Foster Care Resources - Iowa Foster and Adoptive Parent Association

The financial aid office at the school your teen plans to attend is the best place to get information about federal, state, school and other sources of student financial aid.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the form used by virtually all two and four-year colleges, universities and career schools for the awarding of federal student aid and most state and college aid. To apply, visit: www.fafsa.ed.gov/

Iowa College Student Aid Commission

Iowa College Access Network

Find downloadable documents to help plan, apply pay for and succeed in college (i.e. college planning guide for juniors and seniors, list of current tuitions costs at Iowa colleges, and a financial aid guide). www.icansucceed.org

34 Ways to Reduce College Costs

The typical cost of attendance includes not just tuition, but room and board, fees for special programs or activities, books, personal items, and traveling to and from college. To read article, visit: https://studentaid2.ed.gov/getmoney/pay_for_college/cost_35.html

New Federal Law Expands Access to College Financial Aid for Former Foster Youth

Voice for Adoption (VFA) has developed a factsheet on the new college financial aid provisions for foster youth that will go into effect in 2009. The new provisions remove a financial disincentive to adopting teens from foster care by disregarding adoptive parents' income when calculating a youth's need for financial aid for youth adopted after their 13th birthday. The factsheet, which explains the details of the Fostering Adoption to Further Student Achievement Act (FAFSA) that was signed into law in September 2007. To learn more, visit:

www.voice-for-adoption.org/downloads/FAFSA%20factsheet.pdf

Federal Financial Aid and College: An Overview for Students with Disabilities

HEATH's annual revision of this popular resource guide is now available. The 2007 edition contains completely updated and revised information to help individuals with disabilities to seek and obtain financial assistance for postsecondary education. To read guide, visit:

www.heath.gwu.edu/files/active/0/creating_options_2007.pdf

Congressional Foster Youth Internship Program

The Congressional Foster Youth Internship (FYI) Program provides talented college students, who have spent their formative years in foster care, an opportunity to intern in Congressional offices for the summer. Supplemental to the interns’ work on Capitol Hill, CCAI enhances the experiences of the interns by organizing an orientation and training program, bimonthly educational sessions, and a mid-summer retreat. In addition, CCAI provides a stipend, covers all housing and travel expenses, and acts as an ongoing support network for the FYI program participants. The Dave Thomas Foundation, as the founding sponsor, and the Annie E. Casey Foundation provide funding to make this program possible. To learn more, visit:

www.ccainstitute.org/youth_internship.php

Orphan Foundation of America – InternAmerica Program

OFA’s InternAmerica Program brings the experience of a lifetime to foster teens. Students can challenge themselves in Wasington D.C. for a six-week internship tailored to their academic and career interests. Visit the following website in November/December for to apply online for the following summer internship program. The application deadline is typically at the beginning of January. For eligability guidelines and more info, visit: www.orphan.org/index.php?id=26

Foster Care Alumni of America - Internship/Employment/Volunteer Opportunities

The mission of Foster Care Alumni of America is to connect the alumni community and to transform policy and practice, ensuring opportunity for people in and from foster care. This website posts employment, volunteer and educational opportunities, including internships for foster care alumni. www.fostercarealumni.org/get_involved/member_opportunities.htm

College Scholarships

Information about scholarships may be available at your high school counselor's office or local library. You may also find scholarship opportunities through foundations, religious organizations, community organizations, and civic groups, as well as organizations related to your teen’s field of interest. Also check with your employer or union to see if they award scholarships or have tuition payment plans.

Iowa College Student Aid Commission - All Iowa Opportunity Foster Care Grant & Education & Training Voucher (ETV ) Program

Iowa College Aid is a state agency that advocates for Iowa students and administers scholarship, grant, loan and related programs to help students finance education expenses at colleges and universities of their choice. They also provide two funding opportunities for students who are in foster care, were in foster care, or were adopted from foster care after their 16th birthday may be eligible for the All Iowa Opportunity Foster Care Grant and/or Education and Training Voucher (ETV) Program. To qualify the student must have been an Iowa resident, have a high school diploma or GED, be between 18 & 23 years old. www.iowacollegeaid.gov/commissioncentral/fostercare.html

National Foster Parent Association

The NFPA offers scholarships 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. Scholarships are also available for birth and adopted youth in foster homes. Application deadline: March 31, Decision Date: May 31. www.nfpainc.org

The Orphan Foundation of America

Must have been in foster care for one consecutive year before age 18 or have been adopted out of foster care after their 16th birthday. Application Deadline: March 31, Decision Date: May 31. www.orphan.org

Casey Family Scholarships

This scholarship (up to $10,000) is offered to foster youth under the age of 25. It give foster youth the opportunity to attend the national college or university of their choice. www.casey.org

Morency Foster Youth Scholarship

The Morency Foster Youth Scholarship helps young adults in the foster care system continue their education and pursue their lifetime goals. Applicant must have been in the foster care system for 12 consecutive months prior to their 18th birthday, or 12 consecutive months prior to beginning their post-secondary education. Applicant must graduate from a high school located in one of the following counties: Cedar, Clinton, Des Moines, Jackson, Lee, Louisa, Scott, Muscatine, Johnson, Washington, or Van Buren. Applicant must be 21 years of age or younger. Applicant must be enrolled in, or have been accepted into an educational institution for the purpose of earning a degree, diploma, certificate of completion, etc. A minimum of one $1,000 scholarship will be awarded to an individual in Iowa. The Morency Foster Youth Scholarship application can be found on www.cfgrb.org.

