Empowering Futures: LEAF’s FAFSA Support Strategy Success, Powered by ECMC Foundation

The Latino Education Advancement Foundation (LEAF) has been dedicated to empowering students and families to access financial aid and resources in our community, and our partnership with the ECMC Foundation has significantly amplified these efforts. With a generous award of $60,000, LEAF has been able to implement the FAFSA Support Strategy Project, which is designed to increase FAFSA completion rates and combat "summer melt," ensuring that more students who intend to enroll in college actually do so.

Since the launch of this project in May 2024, LEAF has made remarkable strides in supporting students through the often daunting FAFSA process. Here’s a glimpse into the impact we've achieved so far:

Empowering Students through FAFSA Completion: As a direct result of our initiatives, we have helped students submit 226 FAFSA and California Dream Act applications, with 181 of these being fully completed. This represents a significant number of students who are now one step closer to securing financial aid for their education.

Training the Next Generation of Advisors: To better serve our community, LEAF has trained and deployed five new advisors, including four interns and a dedicated uAspire financial aid advisor. These individuals have offered intensive summer support workshops and are now actively assisting students in navigating the financial aid process.

Reaching Families and Students: Our outreach efforts have reached a wide audience, with 524 students and family members participating in various activities. These include Financial Aid Puente Week, check distribution events, uAspire advising sessions, and student FAFSA workshops. Each of these events has provided critical support to those seeking financial aid.

Educational Workshops that Make a Difference: We have hosted 19 clinics, workshops, and training sessions to educate our community about the FAFSA, California Dream Act, and other financial aid opportunities. Notable events include the Better FAFSA Family Workshops, NCAN Webinar Trainings, and in-person support sessions during check distribution. These efforts have equipped families with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about financial aid.

Expanding Our Reach through Social Media: Through strategic social media efforts, LEAF has expanded its reach to 2,405 individuals across platforms like Instagram and LinkedIn. Our targeted campaigns generated 679 impressions and 42 interactions, helping us connect with even more students and families in need of assistance.

Milestones That Matter: Among the key activities, LEAF staff and volunteers provided hands-on support during scholarship check distributions, assisting students with FAFSA and CA Dream Act completions. We also produced a YouTube video guide on obtaining student aid reports, launched the Better FAFSA campaign to advocate for mixed-status families, and renewed our partnership with uAspire to offer continuous financial aid guidance.

The progress we have made in just a few months is a testament to the power of collaboration and community support. As we continue to drive these efforts forward, LEAF remains committed to ensuring that every student has the resources and support they need to achieve their educational goals. With time before the state and federal financial aid applications close, we look forward to sharing more about the long-term impact of this initiative.

Thank you to the ECMC Foundation for making this crucial work possible. Together, we are making a difference in the lives of students and families across our community.