Scholarships & Education Support
DCFS – Growing Minds: Early Childhood Program
Growing Minds is an early childhood initiative from DCFS that supports the healthy development of children in the foster care system, from birth through age 5. This program helps foster parents and caregivers access developmental screenings, child care resources, and early learning supports to ensure every child has a strong start. Growing Minds works in partnership with caregivers to connect children to services that support social, emotional, and cognitive growth during these vital early years.
https://dcfs.illinois.gov/brighter-futures/growing-minds.html
DCFS – Post-Secondary Education Services DCFS offers a range of supports to help youth in care prepare for and succeed in college, trade school, or other post-secondary programs. Eligible students may receive tuition and fee waivers, scholarships, housing assistance, and academic support services. These programs are designed to remove financial and logistical barriers so youth with DCFS involvement can pursue higher education and build a strong foundation for independence. https://dcfs.illinois.gov/brighter-futures/growing-minds/post-secondary-education-services.html
DCFS – Education and Training Voucher (ETV) Program The ETV Program provides up to $5,000 annually to eligible youth in care or who aged out of care to help with college or vocational school expenses, including tuition, books, housing, and transportation. ETV funds can be used at accredited public and private institutions nationwide. https://dcfs.illinois.gov/youth/education-and-training-voucher.html
Foster Care to Success – Scholarships and Grants Foster Care to Success is a national organization that offers scholarships, grants, and support services to youth who were in foster care at age 18. Programs include academic coaching, mentoring, and emergency funding to help students stay on track in school. https://www.fc2success.org/
Fastweb – Foster Youth Scholarship Database Fastweb is a scholarship search engine that features a curated list of opportunities for students who have been in foster care. By creating a profile, students can access a wide range of scholarships suited to their background, interests, and educational plans. https://www.fastweb.com/college-scholarships/articles/foster-care-scholarships Learn to Be – Free Online Tutoring for Underserved Youth Learn to Be offers free one-on-one virtual tutoring to children from foster care, low-income, or underserved communities. Tutors are volunteers trained to help K–12 students build confidence and skills in core subjects like math, reading, and science. https://www.learntobe.org/
DCFS – Post-Secondary Education Services DCFS offers a range of supports to help youth in care prepare for and succeed in college, trade school, or other post-secondary programs. Eligible students may receive tuition and fee waivers, scholarships, housing assistance, and academic support services. These programs are designed to remove financial and logistical barriers so youth with DCFS involvement can pursue higher education and build a strong foundation for independence. https://dcfs.illinois.gov/brighter-futures/growing-minds/post-secondary-education-services.html
DCFS – Education and Training Voucher (ETV) Program The ETV Program provides up to $5,000 annually to eligible youth in care or who aged out of care to help with college or vocational school expenses, including tuition, books, housing, and transportation. ETV funds can be used at accredited public and private institutions nationwide. https://dcfs.illinois.gov/youth/education-and-training-voucher.html
Foster Care to Success – Scholarships and Grants Foster Care to Success is a national organization that offers scholarships, grants, and support services to youth who were in foster care at age 18. Programs include academic coaching, mentoring, and emergency funding to help students stay on track in school. https://www.fc2success.org/
Fastweb – Foster Youth Scholarship Database Fastweb is a scholarship search engine that features a curated list of opportunities for students who have been in foster care. By creating a profile, students can access a wide range of scholarships suited to their background, interests, and educational plans. https://www.fastweb.com/college-scholarships/articles/foster-care-scholarships Learn to Be – Free Online Tutoring for Underserved Youth Learn to Be offers free one-on-one virtual tutoring to children from foster care, low-income, or underserved communities. Tutors are volunteers trained to help K–12 students build confidence and skills in core subjects like math, reading, and science. https://www.learntobe.org/