Foster Youth Support Resource Hub

Education and Financial Aid

Current or former foster youth who were in care between ages 15–18 and are under 26 can receive up to $4,500 per year (2025–26 award year) for college, career/technical training, or school out of state, valid for up to five years. Funding is limited and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

Foster youth students who are eligible for a Cal Grant may qualify for up to $6,000 per year in additional aid on top of their standard award, no separate application needed. Submit your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application (CADAA) to be considered automatically.

Foster youth enrolling at a University of California, California State University, or qualifying California Community College bachelor’s degree program may have 100% of their remaining cost of attendance covered after all other aid is applied. No separate application is needed, eligibility is based on your FAFSA or CADAA.

If you were in foster care at any point after age 13, you are automatically considered an independent student on your financial aid application, meaning no parental income information is required. Complete the FAFSA at studentaid.gov or the CADAA at dream.csac.ca.gov if you are undocumented.

File Your FAFSA

File Your CADAA

Current or former foster youth who were in care for at least one day on or after their 13 birthday and enrolled before age 26 can access financial support, priority registration, counseling, tutoring, textbook grants, and career and transfer assistance at all 116 California community colleges. Students who enroll before turning 26 may continue the program past that age.

Foster youth in grades 1–12 in California public schools are eligible for a free college savings account with supplemental deposits up to $1,500, which can be used for tuition, books, room and board, and technology at accredited schools nationwide. Funds must be used before age 26.

This step-by-step guide helps all foster and unaccompanied homeless youth in California complete the FAFSA and CADAA, with screenshots and visual walkthroughs available in English and Spanish. Updated October 2025.

Foster youth ages 16–21 enrolled at participating California community college campuses can access life skills training, academic support, and professional development workshops designed to prepare them for the workforce. Contact your campus Foster Youth Services or NextUp coordinator to get connected.

Housing

Foster or probation youth ages 18–21 who were in foster care on their 18 birthday can remain in foster care voluntarily, receiving case management, a monthly financial stipend, housing support, and ILP services. To stay eligible, youth must meet at least one participation requirement: enrolled in school or a General Education Development (GED) program, working at least 80 hours per month, participating in an employment program, or unable to do so due to a medical or mental health condition. Youth who exit before 21 may voluntarily re-enter the program. Contact your county social worker or probation officer to apply.

Former foster youth ages 18–24 can access affordable housing with case management and wraparound supportive services for up to 24 months to help them transition successfully to independent living. Contact your county child welfare agency to find local programs.

Foster youth transitioning out of care who are enrolled in Medi-Cal may be eligible for up to six months of rental assistance provided through their Medi-Cal managed care plan, a benefit that becomes mandatory for eligible populations no sooner than January 1, 2026. Contact your Medi-Cal managed care plan for more information.

If passed, AB 2162 would raise the age limit for the Housing Navigation and Maintenance Program to 28, aligning it with federal Housing Choice Voucher eligibility for former foster youth, and establish county-level reporting on voucher availability. The bill passed the Appropriations Committee on May 14, 2026, and is awaiting a full Assembly vote.

Journey House is a nonprofit dedicated to helping emancipated foster youth meet their independent living needs, including housing assistance and life skills support.

At-risk or homeless youth ages 16–25, including foster youth, can access transitional housing (ages 18–24), employment services, life skills training, mental health care, and substance use treatment through Penny Lane Centers. Eight TAY drop-in centers across Los Angeles County offer laundry, computers, hot meals, hygiene kits, bus passes, and help obtaining government-issued ID and birth certificates.

Health and Mental Health

Current and former foster youth up to age 26 qualify for full-scope Medi-Cal at no cost, regardless of income or immigration status, covering physical health, dental, vision, and mental health services. Apply at coveredca.com or through your county social services office.

Foster youth with intensive mental health needs who are enrolled in Medi-Cal can access specialty services, including therapy, psychiatric care, and crisis intervention, through their county Mental Health Plan. Ask your social worker for a referral or contact your county Mental Health Plan directly.

