CFSP 5 Year Plan - RI Department of Children, Youth & Families

Rhode Island (URI), Rhode Island College (RIC) and the Community College of Rhode Island
(CCRI). There is no per student cap on these state funds at this time.
Youth and young adults interested in receiving postsecondary educational funds must
complete their FAFSA and a DCYF Postsecondary Education Tuition Assistance Program
application no later than June 1 st of each year. Late applications may be considered but only if
funds are available after funding levels are determined for on time applicants. The eligibility
criteria for each of the subprograms (DCYF Higher Education Opportunity Incentive Grant and
ETV voucher) are based on state and federal laws and regulations and are clearly articulated in the
application. The Department treats all funds under this program as the funding of last resort after
all other non-loan funding sources (e..g., Pell Grants, scholarships) are considered and uses funds
only to cover further unmet need to the extent possible based on available funds and the total
number of youth participating. For youth attending the Community College of Rhode Island,
Rhode Island College and the University of Rhode Island, DCYF in past years has been able
to cover all of the further unmet need before loans using a combination of these two
subprograms. However, due to rising college costs and annual increases in the number of
applicants, the Department was not able to continue this practice for the 2009-10 Academic
Year. The Department will be developing a mechanism to set a cap on the total funds a
student can receive for subsequent academic years.
For the 2008-2009 academic year, the Department provided educational funds to 107
young adults who attended 19 postsecondary educational programs. This assistance totaled
$449,225 from all funds [ETV Funds - $274,607; DCYF Higher Education Funds – $174,618].
The average ETV award was $3,710 dollars and the average $3,175.
Objectives for 2008-09:
o Increase outreach to youth in postsecondary programs who have aged out of
care to ensure that they can continue receiving financial supports for their
educational program
Status: More extensive outreach has been made to youth. Emails were sent
to all DCYF workers three times during the year (Fall, Winter, Spring)
explaining the program and encouraging staff to have eligible youth apply.
Presentations were conducted with The Voice on several occasions and
numerous impromptu presentations were made. Additionally a Youth
Development webpage was added to the Department’s website with this
information and access to the application.
o Increase the role of the DCYF Higher Education Advisory Board in identifying
and leveraging additional resources for youth
Status: This Advisory Board has met more frequently but our focus has
primarily been on improving the current system. The Advisory Board did
provide input into the legislation to modify the state funded higher education
assistance program for DCYF involved youth.
o Develop and implement a more effective system for coordinating and
disbursing higher educational funding, including ETV funds.
R.I. Department of Children, Youth and Families
Title IV-B Child and Family Service Plan – 2010 - 2014
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