Are you a New York State resident with a foster care background and considering college? The Foster Youth College Success Initiative (FYCSI) provides crucial funding to make higher education accessible. Understanding your eligibility for this program is the first step towards achieving your academic goals, whether you’re interested in a traditional degree or an adult diploma college program.
Who is Eligible for FYCSI Funding?
To qualify for FYCSI, students must meet specific criteria focused on residency and foster care experience. The fundamental requirements are:
- New York State Residency: Applicants must be residents of New York State.
- Foster Care Background or Orphan Status: Eligibility extends to students who have been in foster care at any point after their 13th birthday, or those who are orphans.
To officially verify your eligibility, it’s necessary to submit the FYCSI consent form to FCY4College@ocfs.ny.gov. This step ensures that your status is confirmed with both the State Education Department (SED) and your chosen educational institution.
Detailed Eligibility for Foster Youth
The FYCSI program adheres to the federal Higher Education Act definition of foster youth. This encompasses a broad range of experiences, ensuring that various situations are recognized. You are considered a foster youth if you:
- Are currently in foster care.
- Were in foster care after your 13th birthday. This includes:
- Students adopted from foster care after the age of 13.
- Students in kinship foster care agreements, living with relatives or kin.
- Students who have aged out of the foster care system.
- Students who experienced foster care in another state but meet New York residency requirements for opportunity programs (either a NY resident for at least one year or a NY high school diploma recipient).
Eligibility for Orphans
Students who are orphans may also be eligible for FYCSI funding under specific conditions:
- Orphan Status: Eligibility is limited to students who have lost both parents.
- Age at Orphanhood & Adoption: Critically, orphans are only eligible if both parents passed away and the student was NOT adopted before reaching the age of 13.
Situations That Do Not Qualify for FYCSI
It’s important to clarify situations that, unfortunately, do not meet FYCSI eligibility requirements:
- Guardianship: Students under documented or informal guardianship agreements, without a foster care history after their 13th birthday or documented orphan status post-13th birthday, are not eligible.
- Unaccompanied/Homeless Students: Homeless students without foster care experience after the age of 13 are generally not eligible, unless they meet the orphan criteria (both parents deceased after the student’s 13th birthday and not subsequently adopted before age 13). It’s worth noting that a student who became an orphan after age 13 and then entered a legal guardianship agreement is eligible.
If you believe you meet the FYCSI eligibility criteria, especially considering your background as a foster youth or eligible orphan and your interest in pursuing a college program or even an adult diploma college program, take action. Contact your school’s Financial Aid Office or reach out to fosteryouth@nysed.gov. When contacting via email, please provide your First Name, Last Name, eligibility criterion (Foster Youth or eligible Orphan), email address, and phone number. This will allow them to provide you with specific guidance and information on the next steps to access this valuable funding. Remember, schools will require documentation to confirm orphan status if applicable.
