Resource Directory

• Education

  GED Programs

  Preparation classes, practice testing, and official testing locations for the high school equivalency exam.

  What to look for

  • Adult education centers offering GED preparation
  • Community college equivalency programs
  • Free online practice tests and study material
  • Official testing centers and scheduling information

  National starting points

  • GED.com The official site for the GED test: study material, scheduling, and testing locations.

• Education

  High School Completion

  Routes back to a high school diploma, including alternative schools and credit recovery.

  What to look for

  • Alternative and second-chance high schools
  • Credit recovery and night school programs
  • District re-enrollment processes for students who left
  • Programs that accommodate young parents and working students

• Career

  Trade Schools

  Vocational and technical training in skilled trades, plus apprenticeships that pay while you learn.

  What to look for

  • Technical and vocational schools and their program catalogs
  • Registered apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs
  • Union training programs
  • Short-term certificate programs in the trades

  National starting points

  • Apprenticeship.gov Federal apprenticeship finder, searchable by trade and location.
  • CareerOneStop Training finder, local job center locator, and career profiles. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.

• Education

  Local Colleges

  Community colleges, technical colleges, and universities, plus what it takes to apply.

  What to look for

  • Community colleges with open admission
  • Technical colleges and certificate pathways
  • Four-year universities and transfer agreements
  • Admissions offices and campus visit options

  National starting points

  • College Scorecard U.S. Department of Education tool for comparing schools by cost, programs, and outcomes.

• Education

  Financial Aid

  Grants, scholarships, and aid applications that reduce what school actually costs you.

  What to look for

  • Federal student aid applications and deadlines
  • State grant programs
  • Scholarship search tools, including ones for student parents
  • Campus financial aid offices and payment plans

  National starting points

  • Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) The official federal financial aid site. Applying is free, and it is the starting point for most aid.

• Career

  Job Readiness

  Resumes, interviews, work clothes, and the practical parts of landing a first or better job.

  What to look for

  • American Job Centers and workforce development offices
  • Resume and interview preparation workshops
  • Youth employment and summer work programs
  • Interview clothing and work-gear assistance

  National starting points

  • CareerOneStop Job Center Finder Find the local job center nearest you. Services there are generally free.

• Career

  Military Information

  General, publicly available information about service, so you can ask informed questions.

  What to look for

  • Official information published by each branch
  • Overviews of active duty, reserve, and Guard components
  • General explanations of enlistment and entrance testing
  • General information about education benefits tied to service

  National starting points

  • Today’s Military Official U.S. Department of Defense overview of the branches, careers, and the joining process.

• Wellbeing

  Mental Health Support

  Free and low-cost counseling, peer support, and crisis lines that answer any hour.

  What to look for

  • Community mental health centers
  • Sliding-scale and no-cost counseling providers
  • Peer support and group programs for young adults
  • School and campus counseling services

  National starting points

  • 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or text 988 from anywhere in the U.S., free and confidential, 24 hours a day.
  • FindTreatment.gov Federal locator for mental health and substance use treatment services.

• Daily Needs

  Housing Support

  Shelter, transitional housing, and rent or utility assistance when your living situation is unstable.

  What to look for

  • Emergency shelter and youth-specific shelters
  • Transitional and supportive housing programs
  • Rent and utility assistance programs
  • Local housing authorities and tenant help lines

  National starting points

  • 211 Dial 211 or search online for local help with housing, utilities, food, and more.

• Daily Needs

  Childcare Resources

  Childcare help so that school, training, or work is actually possible for young parents.

  What to look for

  • Childcare subsidy and voucher programs
  • Head Start and early childhood programs
  • On-campus childcare at colleges
  • Programs supporting teen and young parents

  National starting points

  • Childcare.gov Federal guide to finding childcare and to state financial assistance programs.

• Daily Needs

  Transportation Assistance

  Getting to class, training, interviews, and appointments without a reliable car.

  What to look for

  • Public transit routes, passes, and reduced fares
  • Bus pass assistance through job centers and schools
  • Volunteer and non-emergency medical ride programs
  • Driver licensing help and vehicle assistance programs

• Daily Needs

  Food Assistance

  Groceries and meals, so food is not the thing that derails everything else.

  What to look for

  • Food pantries and community meal programs
  • SNAP and WIC application help
  • School and summer meal programs
  • Campus food pantries

  National starting points

  • USDA National Hunger Hotline Call 1-866-3-HUNGRY (1-866-348-6479) for referrals to food assistance near you.

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Please read: Programs, eligibility rules, costs, and availability change often, and some listings may be out of date. Always contact each provider directly to confirm that they can help you before you rely on anything here. E&N Michelle Hope House does not operate these programs and cannot guarantee acceptance, availability, or outcomes.