Urban Institute Webinar on 2022 ETV Report
2023-03-07 11:00 - 12:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Zoom
Hear about Urban Institute’s latest research on the Chafee Education and Training Vouchers Program on Tuesday, March 7, 2-3:30 pm EST. Devlin Hanson, Michael Pergamit, and Laura Packard Tucker will share the findings of their report, “Do Education and Training Vouchers Make a Difference for Young Adults in Foster Care? A Study of Ten States” (October 3, 2022). You can find the full report here.
For this session, the Transition Aged Youth Coalition will be joined by members of the Fostering Academic Achievement Nationwide (FAAN) Network. The TAY Coalition is a group of advocates who focus on issues related to improving services and outcomes for transition-aged youth in and leaving foster care through policy advocacy. The FAAN Network is made up of leaders in 18 states of statewide foster care and higher education organizations that share learning and best practices in policy and programming across the field.

Data to Action: How to Use New Searchable Data Profiles to Improve Practice and Policy for Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness
2023-03-14 11:00 - 12:00 | Zoom
This webinar will demonstrate how data these profiles can be used to:

Educate community members, educators, and policymakers about the prevalence and the impact of child and youth homelessness, from early childhood through postsecondary education
Explore whether local school districts may be under-identifying children and youth experiencing homelessness
Understand patterns of federal funding and its impact on identification

Foster Care Education Training for All District Staff
2023-03-15 10:00 - 12:00 | Zoom
Join the OSPI team for a March training. Attendees will learn the basics of foster care education, while diving into some current issues school staff are facing. This training is geared towards any member of a school district.
Register Here

OSPI-WSAC Webinar: Supporting Student Access to Career Preparation and Apprenticeships
2023-03-22 09:00 - 10:30 | Zoom
Join OSPI-WSAC staff and our knowledgeable presenters from the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, Clover Park Technical College, and the Washington State Achievement Council on March 22, 9–10:30 AM. Learn about pathways to access apprenticeship program opportunities in Washington, how students interested in apprenticeships can be supported in their path, how CTCs are playing a role in apprenticeship access, and bust some common myths about apprenticeships along the way. WSAC will also be sharing information about financial resources available to students who are interested in pursuing apprenticeships.

WPN Webinar: College Completion Coaching – Promising Practices
2023-04-05 13:00 - 14:00 | Zoom
College Success Foundation (CSF) College Services provides one-on-one and small-group coaching to 2- and 4-year college students throughout Washington State. CSF coaches are training on the Fostering Success Coaching Model developed within the Seita Scholars Program, a campus support program for students from foster care at Western Michigan University. The coaching approach was informed by research conducted by Casey Family Programs that identified what supports students from foster care need to persist in college. In 2022, Research Triangle Institute (RTI) completed a 3-year study that tested the efficacy of this model. During this session, we will share highlights from the RTI Promising Practices study, and provide opportunities to provide feedback on the report.
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Presenters: Danette Knudson, Robbie Lang, Dr. Natassia Rodriguez Ott.
Danette Knudson leads program strategy for College Success Foundation’s (CSF) support services delivered from middle school through college completion. She led the re-design of CSF’s college services model which now serves nearly 4,000 students. Danette is committed to collaborating with partners, staff, and students to promote the delivery of relevant, high-impact programs. Danette received her Bachelor of Arts and Master in Business in Administration from University of Washington, Seattle.

Robbie Lang currently serves as Director of College Services at College Success Foundation. In this role, he oversees program design and improvement efforts aimed at supporting college achievement for more than 4,000 students. Robbie has a passion for working directly with students, so in addition to program management, he also provides coaching support to students. Robbie understands that each student is unique and motivated differently. He enjoys helping students overcome personal obstacles to degree completion. Robbie has a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Communication from Whitworth University and a Master’s in Education in Student Development Administration from Seattle University.

Dr. Natassia Rodriguez Ott At RTI International, Dr. Natassia Rodriguez Ott conducts research and evaluation on student-centered education and workforce programs. She utilizes participatory data collection and analysis processes to elevate stakeholder voices, develop culturally responsive approaches and materials, and center the needs of historically underserved populations. Dr. Rodriguez Ott specializes in mixed methods research on education and career pathways among high school, postsecondary, and adult learners.

