Chafee Education and Training Grant
ATTENTION Chafee applicants:
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 THE NEW CHAFEE ETG APPLICATION IS AVAILABLE.
Please read the eligibility requirements in the Eligibility for the Chafee Grant section below before clicking the link to the application.
To apply for the remainder of the 2009-10 academic year and the 2010-11 academic year:
*If you do not have internet access, contact Peggy Cooksey, Portfolio Coordinator, Oregon Student Assistance Commission, peggy.d.cooksey@state.or.us or by telephone 1-800-452-8807 ext. 7443 to request a paper application be mailed to you.
News from the Chafee ETG Coordinator
My name is Peggy Cooksey and I am the Portfolio Coordinator who administers the Chafee ETG. The following are links to the text of e-mail communications I have recently sent out regarding how the Chafee awarding process works, how to check your status on the OSAC website, etc. You may find the answers to many frequently asked questions by reviewing the documents.
Deadlines for application:
Individual terms:
- Fall-August 1
- Winter - November 1
- Spring - February 1
- Summer - May 1
On the 2010-11 application, you will see terms listed for both the 2009-10 academic year and 2010-11 academic years. If the deadlines for application for those terms have expired, you will not be able to select those terms, and if you delay submitting your application, you will not be awarded if you apply for terms past the deadline.
Fund Disbursement:
After your application is processed and schools notify the Oregon Student Assistance Commission of the amount of your award, your Chafee ETG will be disbursed (sent) to your college or university’s Business Office approximately two weeks prior to the start of each term or semester.
If your school notifies OSAC of your award amount and eligibility after the main disbursement date, your funds will be sent to your school in the first available check batch after the notification date. OSAC runs check batches once per week.
Community colleges, schools that are part of the Oregon University System (OSU, U of O, PSU, etc), and most private universities in Oregon (Linfield, Lewis & Clark, University of Portland) receive funds from OSAC by EFT (Electronic Funds Transfer). Those funds are automatically applied to your student account.
Other schools, such as ITT Technical Institute, University of Phoenix, Everest College, and other trade and technical schools such as all barber and hairdresser/cosmetology schools, receive funds by a paper check. Because those checks must be mailed rather than being sent electronically, it may take a week to ten days after the disbursement approval for your check to arrive at your school. Those schools will probably require that you come into the office to co-sign the check so that they can apply it to your account.
Neither OSAC nor the Oregon Department of Human Services have control over the time it takes your particular school to apply your Chafee ETG funds to your student account. Some schools apply at the beginning of the term/semester, and others wait until add/drop is over. Some schools may be short-staffed or closed during certain holiday or break periods and may take longer to apply your funds. Please contact your school regarding receipt of your funds before you contact OSAC.
Additional Information:
- Chafee Grant applicants must ALSO complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
- Almost all Chafee ETG applicants will be required to submit additional documentation to the school financial aid office as part of the FAFSA mandated “verification process.” If you have not been adopted and filed your FAFSA as an “independent student”, click on the Independent link. If you have been adopted and had to claim your adoptive parent’s income on your FAFSA, click on the Dependent link
- The Chafee Grant application is separate from the Oregon Scholarship Application (Oregon eAPP).
- Unlike the Oregon Scholarship Application, the Chafee Grant application does not require submission of essays and an Activities Chart.
- First time applicants must be under the age of 21 and must receive their first award before their 21st birthday. Awards may be received through the 23rd birthday if the applicant was awarded prior to the age of 21.
To apply for other scholarships administered by OSAC, complete the OSAC eAPP at www.GetCollegeFunds.org during the regular Oregon Scholarship Application period (early November to March 1, 2010). Certify and submit your 2010-11 application before the March 1, 2010 deadline. |
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Eligibility for the Chafee Grant
Foster youth have hopes and dreams of a successful future just like other young people who have graduated or obtained their GED. The only difference is that many foster youth don’t have a family to fall back on for assistance. The State of Oregon and the federal government are helping support foster youth who wish to continue their education and training after high school.
The Department of Human Services (DHS) Independent Living Program (ILP) has received Chafee Education and Training Voucher (ETV) funding to help current or former foster care youth with postsecondary education and training.
