Education Training Voucher/Unaccompanied Refugee Minor (ETV/ETV-URM)

Program

Education Training Voucher/Unaccompanied Refugee Minor (ETV/ETV-URM)

Overview

The Education and Training Voucher (ETV) Program allows Texas to help current and former foster youth and young adults, youth adopted at age 16, and youth that enter Permanency Care Assistance at age 16 to make a smoother transition to a successful adulthood by providing funding and supports to help youth and young adults achieve their educational goals.

ETV Application Deadlines

Click here to contact your ETV coordinator if you think you may qualify for additional funds

Fall – October 1
Spring – March 1
Summer – July 1

You may be eligible to receive up to $5,000 per school year until your 23rd birthday, as long as you are enrolled in a post-secondary education institution and meet the enrollment criteria and satisfactory academic progress policies as established by the institutions. You must also meet the ETV eligibility qualifications and be enrolled in at least 6 semester hours.

The types of higher education institutions where ETV can be used include accredited or pre-accredited public, private, or non-profit schools:

That provide a bachelor’s degree or not less than a 2-year program that provides credit toward a degree or certification, or
That provide not less than one-year training to prepare students for gainful employment
That have been in existence for at least two years and provide a program of training to prepare students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation.

Have You Considered Exploring Vocational and Technical Career Options?
If you want to learn a skill where you receive a license or certification in a short time, consider exploring other career options of interest. Local community colleges offer many choices of career and technical programs in various fields. You can also explore Career Schools and Colleges which are privately-owned institutions that offer classroom or online training to teach the skills needed to perform a particular job. More information about researching these schools is available at the Texas Workforce Commission website. Visit their online directory of licensed career schools and colleges.

Correspondence Courses, Distance Education Courses and Continuing Education Courses
If you are interested in correspondence courses, distance education courses, or continuing education courses, please contact your community college to verify if the college factors in the cost of attendance for the course(s). Some schools may not include these courses in their costs of attendance which will determine whether you can receive ETV funds or not. You can also contact the ETV Coordinator to discuss further.

You have healthcare coverage until your 26th birthday!
If you age out of foster care at age 18, you are eligible for healthcare coverage until you turn 26 years old! For more info, download the handout below or check out the Health section at the Texas Youth Connection website.

Handout: Healthcare Coverage for Former Foster Youth

Please call your ETV Coordinator with any questions or concerns.

Eligibility

be at least 16 and likely to remain in DFPS foster care until turning 18, or are in extended foster care; or
have aged out of DFPS foster care and are not yet age 23; or
have been adopted from DFPS foster care after turning age 16 and not yet age 23; or
have entered the Permanency Care Assistance (PCA) program after turning age 16 and are not yet age 23.

ETV serves the entire state of Texas

Cities Served

Counties Served

All Counties in Texas

Betty, is currently studying to be a nurse. She has been maintaining a 3.7 cumulative GPA while earning a 4.0 GPA in all her math and science courses. Betty graduated in May of 2020 with her Associates Degree and began work on her BSN and MSN on her way to becoming a nurse practitioner. Betty is now married and advocates for youth with foster care experience.

Community Services Division

Program