Foster Youth Development

Transitioning to Adulthood: Prospective Students - The Journey

More than 500,000 children in America live in foster care. This foster youth population needs our attention in order to help provide guidance for these young people to develop and accomplish their life goals. Helping these young people attain their post secondary educational goals is our greatest wish.

Research suggests that without extended support most families provide young people in transition to adulthood, youth foster care face enormous challenges in building successfully lives. Helping these young people overcome a potentially troubled background remains a pressing concern.

We hope this Web site will be a help to the foster youth in our community. We gratefully acknowledge the wonderful professionals who take care of our foster youth within the system in the State of Florida and to the child advocates working each day to make our foster youth strong and successful. We also appreciate the Guidance Counselors and SAFE Coordinators in our community elementary, middle and high schools that work hard each day to make a difference in children’s lives.

Preparing for entering Post-Secondary School – After Care Services

For ages 18 and not yet 23 years of age, after care support services are available to assist young adults formally in foster care so they will continue to develop skills necessary for independent living.

The Road to Independence Scholarship Program for Florida residents helps former foster children (certain specifications) to receive educational and vocational training needed to achieve independent living. The amount of the award shall be based on the living and educational needs of the youth. The award amount is not to exceed the amount of earnings that a student would have been eligible to earn working a 40 hr week federal minimum wage job whether the young adult is completing a high school diploma/ equivalent or working on completing a postsecondary education.

The initial application for the Road to Independence Scholarship Program needs to occur during the six months preceding the foster youth’s 18th birthday and if certain criteria are met, another chance before the applicant reaches their 21st birthday. This program requires full time enrollment and academic progress made at the institution.

A young adult formally in foster care is eligible to apply for transitional support services depending on specific criteria. One is urged to access the specifics from your foster care providers.

Addendum:
Foster Youth: Tips for Completing the 2012-2013 FAFSA

Questions on the 2012-13 FAFSA that may cause difficulty for students in unique situations, such as wards of the court or foster youth, are listed below.
Question numbers refer to the paper FAFSA.
Sections refer to the FAFSA on the Web (FOTW) Worksheet.
Please note that some questions on the paper FAFSA do not appear on the FOTW Worksheet. Answering yes to any question in Step Three on the FAFSA and/or checking the
corresponding box in Section Two on the FOTW Worksheet means that you
will be treated as an independent student and will not need to provide
parental information on the FAFSA.

