[ca-bigsister]

Good news!!

FD (17 and a high school senior) has been accepted to two colleges already (CSUN and a private college). She will need a lot of support because she has learning disabilities, ADHD and anxiety but we're really excited. We're waiting to hear on two more. I want her to live on campus because she'll have more guidance there.

She wants to go to a musical college in Hollywood which does not have on campus housing. I think that will probably be a great match for her but I am not excited about her living in an apartment in Hollywood. She can continue living with me - but I don't know if she'll want to. I don't want her to move in with great-grandmother because biomom and biograndmother live there on and off (more on than off lately) and biomom take methadone, smokes pot (medical marijuana) and is involved in selling her methadone.

Fd's talking about living with her boyfriend who really does not have post-college plans. I think that she is leaning toward the dorms because I have said that boys can "visit" there. (I'm really strict so she's looking forward to "visits.")

We've done her FAFSA and are awaiting information. That will let us know about Pell Grants (federal) and Cal Grants (state grants). She is considered "independent" so she will get the most help without consideration of my income.

She's also in the EOP program at CSUN and they seem committed to help foster youth.

We're applying to the United Friends of the Children Scholarship. FD is not eligible for the $5,000 Chaffey grant because I became her guardian before she was 16 . We did not know this at the time and I am not happy about that.

Anyway - we are doing the FastWeb: Scholarships, Financial Aid and Colleges search but if you know of any other scholarships or have any information, please pm me or post it so other students can be aware of it.

She is 17, biodad is in prison for attempted murder of his dad until she is 20, biomom is drug addicted, in and out of jail and has chronic hepatitis C, biomaternal grandmother also has addiction and incarceration issues - sad story but she is doing well now.

Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[RavenSong]

I'm not sure which county you live in, but be sure to check with the county DHS to see if there are any scholarships available for foster kids. Many of them do have some type of program to help fund college costs.

When I started college at 17, I received a full scholarship from San Diego County...I was a ward of the court, on juvenile probation, and a former foster kid. The scholarship included the dorm costs, books, tuition, meals, etc. I think the scholarship was arranged through the Juvenile Probation Department. (I'll have to ask my best friend and neighbor, who just happens to be my former juvenile probation officer, lol. It's a small world... )

Anyway, you might want to check with your daughter's caseworker and see if there are any available programs. As far as the Pell Grant and the CalGrant goes, no problem. I'm positive she'll get them both.

Personally, I wouldn't encourage her to have her own apartment in Hollywood. A couple of my friends studied music in Hollywood when they were 18, and they both got into a lot of trouble living there on their own. It sounded like a lot of fun, though.

[ca-bigsister]

I totally agree about not having the apartment in Hollywood. I was disheartened today though when I asked her boyfriend about his post-high school plans when he graduates in June. I don't know he replied. I asked if he was going to community college and he has no idea.

You may have received a Chafee Grant which is $5,000 per year. FD is not eligible because I was her legal guardian before she was 16.