Vol. 10, No. 2 • May 2006
A reader asks . . .
If you have a question about foster care or adoption in North Carolina, please e-mail [email protected]. We’ll do our best to respond to your question either in a direct reply or in a future issue of this newsletter.
Question: I have a foster child who will graduate from high school this spring. Do you know of any resources that can financially assist her in going to college?
One resource that you may consider for your foster youth is the North Carolina Education and Training Voucher Program. This program offers funds to foster youth and former foster youth to enable them to attend a college, university, and vocational training institution. A student may receive up to $5,000 a year for four years as they pursue a post-secondary education. These funds may be used to cover tuition, books, or qualified living expenses. In order to qualify for this program, the youth must fall into one of these three categories:
- They were in foster care when they turned 18 and aged out at this time
- Their foster care case will be closed between the ages of 18 and 21
- They were adopted from foster care with adoption finalization after their sixteenth birthday
Other qualifications for this fund include the following: the youth must be a U.S. citizen or qualified non-citizen, the youth’s assets cannot exceed $10,000, the youth must be between the ages of 18-20 when first applying for the funds, and the youth must have been accepted or enrolled in a degree, certificate, or other accredited program at a college, university, or vocational school. To remain qualified for this assistance the youth must show progress towards their degree on a yearly basis. These funds are available on a first-come, first-serve basis to youth out of the North Carolina foster care system. Students receiving funds prior to their 21st birthday may continue to receive support until age 23. For more information on this program please visit <www.statevoucher.org>
Response by Beverley Smith, Director, NC Kids Adoption & Foster Care Network
Copyright � 2006 Jordan Institute for Families
