Iowa College Aid
Iowa College Aid
The application is open for the 2023-2024 school year.

Students can now apply for the Education and Training Voucher (ETV) and the All Iowa Opportunity Scholarship (AIOS)

FAFSA
FAFSA
Planning to attend college next year?

Jump start your educational journey by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®).

Iowa Skilled Trades
Iowa Skilled Trades
Not ready for college?

Iowa Skilled Trades may have an alternative for you. Learning a trade can offer you personal fulfillment, high salary potential, and job stability.

Grants & Scholarships
Grants and Scholarships
Need help paying for college?

Iowa offers numerous options to help cut out-of-pocket expenses for your education - many that you do not have to pay back!

Achieving Maximum Potential (AMP)
Achieving Maximum Potential (AMP)
Want to get connected?

AMP is a statewide group that seeks to unleash the full potential for personal growth among foster and adoptive youth, age 13-21, in Iowa.

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Iowa College Aid
The application is open for the 2023-2024 school year.
FAFSA
Planning to attend college next year?
Iowa Skilled Trades
Not ready for college?
Grants & Scholarships
Need help paying for college?
Achieving Maximum Potential (AMP)
Want to get connected?
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next arrow

The OPT-in College Access Network for System-Involved Youth

An initiative that seeks to increase the number of youth, who have been under the supervision of the child welfare and juvenile justice systems, that earn a post-secondary credential including college and trade schools.

Richard & Linda Harrell

Richard and Linda’s greatest desire while serving as foster parents was to ensure that those children placed in their care would not have to be concern about having to move from placement to placement. Their greatest goal while fostering these young ladies was to help them graduate high school and prepare them for college. While many were not long-term placements with the Harrell’s all the girls can attest hearing over and over, “You can be anything you want to be, if you just put your mind to it.”

Our Goals

Utilizing a collective impact framework, OPT-in will impact systems-level change to ensure that these youth have the necessary supports, resources, and opportunities to achieve their postsecondary education goals.

By 2025, OPT-in College Access Network will work to increase the number of youth formerly in foster care who:

High School Completion

Have a HS diploma or equivalent

Currently
75%
Goal by 2025
85%

Postsecondary Attendance

Attend postsecondary by age 19

Currently
21%
Goal by 2025
30%

Postsecondary Persistence

Received ETV and return for 2nd year

Currently
54%
Goal by 2025
70%
Postsecondary

Learn more about what's happening

AMP hires a new Program Manager

Samanthya Marlett recently joined YSS as the new Program Manager for AMP, a statewide group that supports youth in foster care.

Social Worker of Excellence Award

Kimberlee Gregory was recently awarded the Social Worker of Excellence Award by the National Association of Social Workers.

OPT-in Action Teams Explore New Opportunities at Mid-term Retreat

Statewide OPT-in partners took time from their very busy schedules to gather together ...