Y2LEF Cash 4 College Program
Kern County, CA
PROGRAM MISSION
Assist low-income and first-generation college-goers with completing their respective financial aid application to access available funds and support their education and career/technical studies beyond high school. As the Regional Coordinating Organization for Kern County, Y2LEF serves over 2,500 high school seniors and their families each academic year, leading to life changing impacts.
WHICH ONE APPLIES?
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and California Dream Act Application (CADAA) are both applications for financial aid. These applications are universally acceptable and required financial aid forms that four-year colleges/universities, community colleges, vocational, and technical schools use to award financial aid packages.
Students should only complete one of these applications based on the eligibility requirements.
FAFSA
CADAA
Students eligible to complete the FAFSA should have one of the following statuses:
- U.S. citizen
- Permanent resident
- Non-eligible citizen
- T visa holder
Students eligible to complete the CADAA may:
- Be undocumented
- Have a valid or expired DACA status
- Be a U visa holder
- Have a Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
Meet the non-resident exemption requirements under AB 540
Recent Changes to the 2024 - 25 Financial Aid Form
CASH 4 COLLEGE WORKSHOPS
California Cash for College workshops, in conjunction with California Student Aid Commission, provide free, one-on-one, professional financial aid assistance to families completing the FAFSA or CADAA. Each workshop offers an AB540 advisor working personally with each students and/or their family to explore the maximum amount of opportunity for every situation.
Check out our upcoming financial aid workshops for the month of April below:
Overview of the important information and documents required to
complete the FAFSA or CADAA successfully.
| What To Bring for Students | What To Bring for Contributors (parents) |
|---|---|
| FAFSA applicants need to bring social security card | Valid Non-Expired photo ID from Federal, State, Local, and or recognized Foreign Agency (e.g. Embassy, Consulate) |
| CADAA applicants need to bring social security card (if applicable) or ITIN number (if applicable) | Social Security Card (if applicable) or ITIN Number |
| If permanent resident, bring your Alien Registration Number (on green card) | Records of 2022 income tax information (if applicable). e.g. W-2 or IRS 1040 Form |
| If Dependent student: parent's 2022 income tax information (if applicable). e.g. W-2, and IRS 1040 form | Any records of untaxed income such as welfare benefits, Social Security benefits, or child support payments received |
| If Independent student: Your 2022 tax income information (if applicable). e.g. W-2 Form, IRS 1040 | |
| Independent students: Any records of untaxed income such as welfare benefits, Social Security benefits, or child support payments received | |
| Dependent students: if possible bring your parents, legal guardian, or adoptive parent. | |
| List of colleges you are interested in attending | |
| If you don't have every one of the documents listed, come to a workshop with the documents that you have and that apply to you. |
What To Expect
- Financial Aid professionals will be available to answer general and specific questions about completing the FAFSA or CA DREAM Act applications
- Most families will be encouraged to complete the FAFSA form in the “on-line” format on computers at workshop locations. That means that most locations will complete student/family FAFSA forms in computer labs
- To complete an application, please allow 45 to 60 minutes of your time
- Family resource materials will be available to encourage student success
- Snacks and light refreshments will be available
If you are a DREAMer, AB540 experts will work with you to determine alternative opportunities for entering the college of your choice.
CASH 4 COLLEGE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Want to Volunteer for Cash for College?
Cash for College workshops are a real team effort and their success depends upon the help of many dedicated volunteers like you! We are recruiting for Volunteers throughout the entire Cash for College season, which opens in December 2023. Our goal is to assist as many students as possible to complete their FAFSA or CADAA.
All volunteers must:
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Have reliable transportation
- Have experience working with small to large group of students
- Possess strong interpersonal skills
Click the Cash for College Volunteer Form button below to register as a Cash 4 College volunteer! Previous Cash for College experience is not required, and we are more than happy to train you! We will provide more information on training and workshop dates once you have registered.
CONTACT US
Do you have questions on our program, financial aid applications, our workshops, volunteering for Cash 4 College events,
or anything else? We are here to help you!
Contact our Cash 4 College coordinators at
cash4college@y2lef.org or 661-374-8817 for assistance.
Youth 2 Leaders Education Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that the next generation of Kern County students have the opportunity to go to college.
Contact Info
1701 Westwind Dr., Suite 129
Bakersfield, CA 93301
Phone: (661) 374-8817
EIN# - 77-0398516
Email: info@y2lef.org