The Office of the Child Advocate (OCA) is tasked with protecting the interests and welfare of children in Delaware through public awareness, educational advocacy, system reform, and the legal representation of children. As part of its mandate, OCA staff work closely with the Child Protection Accountability Commission to manage two programs that assist young adults who’ve been in foster care in Delaware. The two programs are the Post-Secondary Scholarship Program and the Driver’s License and Insurance Program.

The Post-Secondary Scholarship Program provides educational scholarships to young adults who’ve experienced foster care. Working closely with the Department of Services for Children, Youth, and Their Families (DSCYF), the program ensures young adults benefit from the state’s Education Tuition Waiver Program, which removes both the cost of tuition and all mandatory charges at Delaware in-state public schools. Institutions that accept the waiver for eligible young adults are the University of Delaware, Delaware State University, and Delaware Technical Community College.

The Driver’s License and Insurance Program helps youth who’ve passed through foster care to apply for both a driver’s license and motor vehicle insurance. This is accomplished through handling any arising legal issues and the provision of funds to facilitate driving training courses and licensing costs, as well as assist with the cost of motor vehicle insurance.