Out-of-School
Youth
(OSY)

The plan to continue and complete your education will vary depending on your individual circumstances. The resources below may be helpful in determining your next steps. Feel free to reach out to your MEP recruiter for more information on these resources.

Premier High Schools Offers school-credit recovery and early graduation for students who thrive in smaller, independent learning environments. Also offers Career Technical Education (CTE) courses. Attend school around your work schedule; prepare for higher education.

High School Equivalency Program (HEP) Serves students from migrant or seasonal farm-worker families. Helps students who have dropped out of high school get their High School Equivalency Credential.

GED Provides online resources to help you prepare for and earn a high school equivalency diploma.

Texas High School Equivalency Program (HSEP) (English Only) Prepares eligible students to pass the high school equivalency exams instead of earning a high school diploma.

Adult Education and Literacy Program Provides English language, math, reading, and writing instruction to help youth who are at least 16 years old acquire the skills they need to succeed in the workforce, earn a high school equivalency diploma, or enter college or career training.

National Guard Youth Challenge Assists 16 - 18-year-old high school dropouts with life skills, education, and self-discipline.

Instructional Services for Out-of-School and Secondary Youth (iSOSY) Provides resources and materials that help migratory students identify and achieve their academic and career goals.

Texas Workforce Solutions Provides services that help workers find and keep good jobs. Offers career development information, job-search resources, and education and training programs. Also offers support services, including child care assistance for individuals participating in specific programs, and to prepare for higher education.

Job Corps Students ages 16–24 can earn a high school diploma, a high school equivalency credential, college credits, or career training. Students receive housing, meals, basic health care, a living allowance, training, and preparation for a career, all for free. For up to 21 months after graduation, a career transition counselor will help you or your child make the transition from Job Corps into the real world.

Motivation Education and Training (MET) Provides various services, including the National Farmworker Jobs program, and focuses on career development and educational achievement.

Goodwill (English Only) Helps overcome challenges, build skills, and find jobs. Also offers training and career advancement tools.

Department of Labor (English Only) Works to foster, promote, and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers, and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights. Some handouts from this English site are available in Spanish at Español | U.S. Department of Labor (dol.gov).

Department of Labor Seasonal Jobs Identifies job opportunities in specific locations for seasonal workers.

HEALTH

National Center for Farmworker Health Migrant health centers around the country provide health care to farmworkers and their families.

Texas Health and Human Services-County Indigent Health Care Program  Offers access to health care such as vaccines, medical screenings, physical examinations, laboratory, radiology, and other services to those who qualify.

Free Clinics (English Only) Directory of free and affordable health care clinics in Texas.

MENTAL HEALTH

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) NAMI Texas has a variety of education and support programs for individuals living with mental illness, family members, friends, professionals, and the community, to address the mental health needs of Texans.

Mental Health America (MHA) (English Only) Addresses the needs of people living with mental illness through advocacy, education, research, and services.

Mental Health Clinic List for Texas Free, low-cost, or sliding scale fee mental health clinics in Texas. Clinics are listed in alphabetical order by city.

Texas Suicide Prevention Collaborative. Can offer support from someone who can help. This resource can also help users find and receive services from a local community center.

Texas Legal Services Center Provides legal advice, education, and representation for free if you qualify.

Catholic Charities USA  (English Only) Provides various services such as emergency shelter, immigration advocacy, food and nutrition assistance, and other resources.

Head Start Program provides support in areas such as language, literacy, and social-emotional development in children from birth to age 5 from low-income families.

Feeding America A nationwide network of programs that help people find food and grocery assistance in their communities.

Salvation Army USA  (English Only) The Salvation Army provides resources to help people escape poverty. Resources may include shelters, food pantries, help for domestic abuse or human trafficking, after-school programs, LGBTQ support, job training, and disaster relief.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)  (English Only) Provides nutrition benefits to supplement the food budget of families in need so they can purchase healthy food and move towards self-sufficiency.

2-1-1 Texas  (English Only) Helps Texans connect with the services they need. 2-1-1 Texas is a free and anonymous social service hotline available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Findhelp.org  A resource that helps users search for and find support for various free or reduced-cost social programs in their area.

The Migrant Legal Action Program  (MLAP) works to enforce rights and improve public policies that affect farmworker working and housing conditions, education, health, nutrition, and employment.

The Texas Migrant Family Helpline offers assistance to families by providing referrals for services for health care, housing, transportation, and school enrollment. The helpline is available nationwide Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Central Time, and can be reached at (833) 454-6711.