Question #44 Section 4 Free childcare	Q: I am a single mom with one child and will get free day care for my child (from a grandmother, aunt, or free day care center) while I go to college. Does the value of this free childcare have to be reported on the FAFSA? A: No, this service is not income and the information is not collected on the FAFSA. However, note that you need to let the financial aid administrator at your college know that you are receiving free dependent care; an allowance for dependent care may not be added to your cost of attendance.
Question #52 Section 2 “At any time since you turned age 13, were both of your parents deceased, were you in foster care or were you a dependent or ward of the court?”	Q: I am no longer under the court because my foster parents took legal guardianship of me a few years ago. However, my foster parents do not support me with their own financial resources. They still get a foster care check each month for me. How do I answer question #52? A: If you were in foster care at any time when you were 13 or older, answer “Yes” to Question #52. If you are in a legal guardianship, answer “Yes” to Question #54. Note: Neither legal guardians nor foster parents are considered parents when completing the FAFSA. This means you do not list their income and household size information on your FAFSA.
Question #52 Section 2 “At any time since you turned age 13, were both of your parents deceased, were you in foster care or were you a dependent or ward of the court?”	Q: I turned 18 and graduated, so my court case was closed. My college is saying I am no longer an independent student because I am no longer a ward of the court. Am I considered dependent or independent? A: You are considered independent if you were a ward of the court at any time, when you were age 13 or older. This means you should check “Yes” to Question #52, if you were a ward of the court when you were age 13 or older.
Question #53 Section 2 “As determined by a court in your state of legal residence, are you or were you an emancipated minor?”	Q: I was emancipated at age 15, but lived with my aunt and uncle during my last semester of high school. How should I complete the FAFSA? A: If you have a copy of a court order stating you are an emancipated minor, answer “Yes” to Question #53 and complete the FAFSA as an independent student. The court must be located in your state of legal residence. If the court order is no longer in effect and you have not reached the age of majority for your state of legal residence, answer “No” to Question #53. Complete the FAFSA as a dependent student if you answer “No” to the remaining questions on the paper FAFSA and none of the other boxes in Section Two of the FOTW Worksheet apply to you.
Question #54 Section 2 “As determined by a court in your state of legal residence, are you or were you in legal guardianship?”	Q: My grandparents are my court-appointed, legal guardians. They have provided support for me all my life. How do I complete the FAFSA? A: If you have a copy of a court order stating you are in a legal guardianship, answer “Yes” to Question #54 and complete the FAFSA as an independent student. The court must be located in your state of legal residence . If the court order is no longer in effect and you have not reached the age of majority for your state of legal residence, answer “No” to Question #54. Complete the FAFSA as a dependent student if you answer “No” to the remaining questions on the paper FAFSA and none of the other boxes in Section Two of the FOTW Worksheet apply to you.
Question #55 Section 2 “At any time on or after July 1, 2011, did your high school or school district homeless liaison determine that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless?”	Q: I became homeless during my senior year in high school. Am I considered an independent student? A: You are considered an independent student if you received a determination any time on or after July 1, 2011, that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless. The financial aid administrator at your college may require you to provide a copy of the determination or other documentation. If you are not sure you have a determination, but you believe you are an unaccompanied youth who is homeless or are an unaccompanied youth providing your own living expenses who is at risk of being homeless, contact your high school’s homeless liaison for assistance. Contact your college's financial aid office for assistance if your high school’s homeless liaison did not make a determination. Youth means that you are 21 years of age or less or are still enrolled in high school as of the day you sign the FAFSA. Unaccompanied means you are not living in the physical custody of a parent or guardian. Homeless means lacking fixed, regular, and adequate housing, including living in shelters, motels, cars, and temporarily with other people because you have nowhere else to go.
Question #56 Section 2 “At any time on or after July 1, 2011, did the director of an emergency shelter or transitional housing program funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development determine that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless?”	Q: I lived in an emergency shelter last year. How do I complete the FAFSA? A: Answer “Yes” to Question #56 if you received a determination any time on or after July 1, 2011, that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless. The financial aid administrator at your college may require you to provide a copy of the determination or other documentation. If you are not sure you have a determination, but you believe you are an unaccompanied youth who is homeless or are an unaccompanied youth providing your own living expenses who is at risk of being homeless, contact the director of the emergency shelter for assistance. Contact your college's financial aid office for assistance if the shelter director did not make a determination. Youth means that you are 21 years of age or less or are still enrolled in high school as of the day you sign the FAFSA. Unaccompanied means you are not living in the physical custody of a parent or guardian. Homeless means lacking fixed, regular, and adequate housing, including living in shelters, motels, cars, and temporarily with other people because you have nowhere else to go.
Question #57 Section 2 “At any time on or after July 1, 2011, did the director of a runaway or homeless youth basic center or transitional living program determine that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless or were elfsupporting and at risk of being homeless?”	Q: My mom died a few years ago and I have no contact with my dad. I am in a transitional housing program. Am I an independent student? A: Answer “Yes” to Question #57 if you received a determination any time on or after July 1, 2011, that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless or at risk of being homeless. The financial aid administrator at your college may require you to provide a copy of the determination or other documentation. If you are not sure you have a determination but you believe you are an unaccompanied youth who is homeless or are an unaccompanied youth providing your own living expenses who is at risk of being homeless, contact the director of the youth center or transitional housing program for assistance. Contact your college's financial aid office for assistance if the director of the youth center or transitional housing program did not make a determination. Youth means that you are 21 years of age or less or are still enrolled in high school as of the day you sign the FAFSA. Unaccompanied means you are not living in the physical custody of a parent or guardian. Homeless means lacking fixed, regular, and adequate housing, including living in shelters, motels, cars, and temporarily with other people because you have nowhere else to go.
Question #93 “How many people are in your household?”	Q: I live with my foster parents and their children. Are they my “family members?” A: No. If you are considered independent (for example, because you are in foster care), and you have no dependent children of your own, you are a family of one (yourself).
Question #103 Signatures	Q: I have filled out this form as an independent student because I am a ward of the court. Do I need my father’s or mother’s signature? I do not live with them, but I see them sometimes. A: No. Because of your status as a ward of the court, you are considered an independent student and a parental signature is not required.
Source: National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) Rev. 02/12