The Foster Child Grant Program was funded by the Massachusetts Legislature in 2001. The program provides grants of up to $6000 annually for foster children to help pay for an education beyond high school at any institution of higher learning throughout the continental United States. The Foster Child Grant recipient must have signed an agreement with the Department of Social Services for care and services beyond age 18.

To be eligible for a Foster Child Grant a student must:

• Be a permanent legal resident of Massachusetts.
• Be a U.S. Citizen or noncitizen eligible under Title IV regulations.
• Be placed in the custody of the Department of Social Services through a Care and Protection Petition.
• Not be over the age of 24.
• Have signed a voluntary agreement with the Department of Social Services establishing terms and conditions for receiving such aid.
• Have applied for financial aid, using the standard Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
• Be in compliance with Selective Service Registration.
• Not be in default of any Federal or State Student Loans for attendance at any institution or owe a refund for any previous financial aid received.
• Be in good standing and meet the institution's requirements for satisfactory academic progress.

An eligible institution shall mean a public, private, independent, for profit or nonprofit institution in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the continental United States authorized to offer undergraduate degrees or certificate programs. The institution must be accredited and eligible to participate in the Federal Title IV programs.

The award value under the Foster Child Grant is the following:

• Maximum of $6000 per academic year for eligible students enrolled in public institutions for not more than 5 consecutive years.
• Maximum of $6000 per academic year for students enrolled in private not-profit or private for profit institutions for not more than 5 consecutive years.

Contact the Massachusetts Office of Student Financial Assistance at 617-727-9420 or your social worker at Department of Social Services.