Educational Training Vouchers
Basic Information
Responsible Agency: Department of Workforce Services
Amount: Up to $5,000 per year
Deadline to Apply: Rolling
Can Spend On: Tuition, housing, books and basic living expenses
How $ is Awarded: The ETV program will pay tuition, fees, and on-campus housing directly to an educational institution. Basic living expenses and off-campus housing will be paid directly to the seller or vendor. A ReliaCard will be issued for the purchase of textbooks. ETV funds can be given for five years, so it is advisable to access them at the start of higher education.
For Whom:
Youth aged 14-18 in the custody of DCFS or Tribal social services
Young adults aged 18-26 who:
Aged out of foster care
Were in foster care after their 16th birthday and were adopted or placed in guardianship
Not eligible: reunified youth, youth with Catholic Community Services, youth whose cases closed before 16th birthday
To Access
Click "How to Apply" button and follow the steps.
If you would like support through the application process, contact the 1999 Collective. We can walk with you through the application process and support you in securing documentation.
Want Help? We can meet with you
The 1999 Collective exists to make this process easier. Contact us for help navigating any barrier, including:
You're intimidated by contacting a state agency
You don't have access to the documentation DWS requires, or you don't know how to get it
You'd like someone who has done this before to go with you to meet with DWS
You're not sure what to do with your documents