IEP Transition Planning In Virginia: Tips To Know For Youth With IEPs Who Are In Foster Care

A product of the WAZE to Adulthood project, developed by Formed Families Forward. 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.

Being Involved in Person-Centered Planning for Students and Young Adults with Disabilities in Foster, Kinship or Adoptive Families

This fact sheet from FFF and the WAZE to Adulthood project, led by 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.

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  Fact Sheet

What’s Next? Planning Transitions Through and After High School webinar

Broadcast on May 14, 2021, this FFF webinar reviewed data on youth with special needs in  foster, adoptive and kinship families and their outcomes. Content includes a review of special education transition planning requirements and a number of post-secondary programs and other resources for youth and young adults with disabilities and who have been in foster care.

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  Webinar recording

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  Presentation slides

Internet Safety Tip Sheet for Parents and Caregivers

From Formed Families Forward, this tip sheet covers 10 tips for helping to keep children and youth safe online.

Raising and Working with Children and Youth in Foster Care or Living with Kin: Your Guide to Resources in Virginia

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.

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  Website resource

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  Flyer

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) information on who is considered “Parent” for financial aid

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.

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  More info and how to apply

Foster Care to Success

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.

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  Foster Care to Success

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  Apply here

Helping Youth Transition to Adulthood: Guidance for Foster Parents

Helping Youth Transition to Adulthood: Guidance for Foster Parents, a  fact sheet of Child Welfare Information Gateway

Great Expectations program

Great Expectations program for Virginia foster youth pursuing community college and other post-secondary education options.

Services for Older Youth

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

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.