Graduation from high school can be a time of uncertainty, especially for youth and young adults in foster care, but it can also open a world of opportunities. There are some postsecondary options that might be helpful as youth and young adults in foster care plan for the transition from high school to college or career. Here are some of the options and resources available in Virginia.
The Education and Training Voucher (ETV) Program provides funding for education, training, and services needed for employment
Great Expectations program provides a bridge from high school to college by connecting foster youth with an adult coach who provides mentoring and wrap around support.
G3 Tuition Assistance is for students living in Virginia who qualify for state financial aid and is available for select programs in five of Virginia’s most in-demand industries that are offered at Virginia’s community colleges.
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Youth Programs and Services offers a comprehensive range of services and workforce development activities to individuals seeking employment, including new entrants to the workforce, and individuals with disabilities.
The Success Foundation of VA (Richmond area) provides mentoring to young adults who have experienced foster care to help identify job and career aspirations and find sustainable employment that provides a living and career wage.
VA fact sheet
This fact sheet prepared by Formed Families Forward, in partnership with the WAZE to Adulthood project with the Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center (PEATC) covers postsecondary educational options and resources for youth and young adults in foster care, kinship care, and adoptive homes, and who have disabilities in 5 states: Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennesse.
The sheets are designed for parents, caregivers, professionals and youth.
FL fact sheet
GA fact sheet
NC fact sheet
SC fact sheet
TN fact sheet
Broadcast live on March 6, 2024, this web panel of experts focused on post-secondary options for young adults with disabilities that impact behavioral health.
Three panelists from Breakthru Services, Virginia Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS), and the ENDependence Center of Northern Virginia shared information on skill building services, the basics of eligibility for DARS post-high school services, as well as targeted supports available for young adults with mental health and neurobehavioral needs and other conditions which present challenges to traditional post-secondary education, training and employment options.
Panel webinar recording
This federal program offers vouchers for Public Housing Agencies (PHAs). Eligibility includes youth at least 18 years and not more than 24 years of age (have not reached their 25th birthday) who left foster care, or will leave foster care within 90 days.
FYI information from HUD
Information on FYI program from National Center for Housing and Child Welfare
From FFF and the WAZE to Transition project at PEATC, this fact sheet is designed for youth in foster care. It overviews individualized education programs (IEPs) and foster care transition plans.
A Spanish version of the fact sheet is also available.
Transition Planning Foster Care Fact Sheet
Spanish Transition Planning Foster Care Fact Sheet en Espanol
A fact sheet developed by Formed Families Forward for the Parent Educational Adocacy and Training Center (PEATC)’s WAZE to Adulthood project. This fact sheet offers tips and best practices for implementing strong transition planning for youth and young adults with disabilities who are also in foster care. Virginia-specific policies and resources are provided.
Designed for parents, caregivers, professional partners and others.
Planning for Transition IEPs fact sheet
Got Transition® is the federally funded national resource center on health care transition (HCT). Its aim is to improve the transition from pediatric to adult health care through the use of evidence-driven strategies for clinicians and other health care professionals; public health programs; payers and plans; youth and young adults; and parents and caregivers.
Link to Special Populations webpage on Got Transition
This fact sheet from FFF and the WAZE to Adulthood project, led by the Parent Educational Advocacy and Training Center (PEATC) and supported by the US Rehabilitative Services Administration. It provides an overview of some common challenges to transition planning for this population and offers parents and caregivers suggestions and resources for supporting person-centered planning.
This sheet is designed for parents, caregivers, and professionals.
Fact Sheet
From Formed Families Forward, this tip sheet covers 10 tips for helping to keep children and youth safe online.
This Guide from Virginia Family Special Education Connection offers families and professionals links to state- and local-specific resources for enrolling students, education, medical care, mental health, transitioning students to post-secondary settings, courts, and other areas.
Updated Summer 2023
Website resource
Flyer
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) information on who is considered “Parent” for financial aid.
If you are considered a dependent student for FAFSA® purposes, you will need to provide information about your legal parent(s) on the application. A legal parent is your biological or adoptive parent, or your legal parent as determined by the state (for example, if the parent is listed on your birth certificate). If you have a stepparent currently married to your legal parent, you generally also must provide information about him or her.
More info and how to apply
Learn your Rights: A Guide for Youth in Foster Care from the Virginia Poverty Law Center
Foster Care to Success: America’s College Fund for Foster Youth.
All Foster Care to Success scholarships share one application; we will determine the program(s) for which you are eligible based on the information you provide.
Foster Care to Success
Apply here
Helping Youth Transition to Adulthood: Guidance for Foster Parents, a fact sheet of Child Welfare Information Gateway.
This factsheet provides guidance on how foster parents can help youth build a foundation for a successful transition to adult life outside of foster care. It describes the challenges youth face, how the adolescent brain affects them during this time, and Federal laws and programs. It also provides concrete ways they can partner with youth.
Great Expectations program for Virginia foster youth pursuing community college and other post-secondary education options.
Services for Older Youth, VDSS. These include the Independent Living Program for youth 14 and older and education programs such as the Community College Tuition Grant and Education and Training Vouchers (ETV).
Project LIFE, sponsored by Virginia Department of Social Services and United Methodist Family Services. The mission of Project Life is to enhance the successful transition of older foster youth to adulthood by a) increasing the capacity of professionals working with youth to engage in sound, evidence-based practices and b) by promoting permanent connections, effective preparation for transition to adulthood, and meaningful youth input into state and local policies and practices.