Tag: foster youth
Arizona Education & Training Voucher Program (AZ EVTA) provides scholarships for current and former foster youth for school-related expenses
Arizona ETV provides up to $5,000 per academic year to current and former foster youth for school-related expenses. Participating students work with a Student Advisor and receive campus-based coaching and financial assistance.
Children’s Action Alliance — Foster Youth Need Stimulus Payments – No Strings Attached
Yesterday, the Department of Child Safety finally re-launched an online portal to distribute COVID relief funds to older and former foster youth. The new portal, administered by Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation, allows young people ages 14 through 26 to apply for needs-based pandemic relief. $10.5M in federal funds for the relief were allocated to Arizona in early March, but DCS is having trouble getting the money out the door—and time is running out for young people ages 21 through 26 who will lose eligibility on September 30th.
The first iteration of the portal was cumbersome and the process was time-consuming. Although DCS agreed to correct the problems and re-launch a new version of the portal, nearly two months have gone by without any way for young people to apply for funds while a new portal and process were readied. Unfortunately, even though the process may be improved, DCS continues to rely on need-based criteria to distribute the funds. Despite federal guidance, urging from community stakeholders, and a spate of other states that have adopted the strategy, Arizona refuses to make stimulus checks available to all eligible young people who have aged out of foster care.
Children’s Action Alliance — Foster Youth Need Stimulus Payments Too
“It’s not controversial. Give young people the cash and trust them to make the decisions they need to make for their lives and their priorities. That’s my message,” said Aysha Schomburg, the Biden Administration’s top child welfare official during a town hall hosted by the national nonprofit Think of Us last week. Schomburg was responding to questions about the slow pace many states are taking to distribute $400 million in federal funds to foster youth. Those funds, allocated through the Consolidated Appropriations Act, are directed toward COVID relief for older and former foster youth, a population pushed even closer to the financial edge by the pandemic.
Transitional Independent Living Program
If you were in State or Tribal foster care at the age of 16 or older, and are now 18, 19 or 20, you may be eligible for the following FREE services: Entrance into the Transitional Independent Living Program (TILP), Free Health Care through Young Adults Transitional Insurance (YATI), Education Funding through the Pell Grant and Educational Training Voucher (ETV).
Transitional Independent Living Program
If you were in State or Tribal foster care at the age of 16 or older, and are now 18, 19 or 20, you may be eligible for the following FREE services: Entrance into the Transitional Independent Living Program (TILP), Free Health Care through Young Adults Transitional Insurance (YATI), Education Funding through the Pell Grant and Educational Training Voucher (ETV).
Transitional Independent Living Program
If you were in State or Tribal foster care at the age of 16 or older, and are now 18, 19 or 20, you may be eligible for the following FREE services: Entrance into the Transitional Independent Living Program (TILP), Free Health Care through Young Adults Transitional Insurance (YATI), Education Funding through the Pell Grant and Educational Training Voucher (ETV).
Young Adults Aging Out of Foster Care Should Get Health Coverage Through Medicaid
For young people who have experienced foster care, access to affordable health insurance is critical to their everyday success. While Federal Law has expanded health coverage to alumni who were in foster care at age 18, there are significant roadblocks to enrolling in and maintaining coverage.
Promoting Normalcy for Children and Youth in Foster Care
Juvenile Law Center has published a new guide, Promoting Normalcy for Children and Youth in Foster Care, to help state advocates, legislators, and agencies implement recently enacted federal legislation in a way that brings meaningful change and responds to foster youths’ needs. Many of us take for granted “normal” youthful experiences and our parents’ support while […]
Bill to Fight Child Trafficking, Strengthen Child Welfare Protections Becomes Law
President Obama signed into law H.R. 4980, the Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act, bipartisan legislation aimed at reducing child sex trafficking, increasing adoptions and improving child support collections. The bill was introduced in the House by Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI), Ranking Member Sander Levin (D-MI), Human Resources Subcommittee Chairman Dave […]
