Foster Funds is a financial assistance opportunity that aims to reduce feelings of isolation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic among youth within the foster care system. These funds aim at supporting youth in any social, extracurricular, and/or cultural activities that youth are involved in. Eligibility requirements include the youth being aged 14-18 while currently residing within a foster care placement, which can include family foster care, group care, or supervised apartment living. These funds include a maximum payment of $600 and are currently available until June 30th, 2022.
Within the application for Foster Funds, information about the applicant and the grant request is needed. Information about the applicant includes teen information, what residence style the teen lives in, and their social worker information. Information about the grant request requires a description of how the money will be used, the amount requested, and who the check should be written out to.
To ensure the Foster Funds grant money is being used on the teen and their activities, the application must be sent with paid receipts or business invoices. Activities that are covered by this grant include registering for sports or other social activities, purchasing sports equipment, summer camp(s), and music or instrument lessons. Other items that the Foster Funds grant can be used for can include prom attire, senior photos, graduation expenses, college application fees, electronics, and furniture for youth preparing to age out of the system.
Because I have a passion for youth within the foster care system and their overall success, the Foster Funds grant has my unending support and praise. I am currently studying to be a social worker and am hoping to work within the foster care system upon graduation. The Foster Funds grant aids youth in many ways, like assisting foster youth with financial backing, alleviating financial stress, encouraging youth to be involved in their community, and allowing a sense of belonging among their peers.
Foster Funds is a one-time payment option, where the youth can get up to $600 to assist in an array of activities or items. With this payment, foster youth can actively partake in activities they desire to be apart of without feeling the stress of how to pay for the activity or item. This payment can also help relieve stress in older teens within the system, as the payment can be used for college application fees or furniture as they prepare to be living on their own.
Before aging out of the system, I remember the struggles of preparing to live on my own. I encountered feelings of loneliness, not being prepared for adulthood, and the unknown as to whether I could support myself financially. The Foster Funds Grant helps in all of these areas and would have provided an extreme sense of relief on my part.
Foster Funds are administered by YSS through AMP. For more information about Foster Funds, visit the Iowa Aftercare website at https://iowaaftercare.org/pandemic-relief/ or visit AMP or call 515-233-2250 ext. 4572. The application can be filled out at https://iowaaftercare.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Foter-Fund-Application-April-1-2021.pdf.