STATE OF NEVADA - Division of Child and Family Services

“Transitional Plan” for IL. Information of the ETV program is provided at the development of youth transition planning and
during the youth’s exit interview.
Currently established collaborations with community-based IL contractors have expanded to include outreach and
educational goal planning for foster and former foster youth. Improved tracking and reporting requirements, as well as
specific outcome-based procedures have been developed. The DCFS contractors, community partners, state and county
social workers are coordinating and collaborating to provide that services are delivered to the highest number of eligible
foster youth and to ensure that youth are encouraged to follow through with postsecondary school application
requirements and funding requests. With an increased focus on postsecondary education from all IL contractors, which
includes assistance in planning educational or vocational training, applying for financial aid and additional support, more
youth will remain motivated to reach their educational and vocational goals.
2. Assist youth receive education, training, and services necessary to obtain employment
Statewide, the Chafee funds support IL programs, which provide individualized life skills trainings and workshops for
foster youth to prepare them for self-sufficiency in the community. IL Advisors assist youth to determine job interests,
necessary education or vocational training, job workshops, budgets, practicing informed decision making and other skills
necessary for employment. The ETV Program fund removes barriers for foster youth to attend vocational school or
trainings to further their employment opportunities.
3. Assist youth prepare for and enter postsecondary training and educational institutions.
Educational achievement determined by the number of youth who leave foster care with a GED or high school diploma
has dropped in recent years in Nevada. Approximately 59% of exiting youth receive a GED or high school diploma, as
many youth are unable to pass the required state basic skills proficiency tests. Additional tutoring in basic skills such as
English or math is necessary for many foster youth, as these youths often become discouraged and do not make the
additional effort to obtain their GED or high school diploma after exiting from foster care.
Following state funding initiatives for former foster youth, a database is under development to track characteristics of the
foster youth transitioning out of care. This will allow more effective transition planning and increased interventions for all
exiting youth and provide a more complete support system for the youth upon exit. Identifying youth, before exiting care,
with educational deficiencies and providing services such as tutoring, postsecondary education workshops, GED
preparation and testing will better prepare youth to enter and complete postsecondary education and/or training programs.
To qualify for the ETV program, foster youth must be planning to graduate from an accredited high school, must have
graduated from an accredited high school, or must have a GED or certification of high school completion for students who
completed the mandatory hours required for high school instruction, but did not pass the high school proficiency exams.
The youth’s postsecondary school or vocational/training program must meet the following criteria:
1. Must be accredited or pre-accredited and is authorized to operate in that state.
2. Admits only students with a high school diploma or equivalent and/or students beyond the age of compulsory school
attendance.
3. May be a public or nonprofit school or training program that awards a Bachelor’s Degree.
4. May be a public or nonprofit school or training program that offers not less than a two-year program and that provides
credit toward a degree, or provides training towards gainful employment.
5. May be a vocational program that provides training for gainful employment and has been in existence for at least two
years.
Although youth are encouraged to participate in full-time educational programs, the ETV program does not exclude youth
who attend less than full-time, as this would limit the number of youth who would benefit from this program. The program
provides personal and emotional support to youth through mentors and to encourage and promote interactions with
dedicated adults.
IL Services are provided by contracted community partners and focus upon services for foster youth in care, the
transitioning youth, and the youth who has aged-out of care. Specialized case management is developed for the youth
and allows tracking and outreach. Each program coordinates information and referral for the youth. In addition, state
and/or county social workers are available to youth and refer former foster youth to services. The ETV Program builds
upon services available with existing programs and youth and their IL Advisors/Social Workers may contact the State IL
Nevada APSR – SFY 2010
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