Recharge…Reconnect…Reward
Thank you for your interest in the Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation Education Support awards. Please apply if YOU are involved in and can be accountable for, the education success of a child in foster care, i.e., licensed caregivers, unlicensed caregivers and CASAs.
WHAT’S ELIGIBLE
BACKPACK
Up to $50.
Graphing calculator*
Up to $100.
Supporting documentation showing enrollment in an advanced mathematics course from the child’s school/school district] is required for requests for Graphing Calculators. The application will be deemed Not Eligible if the required documentation is not uploaded when the application is submitted.
Distance Learning Software
Up to $100. This category is for training on how to use the distance learning software provided by the child’s school/school district. This is not for tutoring or online learning courses. Supporting documentation on letterhead or email address from the child’s school/school district will be required for Distance Learning Software Training. The documentation must state that the training will not be provided to the student and/or caregiver by the child’s school/school district. The application will be deemed Not Eligible if the required documentation is not uploaded when the application is submitted. You will need to find your own vendor and submit receipts for reimbursement. One per household.
Sensory Learning Items
Up to $50.
Tech: Earbuds w/ microphone
Up to $10.
Tech: Device & Mobile Data*
Up to $283.75. Includes three months of mobile data.
Supporting documentation on letterhead or email address from the child’s school/school district] is required for requests for technology. This documentation must state that the requested technology will not be provided to the student by the district or school. The application will be deemed Not Eligible if the required documentation is not uploaded when the application is submitted.
For technology items (other than printer and/or earbuds), you will have the option to use AFFCF’s preferred technology vendor, ON Communications. If you choose our preferred partner, the device/service will be prepaid and delivered to you. You will not need to provide receipts for reimbursement. If you choose your own vendor, you will need to submit receipts for reimbursement (up to the maximum allowable amount for that category).
Tech: Device Only*
Up to $225.
*Additional supporting documentation required. See Supporting Documentation under Step 6: Submit Funding Request in How to Apply.
For technology items (other than printer and/or earbuds), you will have the option to use AFFCF’s preferred technology vendor, ON Communications. If you choose our preferred parter, the device/service will be prepaid and delivered to you. You will not need to provide receipts for reimbursement. If you choose your own vendor, you will need to submit receipts for reimbursement (up to the maximum allowable amount for that category.
Tech: Mobile Data/Internet Service Only*
Up to $231.55.
*For technology items (other than printer and/or earbuds), you have the option to use AFFCF’s preferred technology vendor, ON Communications. If you choose our preferred partner, the device/service will be prepaid and delivered to you. You will not need to provide receipts for reimbursement. If you use your own vendor for mobile data/internet service only, if approved, an account statement showing a service start date or data plan upgrade date AFTER the award approval date will be required for reimbursement. AFFCF will not consider reimbursing for existing mobile data/Internet service.
Tech: Printer
Up to $100. Only one request per household will be considered for a printer.
Traditional School Supplies
Up to $100. (paper, pencils, ruler, etc.)
Workspace
Up to $100. (small desk/chair, lap desk, etc.)
WHAT AFFCF ALREADY FUNDS
AFFCF already funds the following education-related items. Please complete a separate application and choose the appropriate award category for these “Back to School” items.
Books
The maximum AFFCF can consider funding for books is $50 per child per year. AFFCF can only process one reimbursement, so all purchase receipts for the books must be provided to AFFCF at one time. Once approved, AFFCF sends a congratulations e-mail to notify the applicant that the request has been approved and for what amount so the purchase can be made and the receipt mailed to AFFCF for reimbursement.
School Program Fees
AFFCF can consider funding trade/vocational program fees for youth who are in grades K-12. A program fee for a youth who has already graduated high school or received their GED is not eligible for this type of request—instead, they would need to fill out a scholarship application for consideration into AFFCF’s Post-Secondary Scholarship program. The maximum time AFFCF can consider funding school program fees is for an academic year, so a new application must be submitted for each academic year. If it is a two-year program, progress reports or grades also need to be provided to receive additional assistance.
Supplemental Clothing
The maximum AFFCF can consider funding for supplemental clothing is up to $100 per child per year. AFFCF can only process one reimbursement, so all the purchase receipts for the clothing must be provided to AFFCF at one time. Once approved, AFFCF sends a congratulations e-mail to notify the applicant that the request has been approved and for what amount so the purchase can be made and the receipt mailed to AFFCF for reimbursement.
Tutoring Services
The maximum AFFCF can consider funding for tutoring services is $500 for three (3) months. On the initial application, the following documentation is required:
- a dated referral from the child’s teacher on school letterhead or from school email address
- documentation from the vendor that displays the hourly rate or cost per session for tutoring services
- if the tutoring vendor is an individual rather than an organization, AFFCF also needs to receive a resume or CV showing the vendor is qualified to provide tutoring services
When submitting a request for a renewal of additional tutoring services, the following documentation is required:
- A description of the child’s progress made during the previous tutoring session from someone other than the tutor
Please note that AFFCF WILL NOT reimburse for any items that are purchased before you apply for and/or are approved for an education support award.
HOW TO APPLY
Step 1: Education support budget
Click here for the Education Support Budget Builder. You will not be able to submit an award WITHOUT this budget. You will need to complete a budget for each child for whom you are applying.
Step 2: Check your email
When you complete the BUDGET, you will receive a PDF of your finished BUDGET in your email. This is the BUDGET for your award request. You will not be able to submit an award without this BUDGET document.
Step 3: Apply
Click here to access the AFFCF award application and login in to begin the application process. Please create an account if you do not yet have one and then login.
Step 4: Applicant information
On the gray bar at the top of the page, click on Step 1 – Applicant (Start here). If this is your first time applying for an AFFCF award, click on Add Caregiver to enter your contact information.
If you have applied before, please confirm that your applicant information is up-to-date. Please do not add additional applicants to your applicant account.
Step 5: Youth information
On the gray bar at the top of the page, click on Step 2 -Youth Information. If this is your first time applying for an AFFCF award, click on Add Youth to enter your information about your child. If you have more than one child for whom you are applying, please click Add Youth again and repeat the process.
If you have applied before, please confirm that the child(ren)’s information is correct. Having the wrong caseworker email address will greatly slow down the application approval process.
Step 6: Submit funding request
On the gray bar at the top of the page, click on Step 3 -Submit Funding Request and begin the application.
- When you select Education Support category, you will be required to upload the PDF of your BUDGET.
- Please use your first and last name as the VENDOR for this award category and the amount requested will be the BUDGET total amount.
- Supporting Documentation.
- Include any additional supporting documentation as needed. The request will not be eligible for consideration if the required documentation is not included when the application is submitted. If you have questions about supporting documentation, please call before applying.
- Documentation showing enrollment in an advanced mathematics course from the child’s school or school district will be required for requests for graphic calculators.
- Documentation on letterhead or email address from the child’s school or school district will be required for requests for computers, tablets and laptops. This documentation must state that the requested technology will not be provided to the student by the distric or school. This documenation is required if you used our preferred vendor or if you use your own.
- Include any additional supporting documentation as needed. The request will not be eligible for consideration if the required documentation is not included when the application is submitted. If you have questions about supporting documentation, please call before applying.
Step 7: Status of Requests
You will be able to check the status of your request by clicking on Step 4 – Status of Requests on the gray bar at the top of the page. If you have not received notification about your request within 7 – 10 business days, please confirm that your caseworker’s email address is correct. If the email is correct and you haven’t receive any updates, please contact AFFCF.
You may want to alert your DCS caseworker that you have applied so they can respond quickly to the email they will receive from AFFCF.
