State of New Jersey | Department of Children and Families

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NJ FOSTER SCHOLARS
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
CHILDREN'S TRUST FUND

NJ FOSTER SCHOLARS
Donate funds to help a youth transitioning from foster care, or a recently adopted teen, pay for a college education.

A college education is often the key to helping youth achieve a successful transition to adulthood and self sufficiency. We need all the help we can get to help secure a positive future for our youth aging out of the foster care system.

The NJ Foster Scholars Program was developed in 2003 and is specifically designed to help youth aging-out of the foster care system, or recently adopted teens, with the growing expenses of a college education.

Students who are enrolled full-time at a New Jersey state college or university are eligible to receive assistance for their full tuition, and youth who attend school part-time, at an out-of-state school, or a private in-state school can be awarded up to $5,000 in assistance each year.

Over 500 youth participated in the Foster Scholars Program in the 2007-2008 school year, a dramatic increase from the 90 youth who participated the first year the program was instituted.

Donate to the NJ Foster Scholars Program and support a youth in college. Your donation will go to support tuition and housing, but also costly items such as:
- Books (average cost $500 per semester)
- Transportation (average cost $500 per semester)
- Computer equipment (average cost $800)
- School supplies (average cost $225)
- Meal plans (average cost $1,600 per semester)
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Donate to a family who has been reunified with their children and can celebrate their new beginnings during the holiday season as a family.

DCF celebrates families whose children have been reunified with them after having spent time in foster care. During the holiday season, Home for the Holidays events are held throughout the state with community based organizations to honor recently reunified children and families. These events are a time to celebrate as a family with activities, gifts, prizes and much more.

As the state’s child welfare agency, DCF is responsible for the safety, well-being and permanency of all children in New Jersey. When an unfortunate situation occurs and a child is removed from his or her birth parents, the goal is to always safely reunite the child with their family.

Reunification can only happen when the parents demonstrate a commitment that often includes a lot of difficult work for families of limited means and with many other challenges in their lives. That is why Home for the Holidays is a time to celebrate these families and support their new beginnings.
Donate to Home for the Holidays and support a reunified family. Your donation will be used to benefit the families involved in the events.
CHILDREN'S TRUST FUND

Donate to the Children’s Trust Fund to help support various programs throughout the state to strengthen families and prevent child abuse.

The New Jersey Children’s Trust Fund (CTF) is a private/public partnership created by law in 1985 to fund child abuse and neglect prevention programs in New Jersey communities. CTF identifies and supports local child abuse and neglect prevention programs by awarding grants annually.

Grants are awarded to establish effective child abuse and neglect prevention programs. Funding is awarded on a competitive basis.

Examples of grant recipients include programs that help prevent shaken baby, parenting education for fathers and teens, programs for families recovering from substance abuse and training for teachers on identifying and referring families for assistance.

Donate to the Children’s Trust Fund to support child abuse and neglect prevention programs in New Jersey. For more information visit www.njchildrenstrustfund.org