Youth may be eligible to receive up to $4,000* per academic year. To be eligible, you must:
- Currently be in foster care, or
- Had been in foster care for at least 180 days (six months) after your 14th birthday and exited substitute care at age 16 or older
- Be participating in the voucher program on your 21st birthday***. Youth may then continue to apply/receive funds until they turn 23 years old as long as they are enrolled in a post secondary education or training program and making satisfactory progress toward completion of that program.
* $4,000 is the maximum amount available to youth each academic year. The actual maximum amount will be determined by the date that the Application is received and the unmet need of the applicant (see Application Deadlines for specifics).
**Foster care placement must have been with either Oregon's DHS child welfare (formerly SCF), or one of the nine federally recognized Tribes in Oregon. If you reside outside of Oregon, were never in foster care in Oregon, and will be attending school in your home state or another state outside of Oregon, please contact the Chafee program within your home state.
*** If a youth’s 21st birthday falls outside the regular school dates (i.e. summer term), then we will look at the term prior to the student’s 21st birthday to verify that the student was receiving ETV funds on their 21st birthday.
Disbursement Amounts
Funding is available on a first come/first served basis. If a student applies too late, they may not receive an award.
Students will only receive funding for the number of terms they are attending, and these amounts are subject to change. As a reminder, funds are awarded based on need. Your award amount may be less than the amounts below based on your total cost of attendance, if you are attending less than full-time, or, if you are receiving other aid such as privately funded scholarships which reduce your total need after the federal Pell and the Oregon Opportunity Grants are taken into account:
Full academic year: $4,000 (3 or 4 terms)
2 terms: $2,666
1 term: $1,333
Application procedures
What happens next?
- Your Chafee Education and Training Grant application will be reviewed by the Independent Living Program at the Department of Human Services to verify that you are eligible to receive the Chafee Education and Training Grant
- OSAC will notify your selected school that you are eligible to receive a Chafee Education and Training Grant.
- Your school will determine the amount of your grant based on your financial need after application of any state or federal grant monies (PELL, Oregon Opportunity Grant, etc.). ETV funds received directly from the Department of Human Services will be subtracted from your Chafee Grant award. Your grant award will be included in your financial aid package prepared at your school.
The school that you will be attending should send you a document that details the type and amount of financial aid that you will receive at that institution. You are normally required to review this document and accept or decline the financial aid package. It will list in detail the various types of financial aid that you are to be awarded. See an example of the letter.
Your financial aid award letter may look drastically different from this example, but the principle should be the same. At most colleges these days, you can access and print a copy of this letter from the college’s webpage. If you are still unsure as to what is required, contact your financial aid office and talk to a counselor.
What are my responsibilities?
- Sign and return the financial aid award letter when you receive it from your school, or accept your award on-line if that is your school’s preference.
- If you decide to change schools, or have an address, telephone number, or e-mail change after completing the Chafee application, notify the Oregon Student Assistance Commission by visiting your e-Student Profile at http://www.getcollegefunds.org/eapp.html. If you are unable to visit your e-Student Profile, contact the Chafee Portfolio Coordinator (see contact information below). You should also inform your ILP worker of any changes (if you still have one).
- Keep a copy of your application and any additional correspondence you receive and safeguard them in a large envelope or file folder. If you move, take the envelope/folder with you.
- If you do not receive your financial aid award letter in a timely manner, contact the financial aid office at your school to ask if there is a problem.
- If you receive a message or letter from the ILP Desk, the Oregon Student Assistance Commission, or your school requesting additional information from you, respond promptly.
What about other scholarships I want to apply for?
To apply for other scholarships administered by OSAC, complete the OSAC eAPP at www.getcollegefunds.org. Follow all instructions and submit all additional materials required. The deadline for Early Bird Applicants is February 15th of each year, and for Non-Early Bird applicants, the deadline is March 1 of each year.
Where do I send my Chafee application?
As of April 15, 2008, applications are accepted electronically and do not need to be mailed by regular mail. Exceptions are only for those who must request a paper application due to the unavailability of on-line access.
Questions?
If you have any questions about your scholarship, call or email Public Programs at OSAC.
Oregon Student Assistance Commission
Peggy Cooksey, Chafee Program
Scholarships and Access Division
1500 Valley River Drive, Suite 100
Eugene OR 97401-2148
(541) 687-7443 - Eugene/Springfield area
(800) 452-8807, ext. 7443 - Toll-free
(541) 687-7414 - Fax |
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