Center for College Planning Receives $20,000 Grant to Help Foster Youth

Concord, NH - The NHHEAF Network Organizations’ Center for College Planning (CCP) was recently awarded a $20,000 grant from the College Board’s Public Service Outreach Greenhouse Grant program to encourage New Hampshire children in foster care to pursue higher education.

This grant program is a means of seeding the piloting of innovative public service outreach projects in College Board member institutions. CCP will work closely with the New Hampshire Division of Children, Youth and Families to provide counseling and resources for these children. CCP has developed the STAR (Successful Transition through Awareness & Responsibility) program to address barriers present for foster youth in New Hampshire including transportation and accessibility of assistance and guidance through college awareness and postsecondary preparation for these children. The Program will provide postsecondary awareness for students as early as 8th grade. The ultimate goal of the Program is to create knowledge of the importance of higher education and to provide the means necessary to help these children achieve their aspirations.

CCP has been dedicated to assisting New Hampshire students and families with the college planning process and promoting early college awareness across the State for the past eleven years. Expert College Counselors present to students from kindergarten to graduating high school seniors about the importance of higher education. Initiatives such as Discover U and Destination College^SM prepare students for education beyond high school. CCP has also created a comprehensive Web site that includes a listing of available scholarships for students and an online resource for students and parents with college-related questions to receive answers through e-mail. CCP also launched NHcollegeclub.com, an interactive experience for middle school students that allows them the opportunity to explore college life. CCP’s programs, materials and publications have also received the National Association of College Admission Counseling (NACAC) Seal. NACAC’s mission is to assist students and families in finding valuable and reliable college admission counseling resources.

“NHHEAF is dedicated to its mission of providing New Hampshire students and families with valuable information about pursuing postsecondary education,” said Tara Payne, Vice President, Corporate Communications & Marketing. “This grant gives us the opportunity to reach a student population that will benefit tremendously and offer care providers full access to essential college planning resources.”

To learn more about the NHHEAF Network Organizations’ Center for College Planning, visit www.nhheaf.org or call 800.525.2577 ext. 119 for information.

The NHHEAF Network Organizations are comprised of four 501(c) (3) nonprofit organizations that provide students and families with the resources and funding to pursue higher education aspirations. Funds generated by the Organizations make their charitable mission possible as student loan earnings are reinvested in programs and services that benefit citizens of New Hampshire. For more information, visit www.nhheaf.org.