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Education and Training Voucher (ETV) Program

The Education and Training Voucher (ETV) program is federally funded through the Chafee Foster Care Independence Act, which was enacted to help provide opportunities for youth who age out of the foster care system to attend post-secondary education and training programs. ETV awards can be up to $5,000 per school year to pay for tuition, fees, books housing, transportation and other school–related costs. It is designed to complement the student’s own efforts to secure financial aid to attend post-secondary school. The program is administered by the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) through contracts with Ramsey County, Hennepin County, and Lutheran Social Services (LSS)-Willmar to coordinate the program in their assigned areas.

How can we help?

• Apply for the ETV program

• Participate in the ETV program

• Contact people in charge

• Find other education and training resources

Apply for the ETV program

Who is eligible?

These criteria apply to youth seeking an ETV for the first time, or those who previously completed an application but did not receive an ETV award.

All EVT applicants must be both:

• Under age 21

• Accepted into an accredited post-secondary program

In addition, applicants must meet at least one of the following:

• Were under the custody of a county or tribal agency that approved an out-of-home placement after the age of 14

• Were adopted from an agency-approved out-of-home placement (such as foster care) after age 16

• Are or were under the custody of a county or tribal agency that approved an out-of-home placement up to or beyond age 18

• Are or were under state guardianship (also known as “state wards”).

The following criteria apply to youth previously awarded an ETV. Youth awarded an ETV prior to age 21 can apply for renewals every year until age 23.

All ETV applicants must:

• Have received an ETV prior to 21st birthday and have not reached 23rd birthday

• Have been accepted into or are enrolled at an accredited post-secondary program

• Have maintained a grade point average of 2.0 or better.

What is an accredited post-secondary program?

ETV funds can only be used at an accredited post-secondary program, which is defined as:

• Admitting, as regular students, only persons having a high school diploma or GED, or regularly admits persons who are beyond the age of compulsory school attendance in our state

• A public or non-profit institution

• Accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association, and has been in existence for at least two years

• An educational program that meets one of the following criteria: awards a bachelor’s degree or not less than a two-year program that is acceptable for full credit toward a bachelor’s degree (e.g., community college), or provides an eligible program to prepare students for employment in a recognized occupation.

An institution does NOT meet the definition if:

• More than 50 percent of its courses are offered by correspondence

• It enrolls 50 percent or more of its students in correspondence courses

• It has a student enrollment in which more than 25 percent of the students are incarcerated.

What is the next step?

Submit the free application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), www.fafsa.ed.gov for federal and state financial aid. This application is free. It must be completed before applying for an ETV and submitted with the ETV application. For help completing the FAFSA application, review the Tips for Completing FAFSA.

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) administers the program and contracts with Ramsey County, Hennepin County, and Lutheran Social Services (LSS)-Willmar to coordinate the ETV program for their assigned areas.

To apply for an ETV program, review the programs below to determine which one describes you.

Statewide program: Youth living in Ramsey or Hennepin Counties who do not have a worker or residents of any other Minnesota county or Indian reservation should apply to the Minnesota Department of Human Services and participate in the Lutheran Social Services (LSS) – Willmar ETV program. For questions about the program, e-mail ETVcoordinator@state.mn.us or call (651) 431-4663. The application is available on the DHS Web site. The application deadline beginning in 2009 is July 1.

Ramsey County program: Youth with a Ramsey County social worker should apply to and participate in the Ramsey County ETV program. The application is available here. For further information about application deadlines and other aspects of the program, contact Gayle Kittleson, Gayle.Kittleson@co.ramsey.mn.us, (651) 266-4705.

Hennepin County program: Youth with a Hennepin County worker should apply to and participate in the Hennepin County ETV program. For an application to this program, or to get further information about application deadlines and other aspects of the program, contact your worker or send an e-mail to HSPH.EYI@co.hennepin.mn.us.

After completing the application, when will I know if I will receive an ETV?

Applications to the statewide program that are received by the deadline will be reviewed by the ETV review committee and determinations will be made in July. All youth who applied by the deadline will receive a letter notifying them of the status of their application. Hennepin and Ramsey Counties each have somewhat different deadlines.

How much will I receive if I am eligible?

It depends. Although a voucher can be up to $5,000, the amount awarded depends on the several factors, including:

• Unmet needs after the cost of attendance and financial assistance are determined

• Extent of progress towards a degree or certificate

• Enrollment status (full-time, half-time, or less than half-time)

• Placement history and permanency status.

These sites may have additional helpful information:

• Minnesota Office of Higher Education , www.ohe.state.mn.us and click on Institutional Data.

• Minnesota’s Private Colleges, http://www.mnprivatecolleges.org/index.php .

• National Center for Educational Statistics, http:/www.nces.ed.gov/globallocator.

Participate in the ETV program

What information is shared about youth in the ETV program?

The Minnesota Department of Human Services coordinates the ETV program and contracts with Ramsey County, Hennepin County and Lutheran Social Services (LSS)-Willmar to coordinate the program for their assigned areas. For the purposes of administering the program, the contract agencies provide information about youth awarded ETVs, including the youth’s name, ETV expenditures, and academic status. Information about youth working with LSS-Willmar is shared with DHS under terms described in the application on the Notice of Privacy Practice and Authorization for release of information.

What are my responsibilities?

Youth awarded an ETV should:

• Respond to e-mails or messages from the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) and Lutheran Social Service (LSS)-Willmar staff and your mentor.

• Meet and maintain contact with a designated mentor.

• Maintain an active e-mail account. Free e-mail accounts can be opened at www.yahoo.com or www.hotmail.com .

• Maintain at least a 2.0 grade point average.