Upcoming Webinar from the National Research Collaborative for Foster Alumni and Higher Education
2023-04-27 11:00 - 12:00 | Zoom
Many colleges and universities are creating campus-based programs to support students with a background in foster care. When considering the histories of trauma experienced by these young people, meeting mental health needs is an important part of a portfolio of services. ASuPIRE is a strengths-based, trauma-informed counseling program that was designed to respond to the unique needs of college students who aged-out and/or experienced foster care at any point across their development.
The presenters will be Dr. Cynthia Lietz dean of the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions and President’s Professor in the School of Social Work at Arizona State University, and Justine Cheung, MSW, the director for Bridging Success, Arizona State University’s campus-based support program for students who have experienced foster care.
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Webinar: New Federal FAFSA Guidance for Homeless Youth
2023-05-11 10:30 - 12:00 | Zoom
The U.S. Department of Education recently released new guidance on financial aid (FAFSA) determinations for unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness and unaccompanied youth who are self-supporting and at risk of homelessness. In this webinar, presenters from the U.S. Department of Education will present an overview of the new guidance and respond to questions. Participants also will hear from a financial aid administrator who will share strategies for implementing the law and guidance. SchoolHouse Connection will share resources and tools for educators and providers.
Presenters:
1. (Moderator) Jillian Sitjar, Director of Higher Education Partnerships, SchoolHouse Connection
2. Dr. Kerri Moseley-Hobbs, Policy Specialist, Federal Student Aid, U.S. Department of Education
3. Aaron C. Washington, Management and Program Analyst, Office of Postsecondary Education, U.S. Department of Education
4. Tori Nucco – Deputy Director of Financial Aid, West Chester University, Pennsylvania

Depression and Anxiety: Webinar: Mental Health Tools for Providers Working with College-aged Youth
2023-05-11 11:00 - 12:00 | Zoom
How can you help someone with low mood and distress?  We dedicate this hour workshop to taking a deeper look at depression and suicide, including what depression is and how it is linked to suicide, how to recognize signs and symptoms of depression, the myths and stigma, and gauging risk of suicide in clients. The second half of the workshop is dedicated to how to provide support for these clients, including a few experiential exercises to use with clients with depression, and the creation of a safety plan that can be used with a client at risk for suicide.
Presented by Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Network

Webinar: Equitable Strategies for Mental Health Support
2023-05-23 11:00 - 12:00 | Zoom
Mental health is an area of increasing concern for students that we serve, so to strategically address student needs, we must examine how we define equity and implement strategies that center the most marginalized populations. This session will allow participants to reflect on their understanding of equity; share and debrief challenges related to student mental health that they have experienced, and learn equitable strategies related to life skills, social connectedness, help-seeking, and beyond.
Panelists:

Erlinda Delacruz: Senior JED Campus Advisor, The Jed Foundation
Emilia George: JED Campus Advisor, The Jed Foundation

WPN Webinar: 2023 Legislative Update: Removing Obstacles for the Passport Population
2023-06-07 13:00 - 14:00 | Zoom
Join members of the Passport Leadership Team Advising Structure Workgroup to learn about and discuss policy successes from the 2023 legislative session. We will also debrief the PLT engagement in advocacy this year and ask for input on how to move these conversations forward.
Register
Presenters:
Juliet Schindler is the Executive Director of Public Affairs and Strategic Partnerships with College Success Foundation. Juliet develops and implements CSF’s state and federal government relations work and advocacy outreach, and works closely with legislators, agency and budget staff on CSF’s state funding and policy agenda. She also oversees CSF’s work on the Passport to Careers program, including as staff to the PLT Advising Structure Workgroup.

Emily Stochel is the Program Manager of Government Relations & Advocacy with College Success Foundation. Emily works with community partners, legislators, and other stakeholders to support policies and legislative advocacy work that aligns with CSF’s mission and values. Emily has special expertise in advocacy relating to those experiencing foster care and homelessness, as she has been working and volunteering in the child welfare field for over ten years in different capacities, and has experienced foster care and homelessness first-hand.

Curtis Anderson first entered state care at the age of seven before being returned to his family at eight. Curtis was homeless on and off prior to this. Curtis would later permanently re-enter the child welfare system at the age of 13. Thanks to the support of Passport to Careers at SCC, Curtis was able to continue pursuing higher education and obtained a bachelor’s from Eastern Washington University. Curtis is now pursuing a Master of Social Work degree which he will complete in June. Curtis has focused on education as a form of self-empowerment for both him and the students he now works with as a Graduate Assistant at Eastern Washington University. Curtis takes a macro-focused approach in an attempt to improve the systems and policies that affect those who are homeless and in foster care.

