Scholarships for Children With Addicted Parents

Drug and alcohol addiction can tear a family apart. Besides the emotional trauma addiction can cause, it may also leave a family financially bereft. For children who want to break the cycle, attend college and start a better life, little or no money may be available for tuition. A few scholarships for children addicts offer support for children pursuing a college education.

Willy the Plumber Scholarship

Karl “Willy” Winsness teamed with the Community Foundation of Utah to create the Willy the Plumber Scholarship, which supports students "who have suffered because of the mistakes of their parents." The scholarship is for students whose parents are incarcerated, but this often children of addicted parents. In 2017, the scholarships were $1,000 for high school seniors in Utah and $500 for students in college pursuing skilled trades careers.

Hope for Addiction

Both the children of addicted parents and recovering drug addicts themselves can apply for this scholarship program. Applicants must be age 27 or younger and pledge to abstain from drugs and alcohol for the rest of their lives. At the time of publication, the program awards scholarships of $1,000 to attend college or a trade school. Awards are made on a quarterly basis, so students have opportunities to apply throughout the year. Applicants must write a personal essay about their experiences and their commitment to living drug free.

New York Times College Scholarship

This scholarship from The New York Times Company Foundation is for students who have shown perseverance in the face of significant obstacles, such as living with addicted parents or being homeless. Past winners have included the children of addicted parents. The program provides 10 awards that include a four-year scholarship, mentoring and an internship at "The New York Times." Students must be in the top 10 percent of their class at a high school in the New York metropolitan area. Award amounts vary according to available funding. In 2014, award winners received $7,500 per year. Students can attend any accredited college.

ScholarCHIPS Fund Program

Student Yasmine Arrington started this scholarship program to help students, like her, whose parents were incarcerated. Many scholarship winners are children of addicted parents and have parents who are incarcerated. The award amounts vary according to how much is raised for the fund each year. In 2014, three students were awarded scholarships of $2,500 each, and one student won a $250 award for books. Students must be high school seniors pursuing an accredited degree program to qualify.