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. All 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.
Reach Higher Montana Summit
What better way to experience college life than to spend three days on a Montana college campus, sleeping in the dorms, eating in the cafeteria, attending “classes”, and more importantly hanging out with other students JUST LIKE YOU! During the Reach Higher Montana Summit, youth learn about wellness, career and employment prep, budgeting and finance, academic support and SO MUCH more!
As an added bonus, participants can take home a FREE laptop to assist with the next steps in their education, or a life skills package to help them transition to independent living.
This year's Summit will be held at Montana State University - Billings, June 16 - 18.
The Summit application process opens March 2 and closes May 1.
- Step One - Summit Medical Form will be available on March 2.
- Step One - Download and complete the Summit Medical Form. The Summit Medical Form MUST be completed BEFORE applying to the Summit.
- Step Two - Summit application will open on March 30.
- Step Two - Summit application process closes on May 1.
For more information about the Summit, contact Programs Manager Rhonda Safford at (406) 422-1275 x 800 or rsafford@ReachHigherMontana.org.
Career Exploration Training
Our Advisors will host six training sessions across Montana to help foster youth explore available education or workforce opportunities after high school using the Montana Career Information System (MCIS). These sessions will be interactive and may include a campus tour depending on the location. Students at each location will be eligible to win a laptop.
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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.
Who qualifies? Students Who Are:
- Currently in foster care and likely to age out of the foster care system; or
- Aged out of the foster care system; or
- Adopted or placed into guardianship from foster care after reaching age 16, or
- Have been under tribal court jurisdiction and meet the above eligibility criteria.
Download the ETV application.
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.
College Check In
Our Advisors will check in with ETV recipients at local colleges several times throughout the school year to see how they are doing and to help them navigate college. They will connect with students either by text, phone call, or in-person in hopes to increase the retention of our ETV recipients.
For more information about our programs, contact Rhonda Safford at (406) 422-1275 x 800 or rsafford@ReachHigherMontana.org.
