Deadline: 01-Feb-23
The Government of Alberta has launched the Advancing Futures program, a transitional support program for current and former youth in government care aged 18 to 24.
The program provides social and emotional supports and funding to eligible students while they pursue post-secondary studies.
Youth are invited to apply if they are interested in:
- Academic upgrading if it is a requirement for entry into a post-secondary program.
- Earning a license or certificate.
- Learning a trade.
- Earning a diploma or degree from a post-secondary school.
In addition to providing funding, Advancing Futures helps students succeed by supporting them while transitioning into adulthood, learning life skills and becoming successful in school. The program recognizes the potential of students to reach their educational goals and overcome the challenges they may face.
Benefits
Advancing Futures funds education programs in a wide variety of career areas, including digital media design, teaching and plumbing. The program covers funding for:
Up to $40,000 in education costs, including:
- Required tuition.
- Mandatory fees.
- Required books.
- Mandatory supplies.
- Approved technology.
- Living allowance.
- Transportation funds.
- Full parent portion of subsidized child care.
- Health benefit plan.
- Damage deposit for an apartment.
Supports
- Advancing Futures can also help students plan for their dreams by:
- Assisting in career investigation.
- Discussing specific job requirements.
- Helping clarify career goals.
- Identifying different education paths to help students achieve their education and career goals.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must:
- Be between 18 and 24 years old at the time they apply.
- Be full- or part-time students enrolled at an approved institution, and
- Have been a youth in government care as a result of an Alberta-based agreement or order.
- They must also have:
- Had a Permanent Guardianship Order (PGO) or Permanent Guardianship Agreement between the time they were 13 and 18 years old, or
- Been in the care or custody of Children’s Services for at least 546 days (18 months) between the time they were 13 and 24 years old – the following intervention services are included in the calculation of these 546 days:
- Apprehension order.
- Custody agreement with guardian.
- Custody agreement with youth.
- Custody order.
- Emergency apprehension.
- Enhancement agreement with youth.
- Interim custody order.
- Order to extend custody or temporary guardianship order to 3 years.
- Support and financial assistance agreement.
- Tap agreement.
- Temporary guardianship order.
For more information, visit Advancing Futures.