OACAS YOUTH Awards PROGRAMS 2015
Introduction
OACAS manages award programs for youth in care, Crown wards or formerCrown wards:
· Clark Bursary (Multi-year up to 4 years, $3,500 per year)
· Clark Grant (One-time $1,000)
· PHD/CAS Foundation Scholarship (One-time $3000)
The Clark Awards were established in 1989 through a generous donation by Ron and Nancy Clark of Caledonia to assist youth in achieving their academic and career goals.
Over the years, the Clark Awards have expanded and include three options: multi-year bursaries, single-year grants, and one-time graduation awards.
As a reminder, we made some changes in 2013, and these are now:
· Changing the eligibility to allow youth 21 years and over to qualify
· Allowing youth 21 years and over to apply independently of their agency (although ideally the CAS would be involved and supportive)
· Requiring that youth apply for Ontario Student Assistance Plan (OSAP)
· Award recipients are to attend a Financial Literacy coaching webinar
Programs, Policies and Procedures
Options and Eligibility for Awards
The Clark Bursary Awards are multi-year awards offered to young people who are pursuing post-secondary educational, employment or skills development programs and require financial assistance. CASs may identify one nominee per agency for this multi-year award. In 2015, the Clarks will support 25 youth with this generous award. Bursary recipients will receive $3,500 annually for up to four years of post-secondary programming.
The Clark Grants are 20 one-time grants of $1,000 offered to young people who are pursuing post-secondary educational, employment or skills development programs and require financial assistance. The grant is available for tuition, equipment, tools or other requirements to be used towards this training or professional development (one nominee per agency).
The Clark Graduation Award, introduced in June 2007, is $1,000, awarded to Clark Bursary recipients who have successfully completed their post-secondary education program.
The designated agency contact will provide OACAS with the following:
· Confirmation of graduation for the graduating Clark Bursary
· A thank you letter or card addressed to Ron and Nancy Clark, to be mailed to OACAS
· A forwarding address and current phone number for the graduating recipient
The PHD/Children’s Aid Foundation Scholarship is awarded based on the same criteria as the Clark Awards, but is a one-time award of $3000. Each agency may nominate one youth for this award. This year eleven of these scholarships will be awarded.
DESIGNATED AGENCY CONTACT (DAC)
A Designated Agency Contact should be elected for each successful bursary recipient. The role of the Designated Agency Contact (DAC) is a 1 to 4 year administrative commitment to the youth, (depending on which award is secured) and these youth will likely age out of care during the program. Each bursary recipient will need assistance to insure that:
· They receive news and updates on the bursary program in a timely fashion
· Their mailing address, contact and banking information is up-to-date
· Their confirmation of enrolments (COE) letters are submitted on time
· If needed, that they have assistance to negotiate special considerations or deferral needs with OACAS.
NOMINATION PROCESS
Eligibility:
· Be a Crown ward or CAS or former Crown wards
· Must apply for the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP)
· Have been approved as an applicant from their CAS or they may apply independently if they are over the age of 21
· Have secured one personal reference to support their application
· Be able to demonstrate how the grant/bursary will assist them in attaining their goals
· For the bursary, the youth must be pursuing post-secondary education in college or university
· For the grant, pursuing a post-secondary education, employment or skills development
· Successfully complete the Financial Literacy coaching workshop
How to Apply:
The nomination is submitted on-line using a program called CVENT Survey. Links to the nomination survey will be sent out by email. Each agency can make one nomination for each of the programs:
· Clark Bursary
· Clark Grant
· PHD/CAF Scholarship
Youth over the age of 21 may apply themselves through the OACAS/YouthCAN websites, again applying to only one program.
NOMINATION AND SELECTION PROCESS:
Each Award nomination process involves a Call for Nomination being circulated to all Children’s Aid Societies. In 2015, there is one nomination process for all award programs.
