Programs and services

Current and former foster youth can get up to $5,000 per school year. Minnesota Education and Training Voucher (ETV) program provides the funds for eligible students. Funding for post-secondary education at a college, university, vocational, technical or trade school. You do not have to pay these funds back.

ETV Program Guideline DHS-5339M (PDF) provide program information, application instructions, post-secondary preparation resources and more.

Youth who are in foster care on their 18th birthday may qualify for extended foster care services and payments. This may mean they can stay in their foster care setting longer, live on their own with additional support or request to return to foster care until they are 21.

Youth in foster care and youth who left foster care are at greater risk of being homeless. The Healthy Transition to Adulthood program helps youth ages 14 up to age 23. It supports successful transitions from foster care to adulthood.

The STAY (Successful Transition to Adulthood for Youth)  program is for current or former foster youth who are still working with a county or tribal social worker. The program helps youth between ages 14 up to age 23 prepare for a successful transition to adulthood.

Current and former foster care youth can learn leadership skills and make a difference in the foster care system by participating in Youth Leadership Councils. Seven councils in Minnesota currently operate out of Duluth, Rochester, Willmar, Bemidji, Mankato and two in Minneapolis.