Apply for new grant funding!

El-Ada Community Action Partnership (http://www.eladacap.org/) received American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding (ARRA) to help low-income households obtain employment.

CWI students within 9 months of graduation with a specific employment goal may be eligible to participate.

Please scroll down to view the FAQs about this program.

If you will be graduating between now and summer 2010, and you are in need of further financial assistance to reach this goal, this is an opportunity worth considering. Criteria for successful recipients of this assistance include, but are not limited to:

• You must be work focused and either employed or actively seeking employment
• You must have identified realistic employment goals related to your degree
• Complete an interview and assessment with an El-Ada case manager (Emily or David)
• Current residence is within the Idaho counties of Ada, Elmore, and Owyhee
• You will be graduating at the end of fall 2009, spring or summer 2010
• Your income level is within 200% of poverty. Definition of income

200% of Poverty: Program Year 2009

Frequently Asked Questions

This information is accurate as of 12/4/2009. It is possible that changes will occur without notice, but every attempt will be made to update this information as the program evolves.

1. What is this program all about?
2. How do the income guidelines work?
3. Are there citizenship requirements?
4. Must the student graduate fall 2009, spring 2010, or summer 2010?
5. Are graduate students or second bachelor degree-seeking students eligible to apply?
6. What are the residency requirements? Do students have to be an Idaho resident?
7. Do students need to be full-time students to receive the funding? Or can they be taking 1 or 2 classes and qualify?
8. Are students able to get an application on-line or have it mailed to them, or do they fill it out when they come to El-Ada for the interview?
9. Can more than one member of a family qualify?
10. What type of documentation is to be provided by the student regarding their income?
11. Does a student have to apply for federal financial aid to receive this funding?
12. How much money is available and how can it be used?
13. Does the funding affect financial aid already awarded at CWI?
14. What are the contact names/phone numbers at El-Ada Community Action Partnership?

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1. Q: What is this program all about?
A: The federal government has provided stimulus funding to help low income individuals and families obtain employment and reach self-sufficiency. The funding is specifically targeted to help them obtain and/or retain employment. For some, this means increasing their skills and completing their education.

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2. Q: How do the income guidelines work?
A: If the student is over the age of 18, only their income is considered unless they are living in the same physical household with their parents/guardians. For determining a student's income level, income is based on the following sources including: adjusted gross income, Temporary Assistance for Families in Idaho (TAFI), unemployment, social security benefits (SSI, SSD, etc), self employment, and interest income.

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3. Q: Are there citizenship requirements?
A: Students must be U.S. citizens or non-citizens who are eligible and intending to permanently work in the United States.

4. Q: Must the student graduate Fall 2009, Spring 2010, or Summer 2010?
A: Yes.

5. Q: Are students who have already earned a prior degree eligible to apply?
A: Yes, as long as they are going to graduate by Summer 2010 and meet the income guidelines.

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6. Q: What are the residency requirements? Do students have to be an Idaho resident?
A: If the student is living in Ada, Elmore, or Owyee counties, the residency requirement is met. Residency for the program is defined by the current physical address, regardless of length. This is different than CWI's in-state residency requirements.

7. Q: Do students need to be full-time students to receive the funding? Or can they be taking 1 or 2 classes and qualify?
A: The student may be less than a full-time student.

8. Q: Are students able to get an application on-line or have it mailed to them, or do they fill it out when they come to El-Ada for the interview?
A: The student must call El-Ada for an appointment (208) 345-2820. At the first appointment they will be given an application and learn more about the program. Then they will meet with a case manager to determine eligibility. The only thing they need to bring to the first appointment is a current resume (if they have one) and an unofficial transcript.

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9. Q: Can more than one member of a family qualify?
A: Yes, more than one member of a family can qualify. There are no family limitations.

10. Q: What type of documentation is to be provided by the student regarding their income?
A: If they are employed, there is an employment verification form that must be completed. If the student has any other source of income, a check stub or letter of verification may be required, depending on the situation. A comprehensive student household budget will be required. This budget can be developed with the help of an El-Ada Case Manager.

11 .Q: Does a student have to apply for federal financial aid to receive this funding?
A: Yes.

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12. Q: How much money is available and how can it be used?
A: ARRA funding is designed to supplement other income and aid sources. Depending on the student's situation, the funding might be provided to help with a portion of tuition, fees, books, food, rent, child care, or other living expenses. Funding is limited, and the amount of funding available for any individual student will not exceed $2500.

13. Q: Does the funding affect financial aid already awarded at CWI?
A: If a student receives federal financial aid, those regulations require CWI to take into account any type of extra financial assistance that is received. A student’s “Cost of Attendance” or budget limits the maximum amount of assistance If it is necessary to reduce financial aid, the least desirable aid, such as loans or unused work-study, will be reduced so the student can receive as much of the grant as possible. Every attempt will be made to not reduce other grant or scholarship assistance.

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14. Q: What are the contact names/phone numbers at El-Ada Community Action Partnership?
A: The case managers for this program are:

Emily VanNess, 2250 S. Vista, Boise, ID 83705, 208/345-2820 x. 28

David D'Auteuil, 2250 S. Vista, Boise, ID 83705, 208/345-2820 x. 21

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