Independence Scholarship Program created. The Independence Scholarship Program is a joint project of the Florida workforce system, the Florida Council on Homelessness and the Florida Independent College Fund. Its goal is to help college students who had been in the foster child system advance from low-income employment, under-employment, unemployment or public assistance to secure self-sufficient careers through higher education, avoiding future dependency on public assistance. The program will award up to $10,000 to pay tuition, room & board at the institution, book costs, fees and other education related expenses. To be eligible for this program a student must have been in Florida’s foster child system and be enrolled at one of the 28 independent colleges or universities in Florida for the 2005-2006 academic year. Awards will be processed in the order that applications are received until $300,000 is fully disbursed. Students should apply to their institution's financial aid office or directly to the Florida Independent College Fund, 929 N. Spring Garden Ave., Suite 165, DeLand, FL 32720 --- email --- ficf@ficf.org. Once scholarship eligibility requirements have been met, the award will be made to the student’s institutional account to pay remaining charges not covered by federal or state grants and scholarships up to $10,000. For additional information, including listing of the ICUF colleges and universities, check the ICUF website at www.icuf.org in the near future.

Click here (pdf, 81K) for a reproducable brochure providing more details and a list of the 28 participating Florida Independent Colleges and Universities.