Good Morning,
On behalf of the General Child and Family Services Authority Board of Directors, I am writing to you today to announce the launch of two new exciting initiatives to provide financial support for youth and young adults to attend a post-secondary education program in Manitoba.
The first new program is the General Authority College Fund. This is specifically designed to allow youth or young adults to attend technical/vocational training or college programs that are twelve months or less in duration and begin in 2022/23. Through this fund, the General Authority will pay up to the full cost of tuition as well as related costs for eligible students. To be eligible, the agency must already be supporting or plan to support the applicant through an Agreement With a Young Adult (AYA) or through the Support for Young Adults program (Social Services Administration Act). The youth or young adult must be accepted into a certificate or diploma program twelve months or less in duration at a recognized post-secondary institution with studies to commence during the 2022/23 academic year. Accredited programs in Manitoba that begin at any point during the Fall/Winter academic term (September 2022 to April 2023) and conclude within a twelve month period will be considered for funding. Applications for this fund will therefore be accepted throughout the academic year. A document describing this program and an application form are attached to this email.
The second new exciting initiative is the General Authority Post Secondary Bursary Fund. This fund is intended to provide funding to support General Authority youth or young adults to attend a post-secondary education program at a University or College in Manitoba beginning in 2022/23. As with the General Authority College Fund, to be eligible the agency must be already supporting or plan to support the applicant through an AYA or the Support for Young Adults program (Social Services Administration Act). The youth or young adult must be accepted into a program at a recognized University or College in Manitoba with studies commencing during the 2022/23 academic year. Students who have received a tuition waiver for 2022/23 studies are not eligible for this new bursary. Through this fund, the General Authority will provide up to $1,500.00 to support a post-secondary education plan developed collaboratively between a student and their caseworker. Students receiving a bursary this year can re-apply for each subsequent year of their studies.
These two new “pathways to post secondary education” complement and expand on the network of support for aspiring post secondary students offered through Manitoba’s tuition waiver program as well as local and national scholarships for youth in and from care. Our hope is that these financial support programs will open new doors and create new opportunities for our youth and young adults to fulfill their potential and succeed as adults.
Please contact our office if you have any questions regarding the eligibility criteria and application process.
Best Regards,
Jay Rodgers, CEO
General CFS Authority