The NFPA Youth Scholarship will not be offered in 2010 due to restrictions placed upon the NFPA budget by the downturn in the economy.

The NFPA offers scholarships for foster youth, adopted youth, or biological youth of currently licensed foster parents, who wish to further their education beyond high school, including college or university studies, vocational and job training, and correspondence courses, including the GED. Foster parents must also be members of NFPA.

The following requirements apply:

1. College/University

• must be in their senior year of high school (regardless of age)
• must provide copy of high school transcript
• must provide documentation of cost from college/university
• must return application and all other requested documents by March 31, 2011
  
• must be accepted by an accredited college/university before receiving funding (proof of this will be a copy of school acceptance letter
• must return unused portion or appropriate percentage if withdrawing from college/university or does not maintain grade point averages required by institution

2. Vocational/Job Training/Correspondence GED/Other Educational Pursuits

• must be at least 17 years of age (either in school or out)
• must provide documentation of cost from the school, training center, or other educational facility
• must return application and all other requested documents by March 31, 2011
  
• must be accepted into accredited program before receiving funding (Proof of this will be a copy of acceptance letter)
• must return unused portion or appropriate percentage if withdrawing from course/program or is unable to maintain grade point average required by the course/program

Each applicant must submit:

• A completed application form
• A minimum of two (2) letters of recommendation from: foster parent(s), social worker(s), residential center, principal/teacher/guidance counselor, employer, etc. will be required with each application.
• A typewritten statement in 300-500 words on "Why I want to further my education and why I should be considered for a National Foster Parent Association Scholarship" will also be required.

Mail applications to:
NFPA Scholarship Committee

National Foster Parent Association

2307 Tacoma Ave. S.

Tacoma, WA 98402

• www.collegeboard.org
• www.fastweb.com
• www.finaid.org
• www.fafsa.ed.gov
• http://nfpainc.org/admin/www.nasfaa.org
• www.savingforcollege.com
• www.UNCF.org
• www.orphan.org
• www.jimcaseyyouth.org
• www.getcollegefunds.org
• http://nfpainc.org/admin/www.discoverfinancial.com/data/philanthropy/tribute.shtml
• www.collegenet.com
• www.waedfoundation.org/gs/
• www.ed.gov/programs/gearup/index.html
• www.collegescholarships.com/
• www.nrcys.ou.edu/nrcyd/state_home.htm
• http://www.affcf.org/mc/page.do?sitePageId=62702
• http://www.questbridge.org/cps/awards/summer_school.html
• www.onwardandupwards.org
  
• www.sociallearning.com
• http://firstchancescholarship.com/

You have the opportunity to aid children and youth in foster care by your financial support, contributions, memorials, and honoraria for the Scholarship Program, in any amount, which is welcome and tax deductible.

The National Foster Parent Association is a non-profit, voluntary organization established in 1972 with tax exempt status under Section 501 (c) (3) of the internal Revenue Code.

The National Foster Parent Association depends upon public donations to continue its work. You can help!

Making a donation through Independent Givers of America's secure server is fast and easy. When we receive your donation, we will send you an acknowledgment in the mail for tax purposes. Click below to make a donation.

Independent Givers of America Link

MARSHALL LOEB'S DAILY MONEY TIP

Five steps to improve your shot at a scholarship

By Marshall Loeb, MarketWatch

Last Update: 12:01 AM ET May 9, 2007

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- High-school students: Applying for one of the thousands of scholarships available to help fund your college education? Then follow these tips from Mark Kantrowitz, director of advanced projects at FastWeb.com, for maximizing your chances of getting one of those checks in the mail:

Apply to everything you can. "You can't win if you don't apply," says Kantrowitz. "If your odds of winning an individual scholarship are pretty small, the more you apply to for which you qualify, the greater chance you have of winning. It usually doesn't take a lot of effort to apply to multiple scholarships; you can reuse essays. You'll find there's an awful lot of overlap in scholarship programs in terms of the questions they ask. The first time you write an essay, it takes a lot of effort, but the next time you can just polish, tweak and slant it to that application." So don't let fear or procrastination get the better of you -- send that application in.

Only apply to scholarships you're qualified for. Don't send out applications for ones that don't meet the basic criteria. "Most of these awards receive far more qualified applicants than they have awards available," adds Kantrowitz, so save yourself some time by reviewing the minimum requirements and making sure you are eligible.

In essays, always include concrete examples. "If you write something very abstract, like 'I'm a leader,' they're not going to take your word for it. They want to see a way in which you demonstrated your leadership ability."

Dress for success. "You wouldn't believe how many students go to an interview in T-shirts and jeans," says Kantrowitz. Wear a suit or other business attire, instead.

Make sure you get good letters of recommendation. If you ask a teacher or an adult you know to write you a letter of recommendation, "many will write it even if they don't think you're the best person." So when you make the request, ask if they can write you a good letter. "They will probably give you an honest answer," says Kantrowitz. And make sure the person writing the letter can write well and is able to speak about what is relevant to the scholarship to which you are applying.

For more tips and information on the above article click here

The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute’s (CCAI) Foster Youth Internship (FYI) Program is a competitive, highly esteemed Congressional Internship for young adults who were in U.S. foster care at the time of their eighteenth birthday or who were adopted after their fourteenth birthday from the U.S. foster care system.  All applicants must be enrolled in college and have completed 4 semesters by May 21, 2009.  The 2009 program will place 16 academically successful college students in the Washington, D.C. offices of Members of Congress.  The dates for the 2009 Congressional Foster Youth Internship are set as May 23 - July 18, 2009.

For more information, Click Here