“My foster parent stole my college funding, informed me that she never received it”
Inevitable_Emu8817
To provide context, I (24f) resided with my foster parent (60f) for a little over 11 years, without formal adoption, solely under foster care. I commenced my college journey in 2018 but discontinued in 2020. She prohibited me from having my personal bank account, instead creating one under her name (presumably with Navy Fed) where she directed my college funds, scholarships, and grants.
She took charge of all my college particulars—Fasfa, student portal, college applications—everything was registered under her name, email, password, except when my name as the student was mandatory. I only had access to my student portal.
While she promised to share the passwords with me, she consistently claimed forgetfulness, even when written down. Whenever she visited the bank, I would inquire about any financial aid, only to be informed that there was none.
It wasn’t until 2020 when I departed from her residence. Upon contacting Bankmobile to reclaim access to my account and update the login credentials, I discovered that all my funding, scholarships, and grants from the previous 2 years (totaling just under \(17,000) had been funneled into her bank account. Meanwhile, I left her abode with a mere \)300 in hand.
She was already being compensated for my care, even utilizing my EDD card for groceries—so why resort to taking my college funds as well? I’m at a loss on what steps to take or if there’s any recourse available to me…
Edit* Correction: the total amount actually sums up to \(17,692. Imagine exiting foster care with only \)300 to your name, unaware of the substantial sum that existed 😭😭😭😭 I have lodged a police report and am awaiting a response from a deputy to outline the next course of action. It took reaching out to three different police stations to connect with the appropriate one 🥲
I have also reached out via email to my former social worker (SW) and lawyer, obtaining a contact for legal assistance. I intend to pursue this avenue tomorrow, given the office’s closure for the day. Thank you all for your valuable insights; I will endeavor to keep you updated as much as possible 🙂
Edit 2: A deputy has initiated contact and documented a report! Now, I await an investigator’s involvement. With the process underway, I am hopeful for a positive outcome! Just to reiterate… I did not resort to any loans.
In my state, college education for foster youth is cost-free, hence I incurred no expenses for my education; the funds comprised scholarships and grants in recognition of my diligence and academic achievements. The county remunerated her for accommodating and looking after me. Given that she had access to my EBT card, there seems to be no justification for diverting payments, especially those intended for my education…
Here are the top-rated comments from readers:
TreeCommercial44
Not a legal expert, but having grown up in foster care, I can attest that foster parents often exploit the children under their care.
The OP replied:
Inevitable_Emu8817
A regrettable reality 😕… I can’t shake the suspicion that she used the funds to finance her trips to Havasu, out-of-state races, vacations to Hawaii, etc., a pattern that commenced once I began college…
TreeCommercial44
The intentions of most foster parents are unfortunately not always altruistic.
The OP responded again:
Inevitable_Emu8817
What exacerbates the situation is her portrayal as the exemplary foster parent beyond reproach… shaking my darn head, she has evaded consequences for far too long, it’s exasperating 😒
TreeCommercial44
This behavior is not uncommon. There’s a misconception that foster parents are model citizens, but the reality can be far from it, with some resorting to abuse and theft.
Rey-Mysterio-Jr
Caution advised! Fostering, when undertaken for the right reasons, is a commendable and selfless act. It might not be prudent to generalize fostering as indicative of malintent, as foster parents play a crucial role and are in high demand.
Ladydi-bds
My heartfelt sympathies for your ordeal. If feasible, seeking legal counsel is advisable as they can guide you through this crisis and aid in recovering your losses.
VeveMaRe
Not a legal expert. I recommend reaching out to the college you attended to apprise them of the situation. Upon turning 18, as a college student, you are protected under FERPA, barring her access to your logins. Additionally, ensure there are no outstanding loans. Lastly, during your minor years, did she ever post pictures of you on social media? That could constitute a major breach. Best of luck.
It’s truly distressing. If you could offer one piece of advice to this young woman, what would you suggest?
Sources: Reddit
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