Former Youth in Care

As defined by the Child, Family and Community Service Act, a youth in care is someone who is currently, or has received care from the Ministry of Children and Family Development or a Delegated Aboriginal Agency (DAA) through the Child, Family and Community Service Act for a minimum of twelve months (consecutive or accumulated) in any, or a combination, of the following categories:

Continuing Custody Order pursuant to sections 41 (1) (d), 42.2 (4) (d) or (7) or 49 (4), (5) or 10 (a) of the Act

• A protection order in which the court has assigned permanent custody of the child to the Director of Child Welfare (the Director).

Temporary Custody Order

• A protection order in which the court has assigned custody of the child to the Director on a temporary basis.

Special Needs Agreement pursuant to section 7 of the Act

• A parent of a child with special needs may voluntarily and temporarily agree to place the child in the care of the Director.

Voluntary Care Agreement pursuant to section 6 of the Act

• A parent voluntarily and temporarily places the child in the care of the Director

Youth Agreement pursuant to section 12.2 of the Act

• The Director enters into an agreement with a youth (ages 16 – 19) who needs assistance to live independently and cannot be re-established with family.

Extended Family Plan pursuant to section 8 of the Act

• A parent voluntarily and temporarily places the child in the care of an adult who has an established familial, relational, or cultural connection to the child.

Permanent Transfer of Custody Order pursuant to section 54.01 or 54.1 of the Act

• An order in which the court permanently transfers custody to another (non-parent) family member or another adult with an established relational or cultural connection to the child.

Temporary Transfer of Custody pursuant to section 41(1)(b) of the Act

• A protection order in which the court temporarily places the child in the custody of an adult, other than a parent, who has an established familial, relational, or cultural connection to the child.

Prospective former youth in care students are eligible to receive an application fee waiver code, this means you do not need to pay for the application fee when you apply on B.C. Education Planner. Please connect with the Student Support Navigator directly to receive your application fee waiver code. 

Self-referrals and referrals are welcome from social workers, youth workers, support workers and educational professionals.

Note: Douglas College does not issue application refunds so if you had already paid for your application fee, we cannot refund you.

If you are 19-26 years old and have been in B.C. care for 2 years, your tuition and student fees can be paid for by the B.C. government through the Provincial Tuition Waiver Program (PTWP).

For more information and full eligibility criteria, visit the Provincial Tuition Waiver Program.

Steps To Apply:

1. Apply for admission to Douglas College on B.C. Education Planner
2. Download and complete the online Provincial Tuition Waiver Program Application Form.
3. Email your completed application to studentsuccess@douglascollege.ca
4. Within 6 weeks after processing, you will receive an email about your approval or denial into the program.

If you need support with your application or have any questions, contact the Student Support Navigator directly.

• Provincial Tuition Waiver Program Application

The YEAF program provides up to $5,500 per program year for 4 years to youth who have been in a continuing custody order (COO). Eligible students need to be between 19-24 years of age. This grant can be used for living expenses, phone bills, childcare, textbooks, and more.  

For more information and full eligibility criteria, visit the Youth Educational Assistance Fund. 

Steps to Apply for First Time Applications:

1. Download and complete the online Youth Educational Assistance Fund application.
2. If you do not have a StudentAid B.C. application number, you need to download and complete the Confirmation of Enrolment letter. After you complete this form, please send it to ssnavigator@douglascollege.ca The financial aid department will fill out their necessary section and send it back to you.
3. You must also submit an original signed letter from any Ministry of Children and Family Development office (MCFD) or delegated Aboriginal agency stating you are a former B.C. youth in care who meets one of the legal eligibility criteria.
4. Submit all documents directly to StudentAid B.C. dpu.studentfunding@gov.bc.ca
5. StudentAid B.C. will email you with the application results.

Note: Douglas College cannot submit your Youth Educational Assistance Fund application on your behalf.

For Recurring YEAF Applicants:

1. Re-apply every year at the same time by filling out the Youth Educational Assistance Fund application and, if relevant, the Confirmation of Enrolment letter.
2. Send it directly to dpu.studentfunding@gov.bc.ca
3. You do not need to send another letter from MCFD after your first successful application.

Tips for Applying:

• Remember when you applied for the YEAF as you are eligible to receive this funding a total of 4 times. Re-apply every year around the same time to maximize this fund.
• If you are denied funding and want to appeal, please complete an appeal form and submit it along with the documentation listed on the form to StudentAid BC.
• Youth Educational Assistance Fund Application
• Confirmation of Enrolment Form

If you’ve been in foster care or had a Youth Agreement, you may qualify for the Agreements with a Young Adult (AYA) program to help cover the cost of things like housing, child care, tuition and health care while you go to school or do job training, or attend rehabilitation, mental health, or life skills programs.

Under this program, you will be assigned with an Agreements with Young Adults specialist who can support your time while you’re in school and you will also receive a monthly cheque to help you with your living expenses.

For more information and full eligibility criteria, visit Agreements with Young Adults

The Youth Futures Education Fund (YFEF) helps create equal educational opportunities for young adults who have been in government care. Provided by the Vancouver Foundation, this specific fund is solely for students studying at Douglas College on the Provincial Tuition Waiver Program. For more information, please visit: https://youthfutures.ca/ 

• Funding includes wrap around supports for: rent, phone, groceries, textbooks, school supplies, transportation, child-care, internet, or other costs. 

• This fund is shared among all tuition waiver students and is provided on a case-by-case basis. Please request the amount you are in need of- and it will be assessed based on the YFEF budget.

  Connect with a Student Support Navigator for access to YFEF

Here are some community scholarships available for former youth in care students. For a full comprehensive list, check out AgedOut Scholarships and Bursaries.

Note: All scholarships have different application requirements, eligibility and deadlines. These scholarships are not affiliated with Douglas College.

• Federation of Community Social Services of BC Youth Education Bursary 
• Howard Legacy Youth Fund 
• Adoptive Families Association of BC Youth Bursary 
• Federation of BC Youth in Care Networks’ Dream Fund

• You reached your 19^th birthday while on a Youth Agreement, Continuing Custody Order or were under the personal guardianship of a director. 

• You achieved permanency between the ages of 12-19 (i.e., adoption after being in care, or under section 54.1 or 54.01), 

• You have 24 months of cumulative time in care between the ages of 12-19, in a range of in- and out-of-care statuses, 

• You were in a comparable arrangement under Indigenous law. 

• If you would like to learn more about the program visit these links below:  

Aged Out is a helpful website filled with resources and information that can be used to guide youth throughout the different phases and stages of their life  and education journey. 

• Housing  

• Job Training  

• Life skills training and support