Each Award receives its nominations through an online form provided by a program called CVENT Survey
The final recipients will be ranked and selected through the support of an Awards Selection Committee. Nominations for all awards are assessed based on the five following criteria:
1. Financial need (50 percent)
· demonstrated financial need
· debt being carried
· potential for other scholarships/bursaries
*Note that a student receiving ECM would have less financial need than a young person who is over the age of 21 and not in receipt of an ECM allowance
2. Potential for success (15 percent)
· career goals that are realistic to his or her current academic performance
· immediate plans to pursue or is pursuing post-secondary education at:
o university
o college
o technological Institutions
o training Institution such as those that provide apprenticeship and skilled trades
· satisfactory academic achievements
· lower grades, but mitigating circumstances (e.g. learning disability, medical condition, etc.), potential for other scholarships/bursaries
3. Contribution to the community (15 percent)
· extracurricular activities
· volunteer work
· involvement in family/community
4. Personal story (15 percent)
· personal qualities
· challenges overcome in life
· family support
· leadership ability
5. Overall presentation and quality of nomination (5 percent)
ACCOUNTABILITY PROCESS:
Each Award recipient is required to sign a contract. This contract confirms that the student will:
1. Funds will be used for costs related to the post-secondary education/training.
2. If there is any significant change in the program of study (i.e.: I transfer to a new academic institution; transfer to a new program of study, move to part-time studies, etc.) I will notify my sponsoring agency (DAC)/or OACAS immediately and understand my scholarship may be reviewed.
3. Any misuse of funds may result in the funds being terminated.
CONFIRMATION OF ENROLMENT LETTER (COE):
For the all programs a confirmation of enrolment letter is required prior each fall and winter semester in order to receive payment.
This confirmation of enrolment should be in the form of letter from the school office registrar provided by the designated agency contact. This letter must include:
Ø Date
Ø Name of student
Ø Full-time status
Ø Semester (fall or winter)
Ø Program of study
Ø Name of school on Letterhead
PAYMENT PROCESS:
Awards are divided into two payments each academic year; one payment per fall semester, the other payment for the winter semester, subject to receipt of the Confirmation of Enrolment letter (COE).
For the Clark Bursary Awards, students are eligible for up to eight semesters. For all other programs, funding is available for one academic year (with two payments in that year).
Each Award is paid out through direct deposit. Each designated agency contact is required to provide the OACAS with:
1. Direct deposit authorization form and a void cheque for their new award recipient
2. Copy of their Social Insurance Card
3. Up-to-date contact information and date of birth
Bursaries will be paid out twice a year:
Pay PeriodsSubmission of COE letter to OACAS / Payment by OACAS
Fall Semester / July 1st - July 31st / Between Aug 1st – 31st
Winter Semester / Nov 1st – Nov 30st / Between Dec 1st – Jan 6st
Conditions
If selected, the recipients must provide to their designated agency contacts:
1. A one paragraph bio of the recipient by the DAC about their future endeavours and achievements (No personal information why the recipient is in care)
2. Recent photograph of bursary recipient (sent electronically as a JPEG, GIF or TIF file, email at
3. Complete authorization direct deposit form, and providing a void cheque or official banking information
4. Complete a general information form
5. Copy of their Social Insurance Card
6. Recipient must provide a thank you card or letter, addressed to Ron and Nancy Clark, please mail it to OACAS, attention Brian Van-Du
7. CLARK BURSARY ONLY - Contract signed by student at the award dinner
8. CLARK BURSARY ONLY – Prepare a 2-3 minute thank you speech for the Clark Awards Dinner (No PowerPoint presentations)
DEFERRALS
If required, a request for deferral of a bursary for up to two years can be made. The designated agency contact may submit a request to OACAS in writing explaining why the deferral is required and when the bursary or scholarship recipient will return to his or her full-time studies. OACAS will advise the designated agency contact on the decision regarding the deferral request in a timely fashion.
If the student does not return to school after deferring for 2 years, the student’s eligibility will be concluded. If the remaining balance is sufficient, other candidates will become eligible for this bursary money, according to the rankings on that year’s nominee list. For example: if the first 20 candidates from the list received the bursary, #21, 22 and 23 might be considered.
Annual Awards Dinner Celebration
* PLEASE NOTE: Only the newly selected Clark Bursary recipients and his or her designated agency contact are required to attend the Annual Awards Dinner Celebration on June 1st 2015
· The Clark Bursary recipients and their DACs will meet with the program coordinator to go over the Policies and Guidelines of their bursary, and to sign their contract.
· The Clark Bursary recipients will be asked to take a group photo as well individual photo with their DAC, ED or foster parents.
OACAS Youth Awards Program 2014 Page 6