How We Support Youth in Foster Care

Youth in foster care are amazing people and we love supporting them on their path to education after high school. Students need financial and emotional support when thinking about the next steps in life, and we offer guidance and funding to help these special students achieve their education dreams starting in high school and continuing until they reach their education and career goals.

Paying for School

Foster Care Education and Training Voucher Program

Montana foster care youth are eligible to apply for the Foster Care Educational Training Voucher (ETV) program, which provides eligible youth with up to $5,000 per year to pay for educational expenses. 

The ETV application is available online and easy to use.

• Click this button.  ETV Application
• Create an account.
• Once your account is created, look for the 'Education and Training Voucher (ETV) Application' in the list of available applications.
• Click the apply button to begin.

The priority deadlines for the program are December 15 for students planning on attending spring and summer courses, and July 1 for fall courses or the full school year.

Scholarships for Foster Youth

We have a list of scholarships for foster youth, we encourage you to take a look and apply. 

Check out our Scholarships for Foster Youth

College Check In

We continue to support youth with foster care experience as they pursue their education after high school. Reach Higher Montana Advisors connect with ETV recipients at colleges in their areas several times throughout the school year to see how they are doing and to help them navigate college.

Click here for Reach Higher Montana Advisor contact information.

For more information about our programs, contact Rhonda Safford at (406) 495-7354 or rsafford@ReachHigherMontana.org

Reach Higher Montana Summit

Reach Higher Montana holds an annual Summit for Youth in Foster Care every year in June. The purpose of the summit is to help youth in foster care experience life on a college campus, learn about available resources to achieve education and career goals, and connect to peers from across Montana. Students apply for the opportunity to attend the Summit, and for applications visit with your Chafee provider about applying for this great opportunity. A list of Chafee providers will be available when the Summit application opens.

Curious and want to know what more? Check out this agenda.  

For more information about the Summit, contact Rhonda Safford at (406) 495-7354 or rsafford@ReachHigherMontana.org.

Summit Application Process

Please contact the Chafee provider in your area about applying for the Summit for Youth in Foster Care. If you have any questions about the Summit or the application process, contact Rhonda Safford or Steve Coop.

Career Exploration Training

To help students get a jump start on career exploration, Reach Higher Montana Advisors will host regional training sessions across Montana to help foster youth explore available education or workforce opportunities after high school. These fun, interactive sessions guide students through the Montana Career Information System (MCIS) and provide students with access to information and connections to careers available in their area. Contact your local Reach Higher Montana Advisor about one of these sessions.

Going to the Summit? You can check out the Career Fair there.