be a current or former foster youth who was a ward of the court, living in foster care, between the ages of 16 and 18.
• Not have reached their 26th birthday as of July 1st of the award year.
• Be enrolled in an eligible vocational school or college courses at least half-time.
• Be making satisfactory academic progress.

Student must complete the FAFSA or CADAA application to qualify for the Chafee Grant.

For more information visit the Chafee website.

NextUp - NextUp provides community college students with resources that make a difference. The program offers eligible current and former foster youth support and services that could include help with books and supplies, transportation, tutoring, food and emergency housing.

To qualify for the NextUp program students must:

• Have been in foster care, in any state, for at least one day, on or after their 13th birthday.
• Be enrolled in or planning to enroll in at least nine units or agree to an education plan with the future goal of enrolling in nine units.
• Be no older than 26 years of age at the start of any academic year in which the student first enrolls in the program; students enrolled in the program prior to turning 26 are allowed to continue participating in the program after the age of 26.

Students enrolled in a NextUp program before age 26 and left school may return after turning 26 and be readmitted to the same NextUp program or be admitted to a NextUp program at another community college.

For more information, visit the NextUp website.

 

CalKIDS - The California Kids Investment and Development Savings Program (CalKIDS) was launched in 2022 by the State of California with a clear mission: make it easier for more children to save for their future education.

Administered by the ScholarShare Investment Board, CalKIDS takes the initiative by automatically offering newborns and eligible low-income public school children in California an initial seed deposit, along with other potential financial incentives. This ensures that they can start their college and career savings journey right from the beginning.

Students may be eligible for funding based on the following criteria:

• $500 Every eligible low-income  public school student  in grades 1-12 will have a CalKIDS account created in their name with an initial  deposit of $500. Plus
• $500 Eligible students identified  as foster youth will receive an additional one-time  $500 deposit.
• Plus $500 Eligible students identified  as homeless will receive  an additional one-time  $500 deposit. 

In order for students to check to see if they qualify, they need their Statewide Student Identifier (SSID). The SSID is a 10-digit ID. An SSID may be found on a student’s school portal, transcript, report card, or by reaching out to their 1st through 12th grade school directly.

For more information visit the CalKIDS website.