Educational Supports for Youth in Care

Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities Crown Ward Strategy
Ontario is committed to ensuring that everyone has equal opportunity to pursue a postsecondary opportunity. Crown Wards face challenges to pursuing their education, so Ontario has developed a strategy to help encourage Crown Wards to consider postsecondary education and to help them succeed should they make that choice. Click here to read more...

Clark Awards
The Clark Bursary Fund was established in 1989 through a generous donation by Ron and Nancy Clark of Caledonia. It was created to assist youth in care and former wards to achieve their academic and career goals.

  • In 1989, there were five bursaries of $250 awarded to young people in care.
  • In 1995, Ron and Nancy began contributing yearly to ensure 20 bursaries were available each year to deserving young people.
  • In 2000, they introduced the one-time Clark Grant of $1,000 to youth in care and former youth in care pursuing educational, employment or skills development programs.
  • In 2007, the Clark’s benevolence continued with the introduction of the Clark Graduation Award, a gift of $1,000 for Clark Bursary recipients completing their post-secondary studies and a generous graduation present from the Clarks.  
  • In 2009, 20 new bursaries and 20 grants were awarded.

The Clark Bursary Award is available to youth in care and former wards pursuing post-secondary education.  Students attending university will receive $4,500 per year for up to four years and students attending college will receive $3,000 per year for two years (or three years depending on program). Upon completion of their studies, Clark Bursary recipients are eligible to receive the Clark Graduation award — a monetary gift of $1,000.

The Clark Grants Award is a one-time grant of $1,000 offered to young people who are pursuing educational, employment or skills development programs and require financial assistance.  The grant is available for tuition, equipment, tools or other requirements. 

Nominations for the Clark Bursary and Grant must be submitted by a CAS. The nominees are the selected candidates from their agency and will have secured a personal reference to support their application.  An agency may nominate one youth for the bursary and one youth for the grant.  

For more information, please visit the Members website.

RONA Scholarship
The Rona Scholarship was created to assist youth in care and former youth in care realize their post-secondary educational goals.  In 2009, 15 one-time scholarships of $3,000 will be awarded. Member agencies of the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies are eligible to submit a single nomination for the RONA scholarship. To be considered, a nomination

  • must come from a designated staff person from a member agency of the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies
  • must include a reference that is not from a Children’s Aid Society
  • must not be for a current or former Clark Bursary recipient

For more information, please visit the Members website.

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Other Awards & Opportunities
OACAS offers the Clark Bursary Awards, but there are other organizations that offer awards, bursaries and scholarships to children currently in care or former Crown wards. This is not meant to be a comprehensive list, and if you know of other organizations that offer awards or opportunities to Ontario children in care or former Crown wards, please email us so they can be added to this list.

Ron and Gina Fraser Bursaries at McMaster
The Ron and Gina Fraser Bursaries are open to students entering Level I Nursing (BScN) or Level I Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHSc). Special consideration will be given to students who self-identify as a current or former Crown ward.

National Youth in Care Network - Ken Dryden Scholarships
Each year Ken Dryden Scholarships are awarded to young people, currently or formerly in the care of the Canadian child welfare system, who demonstrate great achievement and promise. Each scholarship covers up to $3,000 or 80% of the cost of tuition and fees, whichever is less, and is renewable annually, based on reasonable progress toward the completion of an undergraduate degree or diploma.

As a young person, all you need do is apply. As a child welfare worker, foster parent or friend, please tell any eligible young person of these scholarship opportunities and offer your help.

The deadline for applications is the first Friday of May for the academic year starting the following September. For more information, please contact the National Youth in Care Network at 1.800.790.7074.

 

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