Darko Rapotez Memorial College Scholarship Fund For Aged Out Foster Youth

(an initiative of Love Our Children USA)

The Darko Rapotez College Scholarship Fund is a program that has been established to assist exceptional youths who age out of the foster care system who wish to further their education. Scholarship recipients will receive financial assistance with college/tuition fees only. Scholarships are available to youths between the ages of 18 to 24 years of age. Youths from anywhere in the United States, who age out of the foster care system, who were not adopted, and who ordinarily would not be able to afford a college education are eligible and encouraged to submit applications. The scholarship will be available to undergraduate students who have a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Scholarship recipients will receive up to $5,000 to $10,000 per year or as much as the fund will allow. The application deadlines is typically during the month of March. www.loveourchildrenusa.org/scholarship.php

Horatio Alger Iowa Scholarship

The Horatio Alger Iowa Scholarship Program provides financial assistance to students in the State of Iowa who have exhibited integrity and perseverance in overcoming personal adversity and who aspire to pursue higher education at the University of Iowa. The University of Iowa has generously agreed to match the Horatio Alger Scholarship, making the $3,000 Horatio Alger Award worth $6,000. Applicants must pursue a bachelor's degree at the University of Iowa (proof of enrollment will be required, students may start their studies at a two-year institution & then transfer to a four-year institution). Application deadline for this scholarship is typically at the end of October. More info: www.horatioalger.org/scholarships/program_iowa.cfm

Learning Disabilities Association of Iowa Scholarships

The Learning Disabilities Association of Iowa will award three scholarships to high school seniors planning to obtain post-secondary education (college or vocational) for the 2009-2010 school year. Information will be posted on their website typically during the month of February. For more information, visit: www.lda-ia.org

National Center for Learning Disabilities Scholarship

The Anne Ford $10,000 Scholarship is given to a high school senior with an identified learning disability who is pursuing an undergraduate degree. To learn more about this scholarship and to find a list of other scholarships for student with learning disabilities, visit:

www.ncld.org/content/view/1441/456289/

Eychaner Foundation - Iowa's Matthew Shepard Scholarship

The Matthew Shepard Scholarship Program assists lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Iowa high school students with college financial aid. All scholarships are renewable annually for up to four years upon evidence of academic achievement, continued service to the LGBT community and an interview with the scholarship committee. For more info, visit: www.eychanerfoundation.org

The United Negro College Fund (UNCF)

The United Negro College Fund (UNCF) is the nation’s largest, oldest, and most successful minority higher education assistance organization. UNCF provides scholarships and internships for students at about 900 institutions. www.uncf.org/

Hispanic Scholarship Fund
The Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) is the nation's leading organization supporting Hispanic higher education. HSF provides the Latino community more college scholarships and educational outreach support than any other organization in the country. During the 2007-2008 academic year, HSF awarded almost 4,100 scholarships. http://www.hsf.net

American Indian College Fund

The AICF raises funds to support student scholarships and other developmental needs at the nation's tribal colleges and universities across the U.S. AICF administers several scholarship programs offered to American Indian students attending both tribal colleges and selected mainstream universities. www.collegefund.org/scholarships/main.html

Association on American Indian Affairs

The Association of American Indian Affairs offers several scholarship opportunities to Native Americans. Application information for the following school year, is available on their website in February/March. www.indian-affairs.org/scholarships/aaia_scholarships.htm

National Indian Education Association

This website listed many scholarships available to Native Americans. For more info, visit: www.niea.org/media/scholarships.php

Coca-Cola Scholarships
The Coca−Cola Scholars Foundation supports over 1,400 college students each year, with annual scholarships of $3.4 million through two nationally recognized programs on behalf of the Coca−Cola System. https://www.coca-colascholars.org/cokeWeb/index.jsp

Scholarship Finder

Browse student scholarships available on the FAFSA website. Search by key word(s), such as: music, law enforcement, biology, community service, etc.

https://studentaid2.ed.gov/getmoney/scholarship/v3browse.asp

Publications about Foster Care

Represent - The Voice for Youth in Foster Care National Magazine

Fostering Prospectives

Fact Sheets from the Child Welfare Information Gateway

Adoption Assistance for Children Adopted from Foster Care

Foster Parents Considering Adoption

Helping Your Foster Child Transition to Your Adopted Child

How Does the Child Welfare System Work?

Kinship Caregivers and the Child Welfare System