Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Fostering Independence Grant topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Foster Advocates, stakeholders praise proposed increase to Fostering Independence Grant
Summary
Witnesses including Foster Advocates urged the committee to fund the Fostering Independence Grant fully; the A‑4 shows an $8 million per‑biennium increase for the program and witnesses said that would secure nearly 700 current students and prevent a waitlist.
Advocates for students with foster care experience urged the Senate Higher Education Committee to make the Fostering Independence Grant (FIG) permanent and fully funded. Testimony said the A‑4 proposes an $8,000,000 per biennium increase for the Fostering Independence Grant Program.
Ariana Shimon, interim executive director at Foster Advocates, thanked the committee for the increase and said making FIG whole would prevent the Office of Higher Education from initiating a waitlist and would secure benefits for nearly 700 current recipients. "By making Fig whole, we can do just that," Shimon said, noting the program gives foster students stability to pursue education.
Why it matters: witnesses said FIG provides a consistent pathway for foster youth to attend and remain in postsecondary education by covering costs that otherwise force students out of school.
Committee action: testimony was received; no vote was taken.
