Foster Youth

Foster Youth/Former Foster Youth receive Level 1 priority registration (through the age of 25), allowing you to be included in the first group of students to register for classes each semester.  To receive priority registration as Foster Youth, please be sure you have completed the process to verify your FY/FFY status.  Follow this link for more information on priority registration at Southwestern College.  

Back to top

The Chafee Grant Program, also known as the Educational and Training Voucher (ETV), is a federally and state funded program and is subject to the availability of funds each year.  You may qualify for up to $5,000 a year for career and technical training or college courses. 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.

Chafee Grant Eligibility Requirements
To qualify, you must meet the following criteria:
 - Be a current or former foster youth who was a dependent or ward of the court, living in foster care, between the ages of 16 and 18.
 - If you are/were in Kin-GAP, a non-related legal guardianship or were adopted, are eligible only if you were a dependent or ward of the court, living in foster care, between the ages of 16 and 18.
 - Have not reached your 26th birthday as of July 1st of the award year
 - Have not participated in program for more than 5 years (whether or not consecutive)
 - Be enrolled at least half time (6+ units)
 - Enroll in a program at least one academic year long
 - Demonstrate financial need
 - Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress

Application Process
To apply for a California Chafee Grant, you must complete the following:
 - Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA); or the California Dream Act Application, if you do not have a Social Security Number (SSN)
 - Submit the California Chafee Grant Application 

What happens after you apply?
 - The Commission will review your FAFSA or CADAA and Chafee Grant Application.
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) may verify your foster status.  If CDSS is not able to verify your status, please complete the Foster Care Eligibility Certification Form and mail it.
 - Once all of the above is completed, the Commission will send you an email message if you are selected for an award.
 - The SWC Financial Aid Office will verify payment eligibility and will request payment. If you are awarded a Chafee Grant, it may take 4-6 weeks for the school to receive the check from the state and you will be contacted when it is ready for pickup. 
 - You can check the status of your Chafee Grant application  by logging into your account on WebGrants 

Awarding Process
Once your application is received by the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) it is sorted by application date, and awards are offered based on the following priority selection criteria below:
**Paid renewal students who have not reached their 26th birthday as of July 1st of the award year.
New and ***non-paid renewal students who will be 25 years old as of July 1st of the award year.
New and non-paid renewal students who have dependents.
New and non-paid renewal students who have an unmet need of $5,000 or more.
New and non-paid renewal students who hae 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.
The majority of Chafee Grant awards are initiated during the fall term and additional awards are offered year round based on available federal and state funding each year.

Renewing Your Chafee Grant
If you receive a Chafee Grant, it may be renewed through your 26th birthday as of July 1st of the award year.  
You don't need to reapply for a Chafee Grant each year, however you must submit a FAFSA or CADAA every year.

Back to top

The Guardian Scholars Program (GSP) serves to motivate and help current and former foster youth at Southwestern College. We collaborate with many student support programs and community resources on and off campus. Our goal is  to assist you with academic, career, and personal support; motivate you to pursue your education and career goals despite the challenges, and provide support  for the  completion of  certificates, degrees, or transfer to a four-year college. 

To participate in the Guardian Scholars Program (GSP) you must be enrolled at Southwestern College and complete a GSP application, available through our EOPS department. Once eligibility is determined, staff will contact you for an overview of the GSP requirements.

Please make a counseling appointment with our GSP Counselor Michelle Montano, to verify your Foster Youth or Former Foster Youth Status (619) 482-6456.  A Ward of the Court Verification Letter will need to be provided to determine your eligibility. You may obtain a letter through the following:
San Diego County Health and Human Services – Child Welfare Services (858) 616-5811
Outside San Diego County – Foster Care Ombudsman 1 (877) 846-1602
Additionally, the California Department of Social Services can also verify your participation in the foster care system for the purpose of financial aid eligibility and for priority registration.

GSP students can receive the following: personalized academic counseling, enrollment priority, grants, referrals to housing, referrals to community services

Back to top

The California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) has recognized that there is a significant deficit regarding youth from foster care attending higher education. Acknowledging this need, they are sponsoring a concerted effort called the Foster Youth Success Initiative (FYSI) to bring issues affecting these youth to the forefront and to improve the ability of these youth to access postsecondary education and benefit from the support services that are available but are often unknown to them.

Through the vision of the CCCCO, to create a statewide outreach and retention effort to better serve current and former youth from care, the FYSI was established. FYSI was built through CCCCO leadership and a strong foundation of individuals representing a myriad of agencies and postsecondary educational institutions that have formed a true collaborative effort that has evolved to become a statewide FYSI taskforce.

The goals of this initiative are to improve:

 - Access to student services and resources
 - Access to academic support
 - Retention
 - Academic performance
 - Completion of units
 - Completion of programs and degree
 - Transfer rates to 4-year colleges and universities 

Back to top

Extended Opportunities Programs & Services (EOPS) - Extended Opportunity Programs and Services is a state-funded, special assistance program for students who are socially, economically, and academically or language disadvantaged. EOPS assists students with counseling, money for books, emergency loans, priority registration, unlimited tutoring, and specialized support workshops.

California Foster Youth Education Resource Hub - The California Foster Youth Education Resource Hub provides information and resources pertaining to foster youth and the interplay of education and child welfare systems. This Hub is intended to serve current and former foster youth, state and local child welfare agencies, state and local education agencies, as well as other partners who work with foster and probation youth in assisting them with their education related needs. 

Foster Care Transition Toolkit - A valuable toolkit provided by the U.S. Department of Education. 

Foster Care Support Services Bureau - Resources for Foster Youth provided by the State of California.

Foster Youth Education Rights - Developed by the California Foster Youth Education Task Force, this resource summarizes the California Education Code sections pertaining to Foster Youth.

John Burton Advocates for Youth - John Burton Advocates for Youth is a statewide non-profit organization based in San Francisco, working to improve the quality of life for California’s foster, former foster, and homeless youth. It was founded in 2005 by progressive champion John Burton, a former member of Congress, the California State Assembly and President Pro Tem of the California State Senate. John Burton Advocates for Youth works in three areas: education, housing and health.

Back to top