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The purpose of this Local Commissioners Memorandum (LCM) is to provide guidance to local social services districts (DSS) on the Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2011-2012 Education and Training Voucher (ETV) program. This program will help youth aging out of foster care, including persons in need of supervision (PINS) and juvenile delinquents in the custody of the social services district, to make the transition to self-sufficiency and receive the education, training and services necessary to obtain employment. For FFY 2011-2012, $2,950,649 in federal funding is available for this program in New York State. The New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) expect to use a portion of the ETV funds for eligible youth placed in OCFS custody. OCFS will provide the required match for youth in OCFS custody who are eligible for the ETV program. The ETV funds must be fully liquidated (spent and claimed to the federal government) by September 30, 2012. This LCM also describes the application process and selection criteria for awarding FFY 2011-2012 ETV program funds and the funding requirements. It should be noted that for FFY 2011-2012, social services districts are requested to submit names of eligible youth and intercept letters by July 1, 2011 (refer to Section V. - Application and Selection of Program Participants). OCFS is beginning the ETV process during the summer in the hope that funds will be available for disbursement to eligible youth earlier in the academic school year. Recognizing the importance of education in helping youth successfully transition to self-sufficiency, many local social services districts have demonstrated their commitment to assisting youth within their jurisdiction to pursue post-secondary educational and vocational training opportunities through participation in the ETV program. An eligible youth participating in the ETV program when he or she attains 21 years of age may continue to receive an ETV voucher until the youth attains 23 years of age, provided the youth continues to be enrolled in and attending a post-secondary educational or vocational training program and is making satisfactory progress toward completion of that program.
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