Parents are a child’s most tremendous boon from God. To value their significance in life, we should ask orphaned. But still, there are changes from kind hearts when such children are adopted or provided with shelter, food, clothes, love, and education. A child can be deprived of all these from a broke country. An adoptive parent may bring up a foster child. They can also get support from various organizations involved in charity activities. A foster parent is denied legal rights on the child, and they are not allowed to take decisions for them, but shared with the agency and by birth parents, if any. A foster child in California is somebody below the age of 21 and has been detached from their original home ill-treatment or disregard by a parent or guardian. A child from foster care often gets qualified automatically for free tuition in any university or community college in their home state. Several scholarships, grants, aids, and fellowships are also extended to support the foster youth by organizations. Like the majors and the criteria, the eligibility might vary according to the financial aid rules and regulations. The assistance they receive might also be different according to the agency but are considerably lifted to bring them to the forefront. Some of the scholarships for helping the foster youth are enlisted.

1. The Burton Book Fund

As the name indicates, the funding agency Burton Book Fund has been supporting more than 9,100 foster youth at present and in the past by making available above $2.25 million to procure textbooks ever since 2013. This is aimed at increasing access to higher education. They are mainly behind those students who have proved to be highly successful in college amongst the current and former foster youth by providing a counterbalance to the elevated cost of textbooks. JBAY associates with the bearing representatives in the campus in extending the students with the fund allotted by the agency for the academic year to get the necessary college course materials. 

Provided by: John Burton Advocates for Youth (JBAY)
Amount: $200
Eligibility: Varies
Deadline: May 23, 2022
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2. Financial Aid for Foster Youth

​​ The California State University (CSU) Foster Youth Tuition Waiver is offered to present and previous foster care youth enrolled in an undergraduate program at a California State University campus. Various types of financial assistance are put forth by the University to pay for college and include; CSU Tuition Waiver for Current & Former Foster Care Recipients. The students have to submit a free application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) annually. Students who don’t qualify for the Federal Student Aid might get help through the California Dream Act (CADA). Suppose the student can project herself as an ‘independent student’ based on the current or former foster youth status. In that case, they can be qualified for state, federal, and university financial aid. 

Provided by: California State University
Amount: Varies
Eligibility: Varies
Deadline: Varies
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3. California Chafee Grant for Foster Youth

The grant is intended at making available free money for the foster youth during their college or training for a career. The applicant has to be in a foster for a minimum of one day and should fall between 16 and 18. They should also exhibit the required financial need, be a dependent individual, and be trying for a career or currently is involved in technical training or college. The amount is non-repayable, and the amount can be used for child care, transportation and rent while still in school. The grant can be used at any appropriate California college or University or career or technical school, plus other states. The student needs to be a dependent or ward of the court and continue living in out-of-home foster care placement. All these apply to youth who have been in Kin-GAP, a non-related legal guardianship, or were adopted only if they comply with the above specifications. 

Provided by: California Student Aid Commission 
Amount: $5000
Eligibility: Varies
Deadline: The application opens on October
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4. Cerritos College Foundation

Present and previous foster youth attending Cerritos College are provided with holistic services to support their academic and career goals by the Leaders Involved in Creating Change (LINC). Through partnerships between the campus and community, the LINC tries to find facilitation access to resources and opportunities to augment the students’ development and accomplishment. The scholarships are pushed towards the African American/Black Students, Business majors, Child Development majors, Student Accessibility Services, Film & Television Production majors, Former or Current Foster Youth, First-year students, Health Occupation majors, Physical Therapist Assistant majors, Re-Entry Students, Speech majors, STEM majors, and Volunteerism/Community Service/Leadership. 

Provided by: The Cerritos College Foundation
Amount: Varies
Eligibility: Varies
Deadline: Varies
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5. Gordon Evans Scholarship

The annual scholarship funding program is mediated by the NFPA (The National Foster Parent Association) to the youth who have been fostered and have acquired the highest score in the youth scholarship. Based on the availability of funds, the scholarships will be made possible. The scholarship was established to honor a man named Gordon Evans, who had contributed much to the NFPA and to various children he fostered along with many more people whose lives had been affected by Gordon Evans. The applicants have to comply with specific requirements like; should have a parent or supportive adult who is a member of the NFPA, and the students have to be graduating high schools students or should be getting their GED. The application submission should be complete and is in online format. It has to attach a copy of the high school transcript with two letters of recommendation from the foster parents, social workers, residential center, principal or teacher or guidance counselor, or employer. The student should also fall under the age group between 17 and 21. An essay is also expected on ‘How my foster care experience has impacted my future educational goals. 