Foster youth enrolled in Medi-Cal can access Enhanced Care Management coordinated by managed care plan child welfare liaisons, connecting them to behavioral health, wraparound services, and community support. Contact your Medi-Cal managed care plan to learn more.

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 (24/7, free, confidential)
Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
Trevor Project (LGBTQ+ youth): Call 1-866-488-7386 or text START to 678-678

Employment and Independent Living

Current and former foster youth ages 16–21 can participate in training, classes, and workshops to build self-sufficiency skills, including financial literacy, life skills, and employment readiness, before and after leaving foster care, often with incentives for participation. Contact your county child welfare agency or social worker to get started.

Foster youth ages 14–24 are a priority population for WIOA-funded services, which include job training, career counseling, work experience, and paid internships at no cost. Enter your zip code at careeronestop.org to find your nearest America’s Job Center.

Open to all job seekers including foster youth, America’s Job Centers offer free resume help, interview prep, skills training, job search support, and referrals to employment programs statewide. Find your nearest location at edd.ca.gov.

Legal Rights and Advocacy

Foster youth in K–12 and higher education have the legal right to remain in their school of origin, receive educational stability, and access graduation exemptions and other protections under California law. The California Foster Care Education Law Fact Sheets (2025, available in English and Spanish) summarize these rights in plain language.

The Youth Law Center provides legal advocacy, fact sheets, and resources specifically for California foster youth on topics including Extended Foster Care, voluntary re-entry, and youth rights.

The Children’s Law Center offers legal representation and resources for foster youth in California, covering housing, education, health, and employment rights.

If passed, AB 2251 would require colleges to be more transparent about how Cost of Attendance (COA) budgets are calculated and to better inform students about their options to adjust those budgets, directly helping foster youth access the full financial aid they’re entitled to. The bill passed the Appropriations Committee on May 14, 2026, and is awaiting a full Assembly vote.

Advocacy and Community Organizations

JBAY is a leading statewide policy advocacy organization for foster and homeless youth in California, offering free resources including fact sheets, webinars, toolkits, and guides on education, housing, health, and economic security.

CYC is a youth-led organization that empowers current and former foster youth to become leaders and advocates, working to transform the foster care system through policy and legislative change while building community and leadership skills.

AFS provides foster care, adoption, and mental health services throughout Northern California’s San Francisco Bay Area and Greater Sacramento region, and maintains a comprehensive statewide resource directory for current and former foster youth.

CDSS maintains a centralized online hub with education resources, financial aid information, and program details for California foster youth and the professionals who serve them.

Basic Needs

Foster youth in EFC may qualify for CalFresh regardless of income, while other former foster youth may be eligible based on income. CalFresh provides monthly food assistance through an Electric Benefits Transfer (EBT) card. Apply at getcalfresh.org or through your county social services office.

211 is a free, 24/7 helpline available to all Californians that connects callers to local food banks, emergency shelter, health services, and other community resources. Call or text 211 or visit 211ca.org.

Most California community colleges offer food pantries, emergency housing assistance, emergency funds, and other basic needs support to enrolled students. Contact your campus student services office or NextUp coordinator to find out what’s available at your college.

Key Contacts

Resource	Contact
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline	Call or text 988
Crisis Text Line	Text HOME to 741741
Trevor Project (LGBTQ+)	1-866-488-7386
211 (Basic Needs)	Call or text 211
Chafee Grant	chafee.csac.ca.gov
FAFSA	studentaid.gov
CADAA	dream.csac.ca.gov
NextUp / Guardian Scholars	Contact your campus FYS office
EFC	Contact your county social worker
Medi-Cal	coveredca.com
CalFresh	getcalfresh.org
JBAY Resources	jbay.org/resources
CDSS Foster Youth Hub	cdss.ca.gov
Youth Law Center	ylc.org