Scholarship Application Form on Desk
February 7, 2023 – The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is currently accepting applications for the 2023 DCFS Scholarship Program.
Through the program, a minimum of 53 academic scholarships will be awarded to current and former youth in care for the upcoming school year, with four awards reserved for the children of veterans.
Scholarship recipients receive up to five consecutive years of tuition and academic fee waivers to be used at participating Illinois state community colleges and public universities, a monthly grant of $1,506 to offset other expenses, and a medical card. On average, the department receives 200 application packets each year and has awarded over 1,500 scholarships since the program began in 1971.
The DCFS Scholarship Program is available to youth who have an open DCFS case, whose cases were closed through adoption or guardianship or who aged out of care at 18 or older. Youth who are at least 16 years old and not yet 21 on March 31 may apply.
“This scholarship has allowed me to reduce my work hours so I can stay focused on school and on getting good grades,” said Rileigh, a 2022 scholarship recipient. “With this scholarship, I’m able to pay my bills, buy groceries, make my car payment, and afford other necessities.”
2022 scholarship recipient Chloe adds, “The DCFS scholarship gives us an opportunity to show that the circumstances we were given are not the circumstances that have to define our future success.”
Scholarship recipients are selected based on their scholastic record and aptitude, community and extracurricular activities, three letters of recommendation from non-relatives and a personal essay illustrating their purpose for higher education.
Applications are available at any DCFS regional office and on the DCFS website
