Opportunities for Foster Youth
9 opportunities specifically for foster youth.
All Iowa Opportunity Scholarship (AIOS) — 2026–2027 Academic Year
Iowa College Student Aid Commission / Iowa Department of Education
If you grew up in Iowa foster care — or were adopted from Iowa foster care after age 16 — the state of Iowa will pay for your college. The All Iowa Opportunity Scholarship (AIOS) covers up to $5,334 per year for full-time enrollment and is renewable for up to four academic years (eight semesters). This applies to any accredited Iowa institution — Iowa Western Community College, the University of Iowa, Iowa State, private Iowa colleges, and more. Council Bluffs is in Iowa. You are eligible. You do not need a minimum GPA to apply. You do not need to have graduated from high school on a traditional timeline. Apply through the Iowa College Student Aid Commission at educate.iowa.gov. File your FAFSA first — AIOS is need-based. Priority deadline is approximately April 1, 2026.
Closed (was April 1, 2026)
Iowa State Financial Aid Deadline — File FAFSA + IFAA Before April 1, 2026
Iowa College Aid / Iowa Department of Education
Iowa gives you money for college — but only if you ask for it, and only if you ask on time. April 1, 2026 is the priority deadline for Iowa state financial aid. Missing it means losing access to the All Iowa Opportunity Scholarship (up to $5,334 per year, renewable for four years — that is potentially $21,000+) and the Iowa Grant program. If you are a Council Bluffs student planning to attend ANY Iowa college — Iowa Western Community College, University of Iowa, Iowa State University, University of Northern Iowa, any Iowa private college — you need to do two things before April 1: (1) File your FAFSA at studentaid.gov if you have not already. It is free. (2) File the Iowa Financial Aid Application (IFAA) at educate.iowa.gov. It is also free and takes about 15 minutes after you have your FAFSA confirmation. The IFAA is Iowa-specific — it is separate from the FAFSA and most students do not know it exists. Filing just the FAFSA is not enough to receive Iowa state aid. You must file both. If you need help filing your FAFSA or IFAA, ICAN (icansucceed.org) and EducationQuest (888-357-6300, Omaha office) provide free assistance. Do not leave state money on the table because of a form you did not know existed.
Closed (was April 1, 2026)
Community Alliance — Mental Health & Substance Use Services
Community Alliance
Omaha's largest nonprofit integrated mental health and behavioral health organization, with over 200 professionals serving the metro area. Offers outpatient mental health and substance use counseling, medication management, integrated primary care, intensive outpatient programming (IOP) for co-occurring disorders, psychiatric residential rehabilitation, day rehabilitation, supported employment, homeless outreach, recovery support services, and assertive community treatment (ACT). Accepts Medicaid, Medicare, and most private insurance. Sliding fee scale for uninsured or underinsured clients — no one turned away based on inability to pay.
Rolling / Open
Legal Aid of Nebraska — Free Civil Legal Help
Legal Aid of Nebraska
Free civil legal services for low-income Nebraskans in Douglas County and across all 93 counties statewide. Legal Aid handles housing, family law (divorce, custody, protection orders), debt, income and benefits, and immigration matters. Apply online or by phone — no walk-ins. The A2J Self-Help Center at 209 S. 19th St., Suite 200, Omaha provides computers and forms for self-represented individuals.
Rolling / Open
Youth Emergency Services (YES) — Shelter & Support for Homeless Youth
Youth Emergency Services
The only organization in the Omaha metro solely focused on youth homelessness — serving young people since 1974. YES provides a comprehensive continuum of care for youth and young adults ages 16–25: a 24/7 staffed Emergency Shelter, the Transitional Living Program (apartment-style housing for up to 18 months for ages 16–21), a Maternity Group Home (for pregnant and parenting youth ages 16–21), and the Drop-In Center at 2602 Harney Street offering food, clothing, showers, laundry, and connections to services for anyone ages 16–25. Street Outreach meets unsheltered young people where they are and connects them to the Drop-In Center and shelter.
Rolling / Open
WIOA Youth Program — Dynamic Workforce Solutions
Dynamic Workforce Solutions
Federally funded workforce program serving youth in Douglas, Sarpy, and Washington Counties. Helps young people set educational and employment goals, earn credentials, and connect with paid work experience and job training in high-demand fields.
Rolling / Open
Project Everlast — Foster Youth Support
Project Everlast
Connects current and former foster youth (ages 14–26) in Nebraska with housing assistance, educational support, employment help, and a community of peers who understand the foster care experience.
Rolling / Open
Open Door Mission — Emergency Shelter, Meals & Recovery Programs
Open Door Mission
One of Omaha's largest emergency shelter campuses, with 917 beds serving men, women, and families. Lydia House serves women and families with life-skills programming and case management to address root causes of homelessness. The Garland Thompson Men's Center includes the WorkNet/GED program for education and job readiness, and the New Life Recovery Program for substance abuse recovery. The Journey to Work program connects residents with employment. A free on-site Health and Wellness Clinic provides basic medical care. Over 5,366 nutritious meals served daily. Homeless prevention resources also available for those housed but at risk.
Rolling / Open
Heartland Family Service — Financial Stability Programs
Heartland Family Service
Heartland Family Service (HFS) has served the Omaha and Council Bluffs metro for 150 years, offering financial stability programs including credit counseling, foreclosure prevention counseling, and homebuyer education. Services are available on a sliding fee scale based on income, with most services free or very low-cost for low-income households. HFS serves over 140,000 people annually from 20 locations in eastern Nebraska and southwest Iowa, making it one of the largest human services organizations in the region. Accepts Medicaid and Medicare.
Rolling / Open