Now accepting applications!

Our mentors give you the tools to make your dreams come true. 

Our mentors and youth meet once a week. They cast a vision for the future and then figure out how to make it happen. 

College Matching

We help you find a college that is supportive of students like you, a place where you fit in, a place that will support you all the way to graduation!

COLLEGE FUNDING

We connect you with grants and scholarships and even pitch in some of our own!

COLLEGE SUCCESS

We have your back throughout the whole process of finding a college, applying, deciding, and transitioning into your first year. 

 

Each time you meet with your mentor, Foster Progress puts money in the bank to help you pay for college when it's time. 

 

 

Our mentors help with:

  • FAFSA and financial aid

  • DCFS programs and scholarships

  • College entrance applications and essays

  • ACT and SAT tutoring

  • Study skills and time management

  • Career development and choosing a major

Mentors can find out more here: www.foster-progress.org/interest

Please note: Mentors and youth applicants need to be based in Illinois.

Foster Parent Testimonial

"As a woman with a master's degree, I knew I was more than capable of helping my foster teen with college/job searches and applications. But once we got into daily struggles of teen life, I realized it was a huge relief to have a Foster Progress mentor in our lives. If I had worked with my teen on college applications, it would have ended up being one more thing she felt I was nagging her about, but with her mentor it was a project they were working on together. My teen still looks forward to her weekly meetings with her mentor as she continues to navigate her life after high school. The mentor's expertise and friendship has been an invaluable addition to our foster family."

 

Youth Testimonial

"Having a mentor through Foster Progress has truly been a life changing experience for me. Anything I could ever want and dream of has been made available to me as a result of the dedication & love my mentor has poured into my life. She has done much more than aided me in getting the educational assistance and training needed to succeed in this world, and always goes above and beyond for me. Not only has she given continual encouragement, coaching, and support, but also has shown me unconditional love and what can be achieved in life when one invests genuine tender loving care into an individual's life. I will forever be grateful for Foster Progress, because I wouldn't be the woman I am today without this organization."