California Student Aid Commission — Chafee Grant for Foster Youth

The California Chafee Grant for Foster Youth—also called the Education and Training Voucher (ETV)—helps current and former foster youth pay for higher education and career training. The California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) reviews aid applications and distributes awards; the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) administers the ETV side and helps verify foster-care history. It is not a general low-income scholarship.

The state identifies as a main eligible group people who were in foster care as a court dependent or ward between ages 16 and 18. Adopted youth, those in non-relative legal guardianship or Kin-GAP may qualify if they met that foster-care condition during the stated period; certain tribal out-of-home placements are included as well. Age also matters: CDSS says an applicant must not have turned 26 by July 1 of the award year, and participation is limited to five years total, consecutive or not.

Applying takes more than one form. Submit the Chafee Grant Application once—CSAC says it remains valid until age 26—and also complete FAFSA or the California Dream Act Application (CADAA), as appropriate. To receive an award, the student must demonstrate financial need, attend an eligible college, university, or technical program of at least one academic year at least half time, and make satisfactory academic progress. CDSS verifies the foster-care record with the state; if it cannot confirm the record, it may ask for a foster-care eligibility certification form.

Official state pages currently list different maximums: CSAC’s student guide says up to $4,500 per year for up to five years, while CDSS’s ETV pages say up to $5,000. CSAC also warns that budget and available funds can reduce individual awards and leave students on a waitlist. Neither maximum should be treated as a guaranteed offer. The award notice in WebGrants is the source for the actual amount; cost of attendance and other aid matter too.

The grant can be used at eligible public or private colleges, universities, technical schools, and programs in or outside California, but a student may receive an ETV from only one state at a time. Someone whose foster-care case began in California but who now lives elsewhere may apply here if not receiving ETV from the current state; a similar rule applies to a California resident whose case began elsewhere. Interstate files may require the ETV coordinator in the state of origin to complete a certification.

Start with CSAC and create a WebGrants for Students account to monitor status; check that portal even after submitting FAFSA or CADAA, because they are separate accounts. CSAC lists 888-224-7268 and StudentSupport@csac.ca.gov; for Chafee case status, CDSS lists 916-651-7465 and CFSChafeeETV@dss.ca.gov. <a data-profile="chafee-csac">The CSAC profile explains the application and status checks</a>; <a data-profile="chafee-cdss">CDSS explains ETV, verification, and out-of-state cases</a>. Ask the campus Foster Youth Liaison for help early and keep confirmations and care records.

Who it serves and what it can cover: CSAC reviews FAFSA or CADAA, the Chafee application, and foster-care verification. Its student guide lists up to $4,500 per year, while CDSS lists up to $5,000; the actual award depends on need, cost, and available funds.

How to apply or get help: Student Support lists Monday–Thursday, 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m., and Friday, 8:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m. Pacific Time. CSAC also lists chafee@csac.ca.gov for Chafee status questions. For case-specific questions, contact the program or financial-aid office named on its official page.

Official application and program information