Chafee Educational and Training Vouchers Program (ETV)
The Chafee Education and Training Voucher (ETV) program provides resources specifically to meet the educational and training needs of eligible current or former foster youth. The Chafee ETV program offers up to $5,000 per year for post-secondary education and training to assist youth with skill development needed to lead independent and productive lives.
To qualify for the Chafee ETV program you must:
- Be a current or former foster youth who was a dependent or ward of the court, living in foster care, between the ages of 16 and 18.
- Youth who are/were in Kin-GAP, a non-related legal guardianship or were adopted, are eligible only if the youth was a dependent or ward of the court, living in foster care, at some point between the ages of 16 and 18.
- A youth who was placed in out-of-home care by a tribe or tribal organization between the ages of 16-18.
AND
- Not have reached your 26th birthday as of July 1st of the award year.
AND
To Qualify for the Chafee ETV Program, the Following Must Apply
- Enroll in an eligible public or private college or university or technical school in California or out of state
- Be enrolled at least half time
- Enroll in a program at least one academic year long
- Maintain satisfactory academic progress
- Demonstrate financial need
How to Apply for the Chafee ETV Program
The first step to applying is to complete the Chafee Grant Application. Please note, the Chafee Grant Application does not need to be completed on an annual basis, as the one-time application is valid through your 26th birthday. Once you complete the Chafee Grant Application, your next step is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application (CADAA). The California Dream Act allows eligible non-citizens.
What Happens After I Apply?
- The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) will automatically provide verification pertaining to your foster care eligibility to the Student Aid Commission (CSAC). In the event your foster care status cannot be verified, you will be asked to complete the Foster Care Eligibility Certification which is available in the Forms section at the bottom of the CSAC Grant Overview for Students web page.
- The Student Aid Commission will review your FAFSA or CADAA and Chafee Grant Application.
- Once all of the above is completed, the Student Aid Commission will send you an email message if you are selected for an award.
- If you applied for the Chafee Grant, go to WebGrants for Students to check the status of your application.
- The school will verify payment eligibility and disburse the check to you.
If you have additional questions about your Chafee Application status, you may contact the California Student Aid Commission by phone at (888) 294-0153 (option three) or by email chafee@csac.ca.gov.
Out-of-State Applicants
What if I live out-of-state, but my foster care case was opened in California, am I eligible?
Yes, you are eligible to apply for the Chafee ETV program. However, you are eligible to receive Chafee ETV from only one state. This means, if you are receiving ETV grants from your current state of residence, you are ineligible to apply/receive the ETV grant from California. If you are not receiving an ETV grant from another state, you may apply for the California ETV grant by completing the following: Chafee Grant Application and the FAFSA or CADAA. In addition, you also need to create a WebGrants account to monitor the status of your Chafee Application.
What if I live in California, but my foster care case was opened in a different state?
You are eligible to apply for the Chafee ETV program here in the State of California. However, you are eligible to receive Chafee ETV from only one state. This means, if you are receiving ETV grants from your state of foster care origination, you are ineligible to apply/receive the ETV grant from California. If you are not receiving an ETV grant from your state of foster care origination, you may apply for the California ETV grant by completing the following: Chafee Grant Application and the FAFSA or CADAA. In addition, you also need to create a WebGrants account to monitor the status of your Chafee Application. Since your foster care case originated from a state outside of California, you are required to have the Foster Care Eligibility Certification Form completed by your State Education and Training Voucher Coordinator (or social worker/probation officer).
To find your state ETV Coordinator, go to the Child Welfare Agency's Education and ILP/ETV Coordinators web page and scroll to your state contact information. (Tip: For faster scrolling, change the display from 10 to 50 results.)
Chafee Education and Training Voucher All County Letters and Information Notices
- ACIN I-11-11 (March 30, 2011) Chafee Education Training Voucher (ETV) Program Eligibility Verification Process
Provides guidance on the current Chafee ETV eligibility verification process
- ACIN I-11-11E2 (April 5, 2012) Errata to The Chafee ETV Certification Form Attachment - Chafee Education Training Voucher (ETV) Program Eligibility Verification Process
Provides clarification of recent revisions to the Chafee ETVCertification form attachment
Postsecondary Education All County Letters and Information Notices
- ACL 18-104 (September 12, 2018) Additional Case Plan Documentation For Postsecondary Education Support
Provide counties with guidance and case plan instructions regarding postsecondary education assistance created by the passing of Senate Bill (SB) 12, which became effective January 1, 2018.
- ACIN I-56-21 (June 16, 2021) Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program And Postsecondary Education Financial Aid
Provides information about changes to the Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program pursuant to Senate Bill (SB) 860, as well as provide reminders to caseworkers about postsecondary financial aid for current and former foster youth.
For more information on educational resources, please visit the California Foster Youth Education Resource Hub and the California Student Aid Commission.