SPRINGFIELD — To help youth formerly in DCFS care achieve their higher education goals, State Senator Sara Feigenholtz spearheaded a new law providing scholarship recipients with greater flexibility in how they use the funding.

“By incentivizing diverse career paths, we’re making it easier for students to receive assistance as long as they are in good standing and working toward a degree, certificate or graduation,” said Feigenholtz (D-Chicago). “This flexibility supports greater access to higher education opportunities for former youth in care across our state.”

Each year, the Department of Children and Family Services awards scholarships to students who are in DCFS care, have aged out of care, or are former youth in care who were adopted. Scholarship recipients receive up to five consecutive years of tuition and academic fee waivers for participating community colleges and public universities in Illinois. Since the program’s inception, over 1,800 students have received scholarships.

Instead of only counting toward tuition for a degree, Feigenholtz’s law allows students to apply DCFS scholarship funds and fee waivers toward a certificate program or to cover living expenses while they make progress on their certificate or degree.

Senate Bill 3138 was signed into law Friday and takes effect immediately.