Financial Aid
Filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is complex and can be confusing, especially when a student doesn't live with their parents. The following documents offer detailed intructions to help foster youth and other independent students complete the FAFSA.

Students who do not live with their parents or receive support from them, and who are not in foster care will need to contact their college financial aid office in order to file a dependency override.

Directions for the FAFSA if you are in state licensed foster care or were,
until the age of eighteen

Scholarships For Washington State Foster Youth

FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID (FAFSA): As a foster or former foster youth (orphan/ward of the court), you are eligible to receive up to $4050 per year in Federal Pell Grant aid and between $1500 - $4000 per year in Washington State Need Grant aid to attend an eligible Washington college. In addition, you may qualify for institutional scholarships and grants. For more information and to apply visit: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/. Deadline: Apply as soon as possible after January 1st during the year prior to enrolling in college.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING VOUCHER (ETV): This program can provide up to $5000 per year for higher education expenses for youth who age-out of foster care and are between the ages of 18 - 21. To find out if you are eligible for this scholarship, contact your regional Independent Living Program:

Region 1:
Adams, Chelan, Douglas, Ferry, Grant, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens, and Whitman counties
Heather Hamasaki - (509) 363-3537 or hamh300@dshs.wa.gov
Region 2:
Asotin, Benton, Columbia, Franklin, Garfield, Kittitas, Klickitat, Walla Walla, and Yakima counties
Sandy Bradley - (509) 454-6920 or bsan300@dshs.wa.gov
Region 3:
Island, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish, and Whatcom counties
Rick Butt - (360) 902 8243 or rlbu300@dshs.wa.gov
Region 4:
King County
Sean Walsh - (206) 749-7587 or swalsh@ts.seattleymca.org
Region 5:
Kitsap and Pierce counties
Melissa Lalone - (253) 983-6488 or lalm300@dshs.wa.gov
Region 6:
Clallam, Clark, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Skamania, Thurston, and Wahkiakum counties
Kim Gabbard - (360) 725-6817 or gaki300@dshs.wa.gov

TREEHOUSE COACHING-TO-COLLEGE PROGRAM: This program is for residents of King County who were in out-of-home care (in King County) at any time since the age of 16 and are currently under the age of 25. It provides assistance with career and educational planning through an Educational Coach and up to $4000 per year in scholarship assistance. For more information or to enroll, call: 206-767-7000 or visit http://www.treehouseforkids.org/programs/coaching_to_college/.

ORPHAN FOUNDATION OF AMERICA (OFA)/CASEY FAMILY SCHOLARS: The Casey Family Scholars Program, which is administered by OFA, provides scholarships of up to $10,000 per year to former foster youth under the age of 25, who spent at least the 12 months prior to their 18th birthday in foster care and were not subsequently adopted. The scholarships are awarded for post-secondary education, including vocational/technical training, and are renewable each year based on satisfactory progress and financial need. For more information or to apply visit http://www.orphan.org/casey_scholarship.html.

(OFA) HILDEGARD LASH MERIT SCHOLARSHIP: Provides up to $5000 to sophomores, juniors, or seniors attending four-year colleges. To apply, complete the OFA/Casey Family Scholars application and write a letter that states interest in being considered for a Hildegard Lash Merit Scholarship. For more information or to apply call: 1-800-950-4673 or visit http://www.orphan.org/casey_scholarship.html.

NATIONAL FOSTER PARENT ASSOCIATION SCHOLARSHIP: Offers scholarships for foster youth who wish to further their education beyond high school, including college studies, vocational and job training, and correspondence courses, including the GED. For more information or to apply call: 1-800-557-5238 or visit http://www.nfpainc.org/index.cfm.
Deadline: March 31, 2006 for the 2006-2007 academic year

OTHER SCHOLARSHIPS: Visit fastweb.net for free scholarship searches.

Independent Living for Foster Youth

The Washington State Independent Living Program has services and financial assistance available to youth that are exiting from the Washington State foster care system. In most areas of Washington State, there are programs that offer staff support towards helping youth and young adults with employment readiness and placement, assistance in education planning and support services and assistance with housing resources. The Independent Living Program is divided into three subsets: the Independent Living Program, Transitional Living Program, and Education and Training Voucher Program. If a program is not available in your area, you can still apply for financial assistance to help you make the transition out of foster care.

Independent Living Program (ILP):
ILP focuses on helping young adults age 13-18 develop independent living skills such as money management, employment readiness, and study skills.

Transitional Living Program (TLP):
TLP is geared towards serving young adults age 18-21 who have emancipated from foster care. TLP can also assist youth by providing resources for housing.

Education and Training Voucher Program (ETV):
This program can provide up to $5000 per year for post-secondary education expenses in addition to other independent living money, for youth who age out of foster care and are between the ages of 18 and 21. To find out if you are eligible for money through this program, contact the Independent Living Coordinator for your region/county.

Independent And Transitional Living Program Contact Information

To learn more about applying for Independent Living Services, contact the Independent Living (IL) Coordinator in the Division of Children and Family Services Region that you live in or lived in when you emancipated from foster care. Click on the following link to download contact information for all Chafee Independent and Transitional Living Programs in Washington State. This list is separated by region, and each region is composed of one or several counties. Look for your county and check out the contact information for your region!

Independent And Transitional Living Programs

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