Independent Living Program

​​​​​​​ ​​For many youth aging out of Oregon's foster care system, college is simply not a financial reality. The Chafee Education and Training Grant, Tuition and Fee Waivers, and other financial aid at the state and federal level ensure that foster youth have access to higher education.​

Federal Assist​​a​nce

Federal Student Aid Pr​og​​rams

The following types of aid available to help you pay for your education after high school.

• Grants - student aid funds that do not have to be repaid (other conditions apply).
• Work-Study - a part-time work program to earn money while you are in school.

Types of feder​al stude​nt loans

• Direct Loan Consolidation - A Direct Consolidation Loan allows you combine multiple federal education loans into one loan.
• Chafee Education and Training Grant (Chafee ETG/ETV) - Each state receives Chafee Education and Training Voucher (ETV) funding to help current or former foster care youth with post-secondary education and training.

Independent Student Colle​ge Cost Reduction and Access Act

Provisions of the College Cost Reduction and Access Act, effective July 1, 2009: The definition of independent student adds emancipated minor and being in a legal guardianship to the definition of independent student. It also changes the orphan or ward of the court until age 18 to be orphan or ward of the court or in foster care at any time on or after 13 years of age.

State Assistance ​and Sc​holarship Information

Oregon Opportunity Grant (OOG)
Oregon's largest state funded need-based grant program for students planning to go to college. ​

Tuition and Fee Waivers
For students attending Oregon community colleges and public universities who were in the care and custody of ODHS, or one of the nine federally recognized Tribes in Oregon.​ ​​

Office of Student Access and ​Co​mpletion (OSAC) - OSAC has over 400 scholarship opportunities available including scholarships specifically for foster youth​.

• ASPIRE (​Access to Student Assi​stance Programs in​ Reach of Eve​ryone)​ - A mentoring program that helps middle school and high school students access education and training beyond high school.
• DREAM Scholarship for Foster Youth (privately funded) - This scholarship goes to youth who were in the Oregon child welfare system in foster care and dismissed from care at age 16 or older or a youth who was adopted between the ages of 14 1/2 and 16, and did not receive Chafee Foster Care Independence Program funds before age 21. The OSAC Application is required.

Other Helpful Links

• List of State Independent Living Program (ILP) and Education and Training Voucher (ETV) Coordinators​​
• Oregon High School Equivalency Program: Oregon GED® Program
• Foster Care to Success (FCS) - The national non-profit program FCS (formerly called Orphan Foundation of America) provides scholarship and grant money to former foster students in college and specialized training programs across the country. An OFA Application is required.
  
• Student Eligibility for Food Benefits (SNAP)​