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Fostering Success Michigan Newsletter Volume 35 June 2015
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Fostering Success Michigan
4th Annual Statewide Summit
a Huge Success!
Thank you to all of those who were able to come out and show support for FSM's 4th annual statewide summit! A few highlights from summit include:
- Over 40 young adults who have experienced foster care in attendance making connections, accessing resources, and demonstrating their leadership skills!
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Every region of Michigan was represented from Southeast to Northwest!
- Fantastic presenters, workshops, and activities including a student-run simulation activity and discussion!
- 37 partners from post-secondary institutions were in attendance, representing their awesome campus support programs!
- Were you unable to join us or want a recap of all the summit fun? Don't worry! Follow the link to access our 4th Annual Summit Toolkit and to access further resources!
As always, we value your feedback and suggestions! Please take a moment to complete our brief Summit Survey and get entered to win a FSM gift basket with portable cell phone charger, $25 Amazon gift card, and MORE!
Still working to #MakeYourMarkFSM
? Do you have photos or stories from
Summit 2015? Please post and share to our Facebook and Twitter by following the links below!
 
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2015 Michigan Teen Conference
Saginaw Valley State University will host the 2015 Michigan Teen Conference! This special conference is for youth ages 14-21 preparing to exit foster care, their caregivers and the professionals who work with them. Attendees will sharpen their understanding of what is available and required for foster youth to make the challenging transition to adult life.
What kinds of topics will be covered?
- career planning
- money management (beginner and advanced)
- college supportive programs
- social media
- AND SO MUCH MORE!!
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Congratulations
(soon-to-be) Graduates!
It's never too late (or too soon) to start planning for life after high school but sometimes it can be difficult knowing where to start. Let FSM help!
Please access our
website and partner resources to make the planning process easier.
General Information:
College Admission:
Financial Aid:
Get out there and #MakeYourMarkFSM!
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Fostering
Futures Scholarship
Did you know you can receive up to $3,000 per year through this awesome scholarship!?
Deadline for 2015-2016 School Year is July 6th, 2015!
Important Eligibility Information:
- Student must have been in foster care after their 13th birthday
- There is no upper age limit. Students can receive funding at any age.
- Student must be an undergraduate, attending a Michigan public or private 4-year college/university or a community college
- Funding can be used only for the following: tuition, fees, room/board, books, and supplies/equipment required for enrollment
- This funding can be used along with ETV
For further information regarding the Fostering Futures Scholarship please visit the FSM website!
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Question of the Month:
What is TIP and how do I know if I'm eligible?
The Tuition Incentive Program (TIP) encourages eligible students to complete high school by providing tuition assistance for the first two years of college and beyond.
To be eligible:
Who do I contact if I have not received my acceptance form or eligibility letter?
Toll-Free:
1-888-447-2687
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FSM Partner and Resource Spotlight:
Lutheran Social Services of Michigan and the Education & Training Voucher
The Michigan Education and Training Voucher (ETV) program provides up to $5000 each year to eligible st
udents who were in foster case to assist with college or vocational training expenses. Lutheran Social Services of Michigan is responsible for providing ETV funds in our state.
Students may be eligible if they were in foster care, due to abuse or neglect on or after their 14th birthday, or were adopted from foster care on or after their 16th birthday, or were juvenile justice youth who were placed in an eligible foster care placement under DHS for care and supervision.
Students must also have a high school diploma and attend an accredited college or vocational program. Students must also receive their first ETV prior to their 21st birthday and may be eligible up to their 23rd birthday provided they received a 2.0 GPA and do not drop more than once class per semester.
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Meet Kaylia:
An Outstanding 2015 Ferris State University Graduate!
Kaylia Ervin
was six years old when she decided she wanted to be a lawyer.
"Growing up in and out of the foster care, I was also in and out of court rooms," said Kaylia, a Muskegon native. "I would see what lawyers were doing and always thought I could do their job 10 times better." Now 22 years old and a recent college graduate, Kaylia is well on her way to achieving her dream of becoming a lawyer.
Kaylia came to Ferris State University under the Ferris Youth Initiative program, which helps support students who have aged out of the foster care system. Despite spending 10 years in foster care and dropping out of school in the ninth grade, she went on to finish an adult education high school completion program.
"I saw college as a way out," she said. "I knew I had the brains to do more and that I should use my God-given gifts to make a way for myself."
To read more about Kaylia's accomplishments and goals for the future, click here!
For more information about campus support programs available at Universities throughout Michigan, click here!
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SET with MET
2015 Fostering Futures Scholarship Event
Make a dream come true!
Help make dreams a reality with MET's Charitable Tuition Program at the inaugural Fostering Futures Scholarship Benefit Dinner in Grand Rapids. Donations help provide scholarships to youth who have experienced foster care enrolled at Michigan colleges and universities. With your help, we can transform futures. Need proof?
Watch the video!
The evening's events include dinner, silent auction, and live entertainment; all in the
Grand Room in the beautiful
Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park. Doors open at 6pm.
Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park
Thursday, June 25, 2015
6:00 - 10:00 PM
Dinner Tickets $100 each
Reserve your tickets to attend the inaugural Fostering Futures Scholarship Benefit Dinner in Grand Rapids or the Detroit Event HERE:
Donate and register online using a credit card
To make a donation or purchase tickets by check, complete and submit the
Fostering Futures RSVP Form along with a check made payable to the Michigan Education Trust.
If you would like to donate an auction item for the Grand Rapids event please use the
Grand Rapids Auction Donation form. If you would like to donate an auction item for the Detroit event please use the
Detroit Auction Donation form.
As an IRC Section 107(c) organization all donations to MET's Fostering Futures Program are deductible on your federal and state income tax forms.
This event is hosted in partnership with:
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A Time of Transitions 
What a time to be involved in the great work of transforming the education to career pipeline for students who have experienced foster care and the professionals who support them! As we celebrate Fostering Success Michigan's 4th Annual Statewide Summit, I am happy to announce that it was the best one yet! We had over 136 attendees including higher education partners, community organizations, statewide partners, and other supportive mentors and professionals. Additionally, 40 of the attendees were alumni and youth who have experienced foster care, many of whom contributed to the hard work of making the 4th Annual Summit a reality! Thank you to all who were able to join us for Summit and worked hard to #MakeYourMarkFSM!
With the FSM's 4th Annual Statewide Summit in the books, I reflect on what a time of transition this is for both our organization as well as for students and youth who have experienced foster care. It is the time of the year when school is drawing to a close, students are graduating, or simply facing a summer of uncertainty. It is important to reflect on how we provide support for students to feel confident in the face of transition.
As we come to a summer filled with possibility, my question for you is how will you support the students in your community to feel confident and ready when life transitions occur? Will you share the FSM College Application toolkit with a new junior or senior in high school? How about sharing the FosterClub's transition toolkit? Whatever you do, pledge to provide further resources and guidance for students who have experienced foster care. The more supports in place for students and the professionals who support them, the more likely they can face transitions with the knowledge and certainty needed to make their mark in the world!
I count myself very lucky that I get to contribute to this work and continue to increase awareness, access and success in higher education and post-college careers for youth and alumni of foster care. You, too, can #MakeYourMarkFSM!
Take care,
Director of Outreach and Training
Center for Fostering Success
Western Michigan University
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