Post-Secondary Educational Opportunities for Foster and Former Foster Youth through added Chafee Legislation

The passage of the Foster Care Independence Act of 1999 offered important new help to young people transitioning from foster care. In addition, the Promoting Safe and Stable Families Amendments of 2001 added a sixth purpose to the Chafee program and in FY 2003, Congress appropriated $42 million for payments to states to implement the Education and Training Voucher (ETV) Program. These statutory changes to the Chafee program provide additional resources to make available vouchers for youth to receive post-secondary education and training.

Youth may receive up to the lesser of the total cost of attendance or $5,000, per year. A year is defined as a twelve (12) month period beginning with the month the youth is enrolled in a post-secondary education or training program.

The cost of attendance includes:

Tuition and fees,
Room and Board for Aftercare youth and youth between the ages of 21-23,
Rental or purchase of required equipment, materials or supplies (including a computer),
Allowance for books, supplies, transportation, etc.
Special study projects.

Eligibility Requirements for ETV Program:

Youth currently eligible for Chafee services.
Youth who were adopted from foster care after their 16th birthday.
Youth participating in a higher education program on their 21st birthday shall remain eligible until age 23, provided they are making satisfactory progress as defined by the Children’s Division.
Youth must have a high school diploma or equivalent.
Youth must demonstrate academic success or motivation in school (generally a “C” average or its equivalency or as otherwise agreed upon with the plan) or in training program;
Youth must be accepted to an accredited or pre-accredited public or non-profit college/university and vocational school or certified training program;
Appropriate scholarships, grants and other financial assistance must be explored and utilized, and;
There must be reasonable assurance the youth will graduate for the educational or training program.

Eligible youth may apply for post-secondary education/training assistance by completing the Chafee Education and Training Voucher application, CS-ILP-6 and returning it to their current or former Case Manager or ILP Specialist.

Chafee Education and Training Voucher Application