Provided by: The National Foster Parent Association (NFPA)
Amount: $500
Eligibility: Varies
Deadline: April 29, 2022
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6. Continuing Education Scholarship

The scholarship for a former foster youth is offered by the NFPA to help them continue with their college or technical school enrollment further the first year. The student needs to be at their college or technical school level. The application submission is online and should be attached with an essay of 300-500 words on ‘How my foster care experience has impacted my future educational goals. The student is currently or has been in foster care through a US child protection agency (Tribal). An updated and recent transcript from the college or technical school of current enrollment must also be submitted with proof of enrollment for the forthcoming year. 

Provided by: The National Foster Parent Association
Amount: $500
Eligibility: college or technical school-level
Deadline: April 29, 2022
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7. Horatio Alger State Scholarship 

The State Scholarships are provided to all those who prove eligible belonging to all the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The high school students are specifically supported who had faced and rose over the immense impediments in their young lives. Members of Horatio Alger fund the scholarships. They are often compared to similar Scholars who had shown through their lives how to overcome the hurdles and ultimately fit successfully into business or by becoming public leaders. The student needs to be enrolled full-time as a high school junior in the United States, show a strict obligation to follow, and finish a bachelor’s degree at an accredited non-profit public or private institution in the United States. They should be considered in need of financial assistance and play a lion’s part in co-curricular and community service activities. They also have to show truthfulness and firmness in defeat over the misfortunes. As a student, an average GPA of 2.0 has to be maintained. Above all, they have to be citizens of the United States. 

Provided by: The Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans
Amount: $10,000
Eligibility: high school junior/ undergraduate
Deadline: March 15, 2022
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8. Foster Care to Success Scholarship

Foster Care to Success broadens a whole set of scholarship programs, and based on the information provided by the student, the kind of program suitable for them will be determined. Generally, they are considered based on financial need and merit. The programs are extendable to 5 years if the student yields to the requirements set by the provider. The applicant should have been in the public or private foster care for the 12 consecutive months till their 18th birthday or should have been adopted placed into legal guardianship after their 16th birthday or have been in foster care or orphaned while living in the United States. They should also be accepted into or looking forward to getting accepted into an accredited, Pell-eligible college or another postsecondary school. 

Provided by: America’s college fund for foster youth
Amount: $2,500-$5,000
Eligibility: undergraduate
Deadline: January 1-March 31, every year
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9. Casey Family Services Alumni Scholarship

The foster youth and adults who had been in foster care through Casey Family Services in the states of Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont and have the pursuit of a college career or training program are eligible for The Casey Family Services Alumni Scholarship funded by the North American Council on Adoptable Children. The applicants to become eligible should be between 16 and 49 years of age at the time of application and be thinking of or at present attending a college or University in pursuit of a certificate, associate, bachelor‘s or master’s degree, or a professional degree including law or medicine (but not a Ph.D.) or technical or vocational school in pursuit of a certificate or certification.

Provided by: North American Council on Adoptable Children
Amount: $10,000
Eligibility: Varies
Deadline: The application is open year-round.
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10. Casey Family Programs Continuing Education and Job Training (CEJT) Scholarship

The students who are in their youth and have received foster care, guardianship, adoption, or Continuing Education and Job Training (CEJT) services from Casey Family Programs in the states of Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Washington or Wyoming, and then you can qualify for the eligibility of the scholarship by North American Council on Adoptable Children. The student should be presently attending a technical school, college, or UniversityUniversity in pursuit of a certificate, associate’s or bachelor’s degree; or completed bachelor’s degree and are starting or presently pursuing a postgraduate degree to ensure the eligibility requirements for the Casey Family Programs Continuing Education and Job Training (CEJT) Scholarship. The timeline for applying for the scholarship varies for fall and spring every year, depending on whether it is for undergraduates or graduates. 

Provided by: North American Council on Adoptable Children
Amount: Varies
Eligibility: Varies
Deadline: Varies
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