To qualify, you must:
- Be a current or former foster youth. Foster youth dependency of the court must have been established between the ages of 16 and 18. KinGap youth who are or were eligible to receive Independent Living Program services, guardian placements and voluntary placements may not be eligible for the California Chafee Grant unless court dependency was established between the ages of 16 and 18.
- Not have reached your 22nd birthday as of July 1st of the award year.
The California Department of Social Services will verify your foster youth eligibility status.
How Do I Apply?
To be considered for a California Chafee Grant, you must complete the following:
- Submit the California Chafee Grant Application online; and
- Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online; or
- If you do not have a Social Security Number (SSN), submit the California Dream Act Application (CADA) online. (Dream Act Id required to submit a Chafee Grant Application)
- Have your school complete and submit the Chafee Need Analysis Report (NAR)*
Electronic submission of all required documents is preferred, but if you are unable to do so, you may print and submit the paper versions below:
- FAFSA (pdf) 2015
- California Dream Act Application (pdf) 2015
- California Chafee Grant Application (pdf)
* In addition, you must have financial need. Your school must report your financial need by submitting a Needs Analysis Report. You must also enroll at least half time in an eligible school, your program of study must be at least one academic year long, and you must attend class regularly and get good grades.
The majority of the Chafee Grant (ETV) awards are initiated during the fall term and additional awards are offered year round based on available funding.
- 1.) **Paid renewal students who have not reached their 23rd birthday as of July 1st of the award year.
- 2.) New and ***non-paid renewal students who will be 22 years old as of July 1st of the award year.
- 3.) New and non-paid renewal students who have dependents.
- 4.) New and non-paid renewal students who have an unmet need of $5,000 or more.
- 5.) New and non-paid renewal students who have an unmet need of less than $5,000.
** Students who have received a Chafee payment.
*** Students who have not received a Chafee payment.
To learn more, read the Chafee Grant Fact Sheet or contact your high school counselor, college’s financial aid office, county or college Independent Living Coordinator, One-Stop Career Center, social worker or probation officer. If you’ve applied for a Chafee Grant, go to WebGrants for Students to check on the status of your application.