• Contact LSS-Willmar immediately if:

o 1) the ETV award will not be used because education program was not started or was dropped,

o 2) there is a withdrawal from any class,

o 3) contact information (address, phone number, e-mail address) changes,

o 4) placed on academic probation.

• Provide LSS-Willmar staff a copy of each semester's transcript to verify grade point average and number of credits completed.

• Maintain eligibility for financial aid.

• Submit a new ETV application for each academic year that financial assistance is needed.

Lutheran Social Service-Willmar staff will:

• Release and direct ETV funds to cover the attendance costs of the youth’s post-secondary program.

• Monitor the youth’s educational progress by reviewing each semester’s transcript.

• Act as mentor for assigned youth.

Mentors are responsible for:

• Providing help with school, identifying resources and answering questions throughout the school year.

• Communicating with the youth periodically to build a trusting relationship, providing guidance, and supporting them academically and emotionally.

• Completing the Mentor Report form at least two times per year and send to DHS.

• Providing the Department of Human Services feedback about the ETV Program/mentoring.

What are Mentors?

Youth awarded ETVs will be connected with a mentor. Youth can identify a mentor or will be connected with one. The ETV program has expectations of mentors working with youth which include:

• Providing help with school, identifying resources and answering questions throughout the school year

• Communicating with the youth periodically to build a trusting relationship, providing guidance, and supporting them academically and emotionally

• Completing the Mentor Progress Report form at least two times per year and send to DHS

• Providing feedback to the Department of Human Services about the ETV Program/mentoring

• Reviewing the calendar and suggested topics.

In addition to discussing personal and academic progress, mentors can focus on the following topics throughout the year.

• Fall: Budgeting, school and extracurricular activities, class schedules

• Winter: Semester grades, discuss Thanksgiving and holiday plans.

• Spring: Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and ETV applications for June 1 deadline. Discuss summer employment or school options.

For more information review the Mentor Handbook .

Contact people in charge:

Youth with a Ramsey County social worker:

Apply to and participate in the Ramsey County ETV Program.

Contact Gayle Kittleson, Gayle.Kittleson@co.ramsey.mn.us, (651) 266-4705.

Youth with a Hennepin County worker:

Apply to and participate in the Hennepin County ETV Program.

Either contact your worker or send an e-mail to HSPH.EYI@co.hennepin.mn.us.

All other youth:

Apply to the Minnesota Department of Human Services and participate in the Lutheran Social Services (LSS)–Willmar ETV Program. Send an e-mail to ETVcoordinator@state.mn.us or call (651) 431-4663.

Find other education and training resources:

Forms:

Free Application for Federal Student Financial Aid (FAFSA) enables students to apply for student assistance online.

Tips for Completing the FAFSA provides information on completing the FAFSA form.

Scholarship/Financial Aid Information:

The Alan Page Foundation offers scholarships to students of color who show financial need and plan to attend a Minnesota college.

The College Board provides information on financial aid, with sections for students and parents.

College Cost Reduction and Access Act would provide new protections, in addition to those in current law, to ensure that families can continue to access the loans they need to pay for college.

The Ethel Curry Scholarship offers scholarships to American Indian students.

The Financial Aid Information Page has links to student financial aid. It is a comprehensive source of student financial aid information, advice and tools.

The Minnesota Higher Education Services Office provides information on the financial aid process and financial aid programs, including an interactive financial aid estimator, Minnesota tuition and fees chart, an online tuition reciprocity application, and loan counseling and repayment calculator.

Minority Scholarships Gateway List Created by Black Excel

The National Foster Parent Association offers scholarships for foster care youth who wish to further their education beyond high school, including college or university studies, vocational and job training and correspondence courses, including the GED. Click on Tools and Resources and then Youth Scholarships.

The Orphan Foundation offers scholarships to youth who have spent one year or more in out-of-home placement. Many Minnesota youth have been scholarship recipients.

The Power of You covers the cost of tuition and fees for two years, or up to 72 credits, at Minneapolis Community and Technical College (MCTC) Saint Paul College or Metropolitan State University for youth graduating from a Minneapolis or Saint Paul public high school.

Nellie Mae Financial Assistance is a New England Loan Marketing Association. It provides federal and private student loans to students and families across the country. The Web site includes information for students thinking about or already in college, parents and financial aid administrators and guidance counselors.

The Student Loan Marketing Association (Sallie Mae) provides information to help families learn about planning and paying for college. http://www.salliemae.com Interactive calculators and a glossary of financial aid terms, as well as a link to the college preparation Web site at http://www.wiredscholar.com is included.

Fast Web is a free service that matches students with access to information on 600,000 scholarships, fellowships, internships, grants and loans from corporations, institutions, philanthropic organizations, foundations and clubs.

Student Gateway to the U.S. Government has compiled a variety of student aid information and tools for students and administrators.

Resources for Students:

YouthCorner offers online access to statewide community resources for youth. Resource topics include housing, education, jobs, money management, legal, healthcare, transportation and community connections. Information can be accessed by topic area or location throughout the state. Go to MinnesotaHelp.info, Special Topics and click on Youth Corner.

The Internet System for Education and Employment Knowledge (ISEEK) has information on careers, higher education options, financial aid and jobs.

College is Possible is sponsored by the Coalition of Americas Colleges and Universities and is a resource guide for students, families, and educators. It includes links to recommended books, Web sites and brochures.

Publications:

Minnesota Office of Higher Education offers publications on financial aid, workbooks and guides, and checklists.

Paying for College Student Resource Guide , 2008 Edition, includes scholarships, internships, fellowships, books, and websites.

Your Guide to Paying for College is a resource from the Minnesota Office of Higher Education.

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