Education & Training Voucher (ETV)

Program Contacts:

• Kris Hook, Scholarship Coordinator | khook@central-plains.org and 308-212-2297 (Omaha)
• Deena Gibson, Scholarship Coordinator | dgibson@central-plains.org and 308-749-2580 (Broken Bow)
• Ann Lenz, Education Specialist | alenz@central-plains.org and 402-990-3296 (Omaha)

Description:

Central Plains Center for Services, through a contracted partnership with the Nebraska Children and Families Foundation, administers the Education and Training Voucher (ETV) Program. The John H. Chafee Foster Care to Independence Act of 1999 made this federally funded program possible. This program provides financial assistance for tuition, fees, books, and one-on-one support for current and former state wards to attend college. 

The ETV program provides financial assistance and one-on-one support for eligible youth to attend the college of their choice. Students can receive up to $2,600 per year for tuition, fees, and books. A hallmark of our ETV program is the direct support each youth receives.

Eligibility:

• Current state ward or Tribal ward who is 16 years old or older
• Former state or Tribal wards who were in care at least one day into their 16th birthday
• Cannot have reached their 26th birthday
• High school graduate
• Enrolled in any credit-bearing, accredited college program in and outside of Nebraska

How do you know if you have been accepted into the ETV Program?

Once your application is received at our office, our Scholarship Coordinators, Kris Hook or Deena Gibson, will contact you by phone to review it and discuss the services ETV can provide. For questions, please contact Central Plains Center for Services.

ETV Staff regularly meet with 100% of the youth in person, by phone, or by email to discuss whatever needs they identify.

This could include class scheduling, funding, housing, relationships, etc; however, in many cases, our main purpose is providing ongoing encouragement in recognizing what the youth has already accomplished and what they can accomplish. These contacts are provided not only by the ETV coordinator but by the Central Plains Center for Services coaches located across the state to support, problem-solve, encourage, and assist the youth in addressing the many obstacles they face that challenge their ability to be successful in school.

To better understand the importance and impact of Central Plains' ETV program, the video below provides perspective directly from young people and students, which is followed by a quote from one of our successful students, who is currently moving their life forward due to the support of the ETV program.