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 at ssnavigator@douglascollege.ca to receive your application fee waiver code. 

Self-referrals and referrals are welcome from social workers, youth workers, support workers and/or 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 Learning for Future Grant (LFFG) is available to full-time or part-time students who meet the eligibility criteria for the Provincial Tuition Waiver Program and are enrolled in a program or course below the graduate level that leads, or will lead, to a credential (citation, certificate, diploma or degree). The LFFG provides an annual grant of $3,500 per program year (August 1 to July 31) to assist with additional education related costs not covered by the Provincial Tuition Waiver Program (e.g. textbooks, computers, supplies, etc.).

Instructions:

1. Download the Provincial Tuition Waiver Program and Learning for Future Grant Application form and complete Sections 1 and 3.
2. Submit your signed application form to your institution’s Financial Aid Office so Section 2 can be completed.
3. Your institution will submit your application form to StudentAid BC who will verify your time-in-care with the Ministry of Children and Family Development and/or the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction. The verification process can take up to 6 weeks depending on the complexity of your records search.
4. If you are eligible, you will receive the $3,500 Learning for Future Grant for the program year (August 1 - July 31).

For further information, please review the Provincial Tuition Waiver Program - Frequently Asked Questions and the Learning for Future Grant - Frequently Asked Questions or contact the program at tuitionwaiver@gov.bc.ca.

Learn more about the Learning for Futures Grant or reach out to ssnavigator@douglascollege.ca to learn how to apply!

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

• 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:  

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

UPDATE: Student Aid BC has replaced the Youth Education Assistance Funds with the Learning for Future Grant. The new Learning for Future Grant will be available to eligible Provincial Tuition Waiver recipients effective August 1, 2023.

Applications for the Youth Educational Assistance Fund will be accepted until July 31st, 2023.

For any questions or information regarding YEAF or the Learning For Futures Grant please connect with ssnavigator@douglascollege.ca. 

UPDATE: Effective April 4, 2024, the Agreements with Young Adults (AYA) program has been phased out and replaced by the Strengthening Abilities and Journeys of Empowerment (SAJE) program. Young adults currently on AYAs will continue to receive supports until their agreement ends, after which they can transition to the SAJE Income Support. 

SAJE provides support to young people with government care experience until the age of 27. For more information about the SAJE program, including income supports, please visit gov.bc.ca/SAJE. To find out which SAJE supports and benefits you are eligible for: 

• call 1-866-3623, 3001 or 
• email MCF.SAJE@gov.bc.ca

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