Tarleton State University is dedicated to empowering students with lived experience in foster care through offering resources, support, and skill development to promote success in higher education.

Allison Shoot serves as the primary point of contact for students with lived experience in Foster Care. This program offers comprehensive support, resources, and initiatives to assist foster care alumni in their academic and personal success. Foster care alumni include students who have experienced foster care, aged out of the system, been adopted, or participated in the Supervised Independent Living (SIL) Program.

The program provides guidance on:

  • Access to additional campus and community services
  • Financial aid, tuition fees, and exemptions
  • On- and off-campus housing options
  • Transportation resources
  • Campus employment opportunities

Allison Shoot
Case Manager and Foster Care Liaison
Dean of Students Administrative Office

Email: ASHOOT@tarleton.edu

Phone Number: 254-968-9080

Financial Aid and Job Resources

  • Texan Smart Financial Center help students through workshops aimed at improving financial practices and one-on-one financial coaching to aid in the development of individualized personal financial wellness.
  • Our experts in the Tarleton’s Financial Aid office can help you learn about financial aid options and educate yourself about the types of aid, eligibility, and educational funding.
  • Scholarships, this can help you find scholarships through Tarleton as well as outside pf Tarleton.
  • DFPS Scholarship Options, here you can find more scholarships specifically for former foster care and adopted alumni.
  • On campus student employment, there are many different types of employment opportunities such as work study, Intern2Learn, student workers and graduate assistants.
  • Handshake allows students to search for jobs on campus as well as throughout the community.
  • Career Services team can provide assistance with resumes, informative workshops, job fairs, and to help you connect to your career potential.
  • TRIO Program are federally funded outreach and service programs designed to identify and provide service for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. 

Living On or Off Campus Resources

Health Care Resources

  • Student Health Services is available to currently enrolled students who have paid the Student Health Fee. This includes Stephenville campus, Fort Worth, and Waco Learning Centers, as well as Global students. They are available for phone consultations, Telehealth appointments, as well as face-to-face appointments during normal clinic hours. For an appointment call 254-968-9271, or visit myhealth.tarleton.edu.
  • Medicaid Program– If you are 21 or older, the Texas Medicaid Program Client Hotline can provide information on Medicaid benefits, lists of Medicaid providers, health plans, and other general information, including the process for filing complaints about Medicaid health care providers or health plans. For more information, call toll free 800.252.8263, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CST.
  • Texas Health steps– Texas Health Steps coordinates free medical and dental checkups to people under age 21 who have Medicaid.  For more information, visit online or call 1.877.847.8377. Eligible treatments for transportation include:
    • Eye exams/glasses
    • Shots
    • Case management
    • Hearing tests
    • Health advice
  • Student Counseling Services offer a variety of services to meet the wide array of our students’ needs, from mental health training, collaborative outreach, and wellness workshops, to a variety of clinical services including counseling groups, single-session individual appointments, and brief, individual counseling. 
  • TELUS Health Student Support App the Student Support App connects students with free, confidential mental health and wellbeing support conveniently available 24/7 via the Student Support app, telephone, and web. TELUS Health content and support are available 24/7 in Mandarin, Cantonese, Spanish, French, and English. For other language preferences, you may request to be set up with a counselor who speaks that language. The use of the Student Support App is free and confidential.

Other Campus and Community Resources

  • People Helping People have an available food pantry as well as clothing and furniture resale location.
  • Grace Place can help provides groceries, diapers, fans or heaters, and financial assistance for essential services for those in need.
  • Josephs Locker helps with providing assistance with the basic necessities of food, clothing, household supplies.
  • Tarleton Purple Pantry to request access to the on-campus food pantry, please click on the link and fill out the access form.
  • Tarleton Career Clothing Fund is a discretionary fund for students needing career clothing items appropriate for the active move to employment.

Foster and Adopted Waiver Paperwork

  • Foster Care and Adopted Waiver Paperwork Remember that you need to submit a waiver for each semester you are enrolled! Click above for more information.
  • To obtain the Tuition and Fee Waiver you must contact the Education Specialist from the appropriate region in which you were in Foster Care.

Preparation for Adult Living Services