The first step in applying for financial aid is to complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form. The FAFSA can be completed on paper or online. You can get a paper copy of the FAFSA in your guidance counselor’s office or at any college admission or financial aid office. To apply online go to www.fafsa.ed.gov. If you need assistance filling out the application contact 1-800-4-FED-AID. Try to get your FAFSA in as soon as you can, so that you do not miss any deadlines.
When you are filling out the FAFSA form, be sure to answer YES to question 53. This question asks if your are or were a ward/dependent of the court. Answering yes makes you eligible for the maximum student aid available. You will need to provide a letter from the county child welfare agency that shows that you have been in care. Contact your caseworker or your lawyer for this information if you do not have it.
YES. There are scholarships that are for youth who are, or have been in substitute care. Below is a list of some scholarships you may be eligible for.
Casey Family Scholarship—offers up to $10,000 in scholarships to youth under age 25 who resided in foster care for at least 12 months and were not adopted. In 2006, the application was posted at www.orphan.org/casey_scholarship.html. The online portion of the application was due March 31 and the written and supporting materials were due by April 15.
Chafee Education and Training Grant (ETG)—provides up to $5,000 per academic year. You may be eligible if you:
To apply you must complete the FAFSA and the Pennsylvania Chafee Education and Training Grant Program Application. To obtain this application call 1-800-831-0797 or go online at www.pheaa.org or www.independentlivingpa.org.
Pennsylvania State Foster Parent Association Scholarship—offers scholarships to youth who are in substitute care in Pennsylvania and the children of foster families. The deadline for the application is usually in early March. You must submit an essay, three letters of reference, and your high school transcript. Check out www.psfpa.com for more information.
National Foster Parent Association Youth Scholarship—offers scholarships to foster youth for college, vocational training schools, correspondence courses and even GED prep programs. They award five scholarships of $1,000 each. Three are awarded to foster youth and two are awarded to birth or adoptive children residing in a foster home. To apply you must complete the application, obtain two letters of recommendation, and write an essay. See http://nfpainc.org/awards/youthScholarships.cfm?page=6 for more information.
The Taylor J. Ertel Foster Children Foundation Scholarship—awards scholarships of up to $2,000 a year to any youth who has resided in a foster home for any amount of time. Scholarship payments are made directly to your school’s business office. See www.tjefoundation.org for more information.
Many other scholarships are available to students based on their experiences in foster care as well as their gender, race, chosen course of study, or other distinguishing factors. Here are some more resources about scholarship opportunities:
www.collegeboard.com —matches applicants to appropriate scholarships.
www.independentlivingpa.org—lists scholarships available for youth in care.
www.need.org—offers scholarships to African Americans pursuing post-secondary education.
www.pittsburghfoundation.org—contains a database of 190 individual scholarships to students.
www.thesalliemaefund.org—provides several scholarships that youth in care may be eligible for.
www.uncf.org—provides scholarships to African American students who attend United Negro College Fund member colleges and non-member colleges. Search the database of UNCF and non-UNCF scholarships at the site.**
Last updated: Summer 2007
