Get Educated
Want to be successful in your education? Looking for money to go
to college or a trade school? You’ve come to the right
place! Just follow the links below…
Paying for Higher Education
Scholarships
Many scholarship applications are due in the fall/winter of your
senior year. So begin applying as soon as you can, and, most
importantly, MEET THE DEADLINES! There are lots of scholarships
available, but here are a few just for current and former foster
youth:
- CASEY FAMILY SCHOLARS: Up to $10,000 to young people, under the
age of 25, who have spent at least 12 months in foster care and
were not subsequently adopted. Applications are available in January.
Visit www.orphan.org
- HILDEGARD LASH MERIT SCHOLARSHIP: $5,000
per academic year, available to students who are currently
in foster care or were in foster
care at the time of their high school graduation and/or 18th
birthday, who are entering their sophomore, junior or senior
year as a full-time
student at a four year college or university. http://www.orphan.org/programs/hildegard.html
- BENJAMIN EATON SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM: from
the National Foster Parent Association Scholarship: for foster
youth who wish to further their
education beyond high school, including college or university
studies, vocational and job training, and correspondence courses,
including
the GED. http://www.nfpainc.org/scholrsp.html
- BURTREZ MORROW EDUCATIONAL LOAN PROGRAM: Low-interest
loans for young women currently in foster care or in foster
care at the time
of their high school graduation. Recipients must also be enrolled
full-time at a four-year college or university and entering
their junior or senior year in college. http://www.orphan.org/programs/burtrez.html
Education & Training Vouchers (ETV)
The Federal Government has handed down more than $40 million for
Scholarships and Educational Training vouchers for foster youth!
Best of all, in most cases this money can help pay for a Trade
or Vocational school, and housing transportation, books, fees
and other costs related to education. It can even help you get
ready for your higher education by paying for testing fees (like
SAT or ACT), tutoring, GED costs, and more! Find out how to access
this money in your state at www.fyi3.com/education
Tuition Waivers
Many states offer free tuition or special scholarships to current
and former foster youth. Find out what your state offers at http://www.nrcys.ou.edu/TuitionWaivers/USMap.htm
Get Financial Aid
Apply for federal financial aid your senior year by filling out
the Free Application for Student Financial Aid (FAFSA for short).
The amount of financial aid you qualify for is mostly based on
how much your family makes, but here’s the good news: as
a foster youth, you can mark yourself down as a 1-person family
(only you). This means that they don’t count your parent’s
income, which means foster youth usually qualify for the maximum
amount of financial aid available. http://www.fafsa.ed.gov
Planning for Your Higher Education
Prepare in High School
Your grades, your GPA, your ACT scores, the classes you take and
the activities and organizations you are involved with all count
for talent-based scholarships. During your junior year of high
school, choose some schools you’re interested in and find
out how much they cost. Look at Private and state scholarships
available to those who grew up in foster care. Don’t forget
to explore what scholarships may be available to you based on
your religious or ethnic background. You can also check with
your social worker, your local foster parent association, and
any organizations you belong to about scholarships they offer
or know about. Keep track of deadlines!
Get Life Skills: Join the Independent Living Program
Want FREE help applying for college, finding financial aid, getting
scholarships, landing a job, learning skills for life after foster
care? How about some FREE MONEY for renting your first apartment?
Then the Independent Living Program (ILP) is for you! It's designed
to help youth prepare for life on their own after foster care.
To find an ILP near you, check out www.fyi3.com and search for
your state listings.
Be Involved in Your IEP
Whether it’s due to moving around a lot, missing days of
school, or chaos at home, many foster youth improve their chance
of success with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). With an
IEP, you can get help with homework, tutoring, changes in assignments,
and other assistance. Your IEP could carry over to College, giving
you access to the same kind of assistance you had in high school.
If you think this could help you, talk to a teacher or your school
counselor today. If you already have an IEP, ask about being involved
in your IEP meetings.
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