Application materials for the 2024 DCFS Scholarship Program are presently being accepted by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. A minimum of 53 academic scholarships will be given through the program to current and former youth in care for the upcoming school year. Of these, four will go to children of veterans, and two will go to students pursuing social work degrees in memory of DCFS caseworkers Pamela Knight and Deidre Silas, who both died from injuries they sustained while performing their jobs.
Recipients of the scholarship receive a medical card, a monthly payment of $1,577 to help with other expenditures, and tuition and academic fee waivers for up to five consecutive years at qualifying Illinois state community colleges and public universities. 259 college-bound youngsters received scholarships from DCFS last year, the highest number in the organization’s history.
“As Governor, I’ve made it my priority to ensure that every Illinois student has access to higher education—and that includes youth in DCFS care,” says Governor JB Pritzker. “After awarding a record-breaking 259 DCFS scholarships last year, I couldn’t be more excited to share that we are once again opening applications for 2024. This is about more than just education—it’s about equity and a lifetime of opportunity, and I encourage all current and former youth in care to apply.”
“It’s our mission to provide every youth in our care with the resources and support they need to succeed through every stage of life, and our commitment does not end when they graduate from high school,” said Illinois DCFS Director Marc D. Smith. “These scholarships will open the door to a lifetime of possibilities for our youth as they prepare for adulthood and plan for their futures.”
Youth who have an open DCFS case, whose cases were concluded through guardianship or adoption, or who aged out of care at the age of eighteen, are eligible to apply for the DCFS Scholarship Program. Applying youth must be at least 16 years old on March 31.
“Receiving the DCFS Scholarship has allowed me to support my family while pursuing higher education. Having this on my resume has piqued the interest of my network, from potential employment to volunteerism opportunities, and has given me new outlets for learning, growth and support,” said Priscilla, a 2023 scholarship recipient. “Being a scholarship recipient has also created spaces for success and connection with other current and former youth in care, where higher education has not created these spaces for us yet. I encourage other youth to apply for the scholarship to expand their potential and be supported while doing so.”
Scholarship winners are chosen on the basis of their academic standing and ability, extracurricular and community involvement, three letters of recommendation from people other than family members, and a personal essay outlining their motivation for pursuing higher education. Scholarships are given to students who want to attend trade schools, community colleges, regular institutions, or universities in Illinois to further their education.
Applications are available online at https://apply.mykaleidoscope.com/scholarships/DCFS2024. Students are encouraged to submit their applications in advance of the March 31 deadline.
Students or caregivers may call the DCFS Office of Education and Transition Services at 217-557-2689 or email DCFS.Scholarship@illinois.gov with questions about the application process or for more information.
About the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) Founded in 1964, DCFS is responsible for protecting children from abuse or neglect by responding to reports received by the Child Abuse Hotline at childabuse.illinois.gov (non-emergency situations) or 1-800-25-ABUSE (1-800-252-2873). With the goal of keeping children safe, DCFS strengthens and supports families with a wide range of services. When keeping a child safe means removing them from the home, DCFS makes every effort to reunite them with their family. When the best interest of the child makes this impossible, DCFS is committed to pursuing guardianship or adoption by loving families to provide children with a safe and permanent home. DCFS is also responsible for licensing and monitoring of all Illinois child welfare agencies.
