(TJJD) Youth Handbook - Texas Juvenile Justice Department

Education Help After ReleaseTJJD is so committed to seeingthat you get a good education,there are people whose job it is justto help you with educationalopportunities and problems back inyour home community. Thesepeople are called TJJD educationliaisons and they work in TJJDoffices around the state, probablyin your home parole office if it is ina large city. The liaisons will helpyou enroll in high school, college,or trade school, or help you withGED preparation. They will help you fill out financial aid forms and apply forscholarships. They will also give you advice and answers to your questions tohelp make going to school less stressful or intimidating.How to Pay for College or Trade SchoolDo not let concerns about getting money for college or trade school discourageyou from going after your dreams. There are many ways to pay for school andyour education liaison can help you find them. Just because you have beencommitted to TJJD, you are not guaranteed any money for college or tradeschool. However, TJJD staff will help you look for financial aid in as many placesas possible. Here are some of the ways you can get money:1. FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) – This is the financialaid form you have to fill out to get student loans or grants from thefederal government. It is the first place you must try to get money. Theschool you want to go to will use this form to decide if you are eligible forfinancial aid. If you get a grant, you don’t have to pay it back. If you get aloan, you do have to pay it back, but not until you are done with school.2. Private Scholarships – These are scholarships given by people or groupsbased on a variety of different things. Often, you will have to fill out theforms and meet the requirements of the group or individual in order toqualify for their scholarships. These awards can range from a fewhundred dollars to thousands of dollars.38