Eligibility Requirements
REFPA’s Scholarship Program and Special Needs Request serves children in both out-of-home care and in-home care. Eligible children include:

• Newborns through 18 years old (still in high school) placed in:
  • Sonoma County Approved Homes
  • Foster Family Agencies
  • Relative/NREFM homes
  • Tribally Approved Homes

A child qualifies for a REFPA Scholarship or Special Needs Request if they have an open CPS case in:

• Family Preservation Unit
• Court Investigations
• Continuing Services
• Adoption

Note: Cases that have been dismissed do not qualify at this time.

Youth over 18 receiving AB12 services are eligible for the Special Needs Request instead of the REFPA Scholarship.

Application Process
Applications for REFPA Scholarships can be completed:

• Online at www.refpa.org
• By downloading the application and emailing it to the Scholarship Chairperson at scholarship.refpa21@gmail.com

Submission Guidelines:

• For children in out-of-home care, the Resource Parent or Social Worker can submit the application.
• For children with CFM or Family Preservation Unit cases, the Social Worker must submit the application to verify the need for the scholarship with the case-carrying social worker.

Scholarship requests are reviewed during the REFPA Board Meeting on the first Monday of each month.

Types of Scholarships

Section A: REFPA Scholarship
Awards up to $500 per year for items such as:

• Well-being and Fitness
• Sports: Shoes, uniforms, and costs for activities like football, baseball, martial arts, dance, or swimming
• School Activities: Field trips and calculators
• Extracurricular Activities
• Music: Instruments and lessons
• Camps: Cheerleading, football, summer camps/programs

Payment Process:
Scholarships are paid directly to the service provider or reimbursed to the Resource Parent upon receipt submission. Payees must be 18 or older.

Additional Notes:
The Scholarship Chairperson will explore alternative funding methods whenever possible.

Section B: High School Scholarship Funds
Foster youth graduating from high school may receive an additional scholarship of up to $400 for one-time expenses such as:

• Prom clothing and shoes
• Prom pictures
• Yearbook
• Class ring

This is a one-time scholarship award in addition to Section A funds. Payments can be made to the Resource Parent or the youth if they are 18+.

Section C: Special Needs Request
For foster youth aged 0-21, the REFPA Board will consider special requests of up to $1,000 on a case-by-case basis.

Requirements:

1. Submit a letter detailing:
   • The specific need
   • How the youth will benefit
   • Cost/expense
   • Whether other funding sources have been explored
   • Signatures from the caregiver, youth, and Social Worker
2. Receipts must be verified by the Scholarship Chairperson.

Examples of Special Requests:

• A child competing in an out-of-town spelling bee requires two nights of lodging.
• A child needs matching funds for a school field trip in their favorite subject or area of interest.