Foster kids can receive grants for college and enrichment.
Foster kids often do not have access to the same resources as other children. It can be difficult for them to participate in extracurricular activities, pursue a college education and become established with housing and a job after turning 18. Many states and organizations offer grants to help assist foster kids by providing grants to fill these voids.
State Education Grants
Paying for college can be especially difficult for a foster child who often has no adult financial support or help in obtaining loans. Multiple states have created grants geared toward providing tuition assistance to ensure that foster children can earn college degrees or gain technical training. For example, the Foster Child Grant Program in Massachusetts provides grants worth $6,000 a year for tuition at a Massachusetts college or university. Tennesse offers a similar program with the HOPE Foster Child Tuition Grant, which covers full tuition at a Tennessee college or university. Foster kids and foster parents should check their personal state of residency to see whether it offers a similar program.
Other Education Grants
Other organizations recognize the need for funds to help foster kids attend college or receive technical training. The Orphan Foundation of America (orphan.org) offers scholarships and grants to help educate former foster kids. Donors can sponsor individual students through the Sponsored Scholarship Program or foster kids can apply for a grant through the Education and Training Voucher Program. Recipients of all scholarships and grants have the option of participating in mentoring programs and receive care packages from the organization.
Enrichment Grants
Often, foster kids do not have the opportunity to participate in enrichment and extracurricular activities due to a lack of resources. Many programs offer grants that allow foster kids to take field trips, participate in sports and engage in enrichment activities. For foster kids in Minnesota, the Foster Kids Grant car donation program pays enrollment and equipment fees for school and community sports and covers the cost of field trips. Another organization, Friends of Children (friendsofchildren.com) awards grants up to $500 for foster kids in Minnesota to purchase a new bike, attend their senior prom or go to summer camp.
Housing Grants
Because they have often been shifted from home to home, many foster kids have no idea about establish their own homes and lack the resources to find and pay for quality housing when they leave foster care. The Freddie Mac Foundation (freddiemacfoundation.org) offers grants of $50,000 to individuals and organizations who make it their mission to provide housing for former foster kids.
Tags: foster kids, college university, Education Grants, extracurricular activities, field trips