State Applications HAVE CLOSED!!
THANK YOU! Together, Check for Us connected over 30K young people with lived experience in foster care to 44 states and the District of Columbia.
Means
Empowerment
Sign up to Get
Your Money
#CheckforUs was created with two goals in mind:
1) To Spread the Word! We want everyone to know what funds and opportunities are available. These resources are yours - and every current and former foster youth needs to know about them.
2) To Simplify the Process! Every state is approaching how they will provide pandemic relief differently. We want to make it easy for you to know what's available and to get in touch with the right folks at the right time.
THE CAMPAIGN
Check For Us is a national campaign powered by Think of Us that is focused on connecting anyone up to the age of 26 that has spent time in foster care after the age of 14 with emergency funds and other opportunities.
Congress made $400 million available, your state is making plans on how to use it right now and we're here to help.
Do you need support?
Do you know your state's plan?
Are you signed up to receive funds?
If so, Check For Us is here to make sure that you get the resources you need.
The Full Details
In response to the concerns and needs raised by young people, Congress provided immediate relief of $400 million dollars in Pandemic Relief funds, also known as the John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Program (“Chafee funds”).
The funds need to be spent by September 30th of this year, and states are having a hard time
finding and connecting with their states’ young people. All funds not distributed by this date are
in danger of being forfeited and returned to the U.S. Treasury.
Eligible young people are able to sign up here and Think of Us will share your information directly with states to maximize an efficient sharing of resources.
We are working with states across the country to ensure that foster youth receive $400 million in emergency funds before the September 30th deadline.
ABOUT THINK OF US
THINK OF US BELIEVES THAT ALL PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE EVERYTHING THEY NEED TO HEAL, DEVELOP, AND THRIVE.
Founded in 2017 by a former foster youth, Think Of Us will not stop until child welfare is transformed to center Lived Experience in each and every way. Well connected and respected across the child welfare ecosystem, Think of Us is leveraging technology to bring youth access to current resources and creating new paths of support. Visit our website here.
OUR PURPOSE
Think of Us is working to connect current and former foster youth with critical resources, including job opportunities, housing vouchers, direct cash assistance, and emergency aid opportunities needed to prevent homelessness, keep families together, and provide funds for food and basic needs.
