The California Student Aid Commission (CSAC), through an interagency agreement with the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), administers the Chafee Foster Youth Grant Program. The Chafee Foster Youth Grant Program provides eligible California youth aging out of the foster care with financial assistance to attend a postsecondary institution in a Title IV-eligible program. Students may be eligible to receive up to $5,000 per year if they are enrolled in an eligible program. Funding is intended to supplement, not supplant, any grant funds that a student may otherwise be entitled to receive, nor may the total grant funding exceed the student's cost of attendance.
The Chafee Foster Youth Grant Application is available on the Commission's website. Only new Chafee applicants need to complete this application. Prospective Chafee students who cannot access the online application can download a paper application and mail or fax it to the Commission.
Renewal Chafee recipients must file a corresponding FAFSA and CSUB must submit a (Need Analysis Report) NAR by the deadline, for the student to be considered for the renewal award process.
Chafee Grant Program benefits must be coordinated with the applicant's other resources. The Financial Need Analysis Report will assist the Commission in determining the remaining financial need of the student. Remaining loan disbursements or work-study awards may be canceled to allow maximum Chafee Grant awards prior to completing the Report.
The Commission's Customer Service staff can be reached at (888) 224-7268 #1 for general
inquiries. For more information on the Chafee Grant Program and its benefits, please
check the following websites: