Schedule a meeting
The Advancing Futures office is open to the public by appointment only. Young adults can schedule a meeting with their practitioner. The Advancing Futures team will also continue to support young adults in person at institutions, in the community or remotely.
Contact us to schedule a meeting or if you have any questions.
Important dates
Next application deadline
The deadline to apply for funding for fall 2024 has passed.
The Advancing Futures program is now receiving applications for winter 2025. The deadline to apply is October 1, 2024.
Monthly update
September 2024
Alberta Adult Health Benefits
Alberta-based students who indicated on their 2024/2025 application that they do not have alternate health benefits will be issued an Alberta Adult Health Benefits (AAHB) card. Learn more about the AAHB program.
Students who do not have alternate health benefit coverage and have not received their AAHB card in the mail by September 30 should contact their TAP/Advancing Futures practitioner.
Opting out of institution health and dental plans
Advancing Futures does not pay for institution-based health and dental plan fees for students living in Alberta. Students are expected to opt-out of these benefits; failure to do so will result in the student being responsible for paying all associated fees themselves. Students who are unsure of how to opt out of their institution’s health and dental plans can contact their TAP/Advancing Futures practitioner for assistance.
Application fee and tuition deposit reimbursements
Students who paid an application fee and/or tuition deposit to their institution – and were not reimbursed by a professional support – can submit receipts for these expenses to their TAP/Advancing Futures practitioner for reimbursement.
Changing personal information
Students who have changed their personal or contact information – legal name, phone number, address, email address, banking information, etc. – should promptly notify their TAP/Advancing Futures practitioner of these changes. When changing direct deposit information, it is important to leave the existing bank account open until a deposit from Advancing Futures has been made into the new bank account.
Dropping and withdrawing from courses
Before making any changes to your course registration, connect with your TAP/Advancing Futures practitioner as changing your schedule could impact your funding. Dropping a course and withdrawing from a course are different. If you withdraw from a course after the add/drop deadline, the withdraw shows on your transcript and tuition fees can be charged. You can locate your add/drop deadline for your courses on your school website or academic calendar – or by connecting with a support at your school.
Taxes
Advancing Futures funding is reportable income. A T4A will be issued to all students who received funding from Advancing Futures. Eligible students will also receive a T2202 from their post-secondary institution.
Scholarships, bursaries and grants
All students are encouraged to apply for scholarships, bursaries and grants they may be eligible for. Students who receive a scholarship, bursary and/or grant must inform their TAP/Advancing Futures practitioner of the amount they have received. Scholarship, bursary and grant funding does not impact Advancing Futures funding amounts unless the funds are designated for education expenses only.
Other funding sources
Advancing Futures students must report funding from any other source to their TAP/Advancing Futures practitioner. Employment income does not need to be reported.
Living allowance
Young adults who receive their living allowance payments via direct deposit can expect to receive their October payment between September 20 to 24, 2024.
Role of practitioners
Support
After young adults apply for the program, they will be connected with a TAP/Advancing Futures practitioner. Practitioners review each application and support young adults through the approval process. Setting up student funding is just one part of their role. Throughout the year, practitioners will connect with young adults at least once a month and can provide:
- a friendly face (or ear, or keyboard) to listen to a young adult’s experiences
- coaching and mentoring as young adults plan for their future
- support with problem solving when facing challenges
- transition planning to help young adults achieve their goals
- referrals to resources or agencies that offer supportive services
- help figuring out life as a young adult
Learn more about the role of practitioners.
Connecting with us
There are a number of ways young adults and practitioners can connect to make it easier to keep in touch. Young adults can:
- schedule a time to meet at the office
- call them
- meet them for coffee
- meet at or near a young adult’s post-secondary institution
- chat via video
- email them
Each practitioner is responsible for a specific group of institutions.
Practitioners strive to respond to phone calls and emails within 48 to 72 hours. Young adults are asked to avoid calling repeatedly, leaving multiple voicemails or emailing repeatedly while waiting for a reply from their practitioner.
Updating information
Young adults are responsible for providing Advancing Futures with the most current contact information, including:
- email address
- phone number
- mailing address
If contact information changes after applying for Advancing Futures, young adults must email [email protected].
Program expectations
Grades
Students are expected to maintain a term Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 1.7 on a 4-point scale. Where an alternate scale is used or the institution does not use a GPA scale, a minimum term average of 60% is required. A term average below the required level will result in the student being notified of the requirement to raise their GPA in the subsequent semester. Failure to achieve satisfactory grades 2 semesters in a row will result in termination from the Advancing Futures program.
Financial information
Tuition and mandatory school fees
Once a young adult’s funding has been approved, a sponsorship agreement will be established with the school. The agreement states that Advancing Futures will cover tuition and mandatory school fees for the academic term(s). The institution will invoice Advancing Futures directly.
Mandatory books and supplies
All students will have their own account created at the school’s bookstore to cover the cost of mandatory books and supplies. All students are required to submit a book and supply list at the start of each semester to Advancing Futures.
Students are provided with funding to buy basic school supplies at the start of each semester, to a maximum of:
- $50 per year for part-time students
- $100 per year for full-time students
Living expenses
Monthly living allowance payments are deposited into young adults’ bank accounts 5 to 7 days before the first day of each month. The living allowance payment provided at the end of each month is for the next month of study.
Details of the monthly student funding amount to be received can be found on the mailed and e-mailed approval letter. Each time a change is made to funding amounts, an updated letter will be sent.
Damage deposit funding
Young adults are eligible to receive up to 80% of their living allowance amount, to a maximum of $1500 per occurrence, to pay damage deposit charges throughout the time they are funded by Advancing Futures.
To request damage deposit funds, young adults must have their landlord complete the Damage Deposit Assistance Form, or the young adult can submit a full copy of their lease to their practitioner.
The form must then be submitted in person or by email.
Technology funding
Advancing Futures will cover the cost of technology and software that is mandatory or required for online courses up to a maximum of $500. If the technology is not mandatory, young adults may request reimbursement of the cost, up to a maximum of $250. This funding is available one time only throughout the time a young adult is funded by Advancing Futures.
If the software is not mandatory, young adults may request reimbursement of 50% of the cost of software purchases, up to a maximum of $100. Funding for software is available yearly throughout the time a young adult is funded by Advancing Futures.
If a young adult requires specialized technology that is mandatory for their program of study, Advancing Futures will consider these costs when the young adult provides:
- documentation from their institution confirming that technology is required
- confirmation of the mandatory minimum specifications of the technology, and
- a minimum of 3 price quotes for technology matching the required specifications
If a young adult requires specialized software that is mandatory for their program of study, Advancing Futures will consider these costs when the young adult provides proof from their institution confirming that the software is required. Funding for software is available yearly throughout the time a young adult is funded by Advancing Futures.
Young adults are required to request approval of the cost of technology and software prior to making a purchase. Once approved, young adults are required to submit a receipt confirming the purchase.
Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Scholarship
The Alberta government established this scholarship to commemorate the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's Royal Visit to Alberta in July 2011. The scholarship recognizes the exceptional educational achievements of students who have been in care.
The $2,000 scholarships are awarded solely to 25 Advancing Futures students each year based on their academic performance the previous year.
Eligibility criteria, application process and selection method information is outlined in the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Scholarship application form (available from August 1 to September 6, 2024).
Other scholarships and bursaries
Young adults are encouraged to apply for scholarships and bursaries through their institution and other sources. Young adults are entitled to keep scholarship and bursary funding, unless the funding is designated to be used for educational costs only. Young adults are required to inform their practitioner of any scholarships or bursaries they are selected for.
Income taxes
All funding issued by Advancing Futures is reportable. This includes educational expenses and student funding amounts. A T4A slip will be issued by the program for the amount paid to and on behalf of each young adult. All inquiries related to tax regulations should be addressed to Canada Revenue Agency.
Health benefits
Advancing Futures enrols Alberta-based students who do not have alternate health care benefits in the Alberta Adult Health Benefit program. Their dependents are also eligible for coverage.
All Alberta-based students are required to opt out of their institution-based health and dental benefit plans. Students who opt in to, or fail to opt out of, their institution’s benefits are responsible for paying all fees related to this. Students can find opt out instructions on their institution’s website.
Students attending an institution outside of Alberta are not eligible for the Alberta Adult Health Benefit program and should not opt out of their institution’s health and dental plans. Advancing Futures will cover the cost of these plans for out of province students.