Chafee Grant

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Chafee Grant

The Chafee Grant (ETV) is federal and state funded with a current minimum Chafee Grant amount of $5,000 per academic year, not to exceed cost of attendance. The final award amount will be determined based on the college of attendance and enrollment status.
 
If you are or were in foster care and have financial need, you may qualify for up to $5,000 a year for career and technical training or college. You don’t have to pay this money back. You may also be able to use your grant to help pay for child care, transportation and rent while you’re in school. You can use your Chafee Grant at any eligible California college or university or career or technical school, as well as schools in other states.

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:

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:

* 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.

Student's completed applications are sorted by application date, and awards are offered based on the following priority selection criteria:
  • 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.

Upon selection for an award, students are sent payment notifications for each term. To receive this grant, students must demonstrate financial need, be enrolled at least half-time, and maintain satisfactory academic progress. Receipt of this grant may affect other financial aid awarded by the college financial aid office.
 
 

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.

 
Already have a Chafee Grant? Your Chafee Grant may be renewed through your 23rd birthday. To renew your grant, you’ll need to complete the FAFSA but you don’t need to submit another Chafee Grant application. If you have moved, changed your name or transferred to another school, please call the Commission toll free at 888-224-7268 or complete the Chafee Grant Update and Change Form and mail it to the Commission:
 
California Student Aid Commission
Specialized Programs Operations Branch
California Chafee Grant Program
P.O. Box 419029
Rancho Cordova, CA 95741-9029
Telephone 888-224-7268
 
The Chafee Grant is federally and state funded and is subject to the availability of funds each year.
 

Additional Chafee Grant materials:

 

Beyond Foster Care: Need for Services Beyond the Age of 21

This survey is for California former foster, Independent Living Program (ILP) eligible probation, and dual status youth ages 22 to 35. The purpose of the study is to explore the experiences and need for services of California former foster, ILP eligible probation, and dual status youth who are between the ages of 22 and 35. Participation in the study would last about 20 to 35 minutes. You may choose to withdraw your participation at any time. Your answers will be confidential. The information will be kept in a secure database with no identifying information for the duration of the study. 

The findings of this study will be used to provide suggestions for programs and services that will improve long-term outcomes for former foster, ILP eligible probation, and dual status youth. 

Visit this link in order to complete the survey! 

 

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