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Dallas College
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Foster Care Student Program

​​​​​Were you a part of the Texas foster care system? Our Foster Care Student Program can help you.

The Foster Care Student Program connects you to College Champions at Dallas College. These champions:

  • Help you navigate financial aid, advising and other student services, from the time you enroll through graduation
  • Link you to the resources provided by Student Life and academic support groups

Our Foster Care Student Program is a collaboration between the Dallas College Office of Educational Policy/Student Success and our Brookhaven, Cedar Valley, Eastfield, El Centro, Mountain View, North Lake and Richland campuses.

Tuition and Fee Exemption

As a Texas Foster Care alumnus, you are eligible to attend college for free through a state tuition and fee exemption.

Get Started

If you have been in the Texas foster care system, learn how we can help you. Contact a College Champion.

Contact Information

Contact a College Champion at WeCare@dcccd.edu.

Dr. Dina Sosa-Hegarty
Dean of Thriving Learning Communities

Dawn Aldana
Case Manager, Foster Care

Carol Castillo
Case Manager, Foster Care

Katy Launius
Associate Dean of Support Programs

Wanda Hawkins
Case Manager, Foster Care

Tashia Moore
Case Manager, Foster Care

Useful Links

Dallas College Counseling Centers

Web Links

Frequently Asked Questions

Contact your PAL (Preparation for Adult Living) caseworker or the PAL supervisor, Rebecca L. Daniel, by phone at 817-255-2311; by email at Rebecca.Daniel@dfps.state.tx.us; or by mail, 951 W. Pipeline Road, Suite310, Hurst, Texas76053.

If you were adopted from foster care or were eligible for adoption at age 14 or older, you may also be eligible for the exemption.

No. You are not eligible for the Texas college tuition and fee exemption if you were in the conservatorship of another state.

Start with the Apply & Register page. You will find information about how to enroll. In addition, you can contact the College Champions.

FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid. You need to fill out the application and submit it every year to be eligible for federal financial aid. Take a look at our FAFSA overview. Then, to get started filling out a FAFSA online, go to fafsa.gov.

Start with our Financial Aid Offices. You can also check out the​Financial Aid FAQs, which provide answers to many questions. Be sure to read our general overview of financial aid.