empowering California's foster youth to make fully-informed decisions about their college options

​FosteringQualityEducation

Campus Support Programs

• California College Pathways -- info and links to programs that are specifically designed for foster youth attending college (programs like Guardian Scholars, Renaissance Scholars, and many more!)
  

Career Planning

• California Colleges -- the official source for college & career planning in California
  
• Get Schooled-- the California College Campaign
  
• O*Net Online-- info on education required, and average wages, for different career/job options 
  
• California College Pathways -- info on college prep, selecting the right college, information on Guardian Scholars and Renaissance Scholars programs, financial aid, campus supports, housing, and many other resources
  

Put Colleges to the Test (info you should know about colleges you're considering -- and where to find it)

Increase Your Overall College Knowledge

• ​Get Schooled-- the California College Campaign
• Gear Up (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs)
  
• California College Pathways
  
• Enrollment Timeline (temporarily unavailable)
  
• Planning for College (temporarily unavailable)
  
• Important Deadlines (temporarily unavailable)
  
• About California's Community Colleges
  
• Red Flags Checklist -- This handy checklist will help you know if something is a red flag and will tell you where to search for more information to make sure you are making the right choice for you!
  

Other Resources for Foster Youth

• California College Pathways-- housing resources
  
• Step Forward-- info on priority registration at California Community Colleges
  
• Independent Living and Education and Training Voucher Coordinators
  

Department of Education Videos:

Foster Youth Advocacy Websites

• Children's Advocacy Institute
  
• John Burton Foundation
  
• National Center for Youth Law
  
• Foster Care to Success
  

RESOURCES for foster youth

Financial Aid Opportunities for California Foster Youth

• Chafee Educational and Training Vouchers
  
• Cal Grants
  
• John Burton Foundation Direct Support
  
• Foster Care to Success scholarships
  
• Casey Family Programs Continuing Education and Job Training Scholarship
  
• Free Cash for College Workshops
  
• Looking for More Ways to Pay for College or Career Training? 
  

• College Navigator -- provides useful information about colleges, such as whether a degree or certificate is awarded; whether the school is public, private non-profit, or private for-profit; whether the school is a 2-year or 4-year institution; and the school's tuition, enrollment, and cohort default rate (the percentage of the school's students who default on their loans)
  
• College Scorecard-- a great resource for broadening your college search and comparing schools
  

Financial Aid Overview / Responsible Borrowing

• California Student Aid Commission
  
• ICanAffordCollege.com
  
• Consumer Protection Financial Bureau-- reviews and investigates complaints from consumers who have experienced issues with financial products (like student loans). The bureau website also has excellent information on different types of student loans, and what students should know before taking out a loan
  
• Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook-- can help you find career information on duties, education and training, pay, and outlook for hundreds of occupations
  

What to Know Before Taking Out a Student Loan