Hello!

AFFCF is pleased to bring you the latest information about the resources you need to help you and your student get ready for post-secondary studies.

There are a lot of opportunities for students who will be starting post-secondary studies to take advantage of!

One CORRECTION from the last e-mail, Alicia Paddock's (Foster Youth Services Coordinator at EVIT) e-mail address is: [email protected]

Please be sure to click "View Entire Message" at the bottom of the screen so that you see the entire e-mail!
UA NEW START EARLY START PROGRAM
For those who will be attending the University of Arizona in the fall, New Start is a great opportunity to move on campus early (before the full student population), meet new people, become familiarized with campus, and earn credits!

New Start will take place between June 10th, 2023 - July 21st, 2023. Students have found New Start to be very beneficial, so be sure to apply by May 15th, 2023.
DEADLINE ALERT - 5/15/23
UA FOSTERING SUCCESS
STEM SUMMER TRIPS TO MT. LEMMON!
Another great resource for students who will be attending UA in the fall or who are current UA students is Fostering Success! Fostering Success is an on-campus support program for students with foster care, housing instability, and unaccompanied backgrounds. If you have not heard of Fostering Success, their website is linked below. You can click "Connect & Join" to get connected to the Fostering Success community!

This summer (after New Start, so students can participate in both!), Fostering Success will be hosting multi-day STEM learning trips to Mt. Lemmon for incoming and current UA students who are eligible for Fostering Success.

These trips, in partnership with the UA SkySchool, will allow students to enjoy time in a beautiful setting, get to know other Fostering Success students, and work on STEM projects. There is no cost for incoming and current UA students to attend, all transportation, meals, and lodging are provided!

Incoming and current UA students who are interested in the trip or who just want to learn more information can complete the below interest form or scan the QR code on the flyer below.
ASU BRIDGING SUCCESS EARLY START PROGRAM
For students who will be studying at ASU in the fall, ASU has an on-campus support program for students with foster care backgrounds called Bridging Success. More information can be found at the below link.

Bridging Success also has an early start program (Bridging Success Early Start) where students move on campus a week ahead of the full student population to be able to meet other Bridging Success students and familiarize themselves with campus. Students have had great experiences at Bridging Success Early Start!

Bridging Success Early Start will take place August 6th - 11th, 2023 and students can register at the below link!
ASU BRIDGING SUCCESS+
ASU and the Department of Child Safety (DCS) have a new partnership for ASU students called Bridging Success+. Bridging Success+ is for ASU students who are participating in DCS Extended Foster Care and meet additional eligibility requirements (see below flyer).

Students who are accepted into Bridging Success+ will exhibit strong participation in the Bridging Success program, take Bridging Success classes, and have their summer semester ASU housing and meals funded.

ASU students (current and incoming) who meet the eligibility requirements and are interested in Bridging Success+ for the Summer 2023 semester should contact [email protected] for more information.
SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Arizona Community Foundation Scholarships - there are still scholarship opportunities available through the Arizona Community Foundation (including at least one scholarship for students with foster care backgrounds). Deadlines vary, but many of the scholarship opportunities have May 1st, 2023 deadlines.

DEADLINE ALERT - 5/1/23 (for many opportunities, including one for students with foster care backgrounds)
AFFCF Scholarship Program - The AFFCF Scholarship Program is designed to provide support to degree-seeking undergraduate students who reached (or who will be reaching) age 18 as wards of the state of Arizona or in tribal foster care in Arizona.

Both incoming and current undergraduate college students (under the age of 25) can apply during the month of June of 2023 if they will taking six or more credit hours during the Fall 2023 semester. One letter of recommendation is required.

While the application is not yet open (it will open on 6/1/23), it is a good idea for students to think about requesting letters of recommendation from teachers or professors, should they wish to, while classes are still in session.

AFFCF will be sending out a reminder once the application opens on 6/1/23. Should you have any questions about the AFFCF Scholarship program, please contact Erika Klotz at [email protected] or at (602) 775-5786.

APPLICATION PERIOD - 6/1/23 - 6/30/23
AFFCF Barbara Polk Scholarship - Named in memory of one of the AFFCF's founders, the Barbara Polk Scholarship is a scholarship available for four semesters for undergraduate and graduate degree-seeking students studying healthcare fields.

It is structured to provide the most support (financially) to students who are studying upper-level coursework of undergraduate study or who are in graduate medical or healthcare programs, periods when students may not be able to work due to clinical rotations, demand of coursework, etc.

Students who are studying healthcare fields will see a prompt to apply for the Barbara Polk Scholarship within the AFFCF scholarship application.

  • Available for four semesters
  • Additional support for students studying healthcare fields
  • Open to undergraduate and graduate degree-seeking students
  • Must be under the age of 25 to apply
  • 3.0 minimum cumulative GPA required
  • Full-time enrollment required
  • One letter of recommendation from a teacher or professor of a health-related or science class required

APPLICATION PERIOD - 6/1/23 - 6/30/23
Foster Love Family Fellowship - The Foster Love Family Fellowship Program is designed to provide students with foster care backgrounds with the necessary resources to pursue higher education. This program offers financial assistance and emotional support.

This program is also open to students who were in foster care and were adopted or appointed a legal guardian after age 13. Please review the eligibility requirements and application requirements (example: two letters of recommendation are required) at the below links.

DEADLINE ALERT - 6/9/23
LEO Foundation Scholarships - formerly the Grand Canyon University Scholarship Foundation, the LEO Foundation now offers an array of scholarships to students attending schools across Arizona (not just GCU).

The scholarship application deadline for students with foster care backgrounds has been extended to May 31st, 2023.

DEADLINE ALERT - 5/31/23
NAU Blavin Scholars Scholarship - Blavin Scholars at NAU not only benefit from the scholarship itself, they are part on an on-campus support program and community for students with foster care, unaccompanied, and homeless backgrounds.

Students who are interested in applying should e-mail [email protected] for more information.
AFFCF POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION RESOURCE GUIDE
Do you have questions about how to pay for college? How you can have your enrollment fee paid for? Whether you need to pay a housing deposit to live on campus?

Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation (AFFCF) has a digital Post-Secondary Education Resource Guide!

It contains information about college readiness, financial resources for paying for college, on-campus support organizations, enrollment checklists, and more!

All of the links and e-mail addresses in the guide are clickable.

Click the below image to download the guide from AFFCF's website!
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions!

Sincerely,


Erika Klotz
Post-Secondary Program Coordinator
Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation
(602) 775-5786