Foster Youth Transition Services

Minnesota's Education and Training Voucher (ETV) Program provides funds to help current and former foster youth pay for post-secondary education. Youth can receive up to $5,000 per school year. These grants do not need to be paid back. Contact the ETV coordinator for more information.

Additional ETV resources:

• Money for college for foster youth DHS-5339L, (PDF)
• Online application DHS-5339, (PDF) accepted July 1 to June 30 annually
• Education and Training Program guidelines DHS-5339M, (PDF)
• Education and Training Program Expense Guidelines DHS-5339B, (PDF) to help applicants with budgeting
• if youth have experienced a foster care placement in another state, verify placement information using the Education and Training Voucher Verification of Eligibility, DHS-5339A (PDF)

To learn more about the Education and Training Voucher program, and to get advice from program participants, view this department video titled "Fostering Success: An overview of Minnesota’s Education and Training Voucher. "

Youth who are in foster care Immediately prior to their 18th birthday may qualify for extended foster care services and payments. Use the Voluntary Foster Care Agreement for Youth Ages 18-21, DHS-6248 (PDF) to formalize  terms and conditions of extended care.

The Successful Transition to Adulthood for Youth (STAY) Program offers services to youth, ages 14 up to 23, who are currently or were previously in foster care for at least 30 consecutive days after age 14, but are still working with county or tribal social workers. Contact DCYF staff for more inforamtion.

Independent Living Skills Groups give transition assistance to youth who have been in substitute care after the age 14. Youth workers help to prepare young adults for their future. By using skill-building group sessions to cover topics including budgeting, relationships, effective communication and decision-making.  Independent Living Skills group activity manual DHS-1811 (PDF)

Youth in foster care and those who left care at age 18 can be at greater risk of homelessness, incarceration, substance use, and early parenting. STAY in Community provides individual independent living skills training for former foster youth from ages 18 up to 23 who are no longer working with a county or tribal worker.

Minnesota Youth in Transition Database (MNYTD) collects information about the independent living services Minnesota provides to all youth, and the outcome information from youth transitioning out of foster care. The state database is part of a federal effort to compare and evaluate these services.

The purpose of this guide is to establish requirements and provide instructions for local social service agency staff when youth, for whom an agency is legally responsible, are reported or believed to have run away. Because of potential dangers to youth, caseworkers are to consider missing and runaway youth as a major event that requires intensive intervention. Responding to youth who ran away from foster care DHS-8015 (PDF)

Although strides have been made to lessen discrimination against minority sexual orientations, there remains both a lack of knowledge about, and some active negative bias towards those who identify on the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Ally spectrum. The  Working with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning/queer youth DHS-6500 (PDF) practice guide is intended to increase the awareness, knowledge and skills of social workers and administrators in the child welfare system so they may effectively and competently meet the needs of LGBTQA youth and their families.

Helping Youth Transition from Out-of-home Care into Adulthood, DHS-6530 (PDF) is a  best practice guide providing social workers with useful information and resources about independent living plans for youth age 14 and older who are currently or were formerly in out-of-home care.

Preparing foster care youth for adulthood: Resources for workers

Many youth leaving foster care approach adulthood with resources and expectations to be independent and successful, but some end up isolated, homeless, unemployed, and without hope for a bright and happy future. What determines their outcome? There is no simple answer to this question; often, the difference between success and failure is a fine line. Yet, common sense, empirical research and personal testimony from foster youth all underscore the importance of comprehensive preparation for independent living, opportunities for economic success and encouragement to aim high.

Resources for county and tribal agency case managers

Helping Youth Transition from Out-of-Home Care to Adulthood best practice guide. 
The purpose of this best practice guide is to provide caseworkers with information and resources to work more effectively with adolescents. The content of this guide includes:

• Guidance on assessing youth’s independent living skills
• Guidance on developing a complete and meaningful Independent Living Plan
• Resources for each section in the Independent Living Plan
• Information on teaching youth life skills and where to find curricula
• An explanation of the Successful Transition to Adulthood for Youth (STAY) program, which provides county and tribal agencies with funding to help prepare youth for successful adulthood, as well as other adolescent services programs
• Information on how caregivers and other significant adults can help prepare youth for adulthood.

Requirements and Resources for Older Youth in Foster Care document provides county and tribal case managers information to ensure that comprehensive planning and preparation are provided to youth in foster care youth, ages 14-21. The document outlines required actions by age and includes statues, bulletins, website and other resources.

• Requirements and Resources for Older Youth in Foster Care (PDF)
• Transition to Adulthood Brochure (PDF)

Successful Transition to Adulthood brochure provides description of programs and resources that youth may be eligible to apply for and receive funds and/or support. 

Programs for Youth: Eligibility and Benefits document provides eligibility requirements and benefits for post-secondary education, extended foster care, credit reports, medical assistance for former foster care youth and Successful Transition for Adulthood for Youth (STAY).

Independent Living Plan Tutorial Guide General guidance and technical assistance to child welfare staff and caseworkers responsible for completing an Independent Living Plan (ILP) for youth 14 and older currently or formerly in foster care.

Children's Law Center of Minnesota This site has information on many resources for Minnesota youth, such as emergency shelters, housing, health care, employment and education. It also has a section on legal rights of foster youth.

Credit reports for foster care youth For some young people in foster care, stolen identities and bad credit pose yet another obstacle on the road to independence. For youth who have faced years of instability and uncertainty, bad credit stands in the way of some basic life activities, such as renting an apartment, buying a car, getting a job, having a bank account or securing student loans. The Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families credit check program for youth in foster care helps young people leave care with clear credit histories.

FosterClub This is a non-profit national network of young people in foster care. Support for youth includes connections to resources in the youth's community, helping youth advocate for oneself, emotional support and inspiring stories of former foster youth now leading successful lives.

Medical Assistance benefits for former foster care youth  The Affordable Care Act (Section 2004) extends Medical Assistance benefits to youth leaving foster care on or after their 18th birthday up to age 26. This became effective Jan. 1, 2014. Minnesota law also supports this Medical Assistance category.

TeensHealth This site is a safe, private place for teens who need honest, accurate information and advice about health, emotions and life. The doctor-approved information is meant to help teens make educated decisions - or help a friend who needs advice.

Youthhood This site offers tools to help young adults plan for life after high school. It was designed by staff at the National Center on Secondary Education and Transition at the University of Minnesota.

Minnesota Office of Higher Education This site offers information about financial aid programs and helps young Minnesotans gain access to post-secondary education. Topics of interest include preparing for college, choosing a college and paying for college.

Minnesota TRiO programs offer pre-college and post-secondary programs designed to help students with low incomes and first generation students enter and graduate from college.

Minnesota Youth in Transition Database gives youth an opportunity to make their voices heard, and to help other youth who are in foster care. This Minnesota Department of Human Services-sponsored survey, administered by counties and tribes at age 17 and The Improve Group at ages 19 and 21, asks simple questions like whether or not a youth is employed or going to school. Responses are important to determine future services for youth, and help secure funding for independent living skills services. Youth who are eligible to take the survey may receive gift cards; visit the Improve Group's Minnesota Youth in Transition Database website to determine eligibility