WSAC Webinar: Passport to College
2023-06-20 11:00 - 12:30 | Zoom
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WSAC Webinar: State Workstudy Updates and Portal Walkthrough
2023-06-20 14:00 - 15:30 | Zoom

WSAC Webinar: Washington College Grant - Connect (WCG-C)
2023-06-22 11:30 - 13:00 | Zoom

WSAC Webinar: All About the WAFSA
2023-06-22 14:00 - 15:30 | Zoom

Webinar: Targeted Education Case Management for Students in Foster Care: Models and Impact
2023-07-12 12:30 - 14:00 | Zoom
The American Bar Association’s Legal Center for Foster Care and Education and the Youth Law Center invite you to attend a webinar “Targeted Education Case Management for Students in Foster Care: Models and Impact”. The webinar will highlight two exemplary practice models that provide targeted education case management for students in foster care. Treehouse provides academic and other essential support for more than 6,000 youth in foster care across Washington State each year. The National Center for Youth Law’s Compassionate Education System initiatives work in partnership with a deeply invested team of state and local partners, students, and parents to create a future in which the vast majority of system-involved youth graduate high school with the widest array of possibilities for their future. Both organizations will provide an overview of their programs, examples of impact, and strategies to better support the educational needs of students in foster care.
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College Access Professionals 2024-25 FAFSA® Demonstration
2023-08-17 10:00 - 23:30
Webinar for college access professionals will provide a tour of new features and discussion on important updates for 2024–25 FAFSA form!
The webinar exclusively for college access professionals will share a tour of new features and discuss important updates to the FAFSA experience. The demonstration will include a look at the new roles page, inviting contributors, new question order, student demographic questions, the parent wizard, and other exciting features. Attendees will also view how to provide consent to retrieve and disclose Federal Tax Information (FTI).
There will be an opportunity to ask questions.
Register Now

Webinar: ARP-HCY Info Session with ED- SchoolHouse Connection
2023-09-12 12:00 - 13:00
In the wake of the pandemic, a nationwide housing shortage, persistent chronic absence, and alarming child and youth mental health crises, students and schools face unprecedented challenges – including increasing homelessness.
American Rescue Plan — Homeless Children and Youth, or ARP-HCY funds, are one-time funds that can help meet these challenges. ARP-HCY funds are designated to support the identification, enrollment, and school participation of children and youth experiencing homelessness, including through wrap-around services. These funds must be obligated by September 30, 2024 and spent by January 31, 2025.
SchoolHouse Connection is hosting this ARP-HCY Info Session featuring presenters from the U.S. Department of Education to provide strategies for meeting urgent needs, including allowable and strategic uses of funds, and examples and tools from state and local educational agencies. We encourage participation from school leaders, homeless liaisons, state education agency staff, and community partners
Featured Presenter: Adam Schott, Acting Assistant Secretary, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, U.S. Department of Education.
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WPN Webinar: Using Real-Time Data to House QTBIPOC Youth and Young Adults
2023-09-13 13:00 - 14:00 | Zoom
Young people of color and young people who identify as LGBTQ+ are disproportionately served by systems. In this webinar, we will look at using data to end disproportionality and the importance of breaking down barriers between systems to achieve quality data and equitably end homelessness.
Presenter:
Leeze Castro (he/they) – Data & Evaluation Fellow (A Way Home Washington)
Leeze Castro (he/they), 23, is passionate about ending youth homelessness, focusing on the unique challenges faced by BIPOC and LGBTQIA2S+ individuals. Leeze brings over 5 years of experience from systems-level change work as a young person with lived experience. Having started with the King County YAB (Youth Action Board) while it was facilitated by the Northwest Network, the Mockingbird Society, and eventually itself, Leeze now sits on the KCRHA’s (King County Regional Homelessness Authority) Continuum of Care Board. After double-majoring in mathematics and sociology, Leeze now joins those two passions as the Data and Evaluations Fellow for A Way Home Washington, a non-profit focused on ending youth and young adult homelessness throughout Washington State. There, Leeze makes use of data-driven strategies to tackle the organization’s mission, and to take an immediate and direct approach in addressing the ultimate goal of bringing an end to systemic inequity.
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Webinar: Getting Ready for the Better FAFSA
2023-09-25 10:00 - 12:00, 2023-10-23 10:00 - 12:00
Presented by NCAN
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Webinar: Financial Aid 101- for Staff
2023-10-10 10:00 - 11:30
This webinar will provide a general overview of aid available, changes for the upcoming year, how financial aid offices build budgets, and how aid is awarded. Good refresher for beginners.
Presented by College Success Foundation
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WPN Webinar: Understanding FAFSA Simplification for Youth Experiencing Foster Care (State, Federal and Tribal)
2023-10-11 13:00 - 14:00
Big changes are coming this fall for 2024-25 financial aid applications! In this session, we will discuss the FAFSA Simplification Act, best practices in implementing changes, and how to communicate changes to partners, students, and their families. We will also share free resources to support you as you help students take their next steps
Presenter: Christina Winstead (She/Her), Associate Director, College Access Initiatives, WSAC
Register Today

Webinar: Creating an FSA ID- for Staff
2023-10-12 10:00 - 10:30
Students and parents will need to create their own FSA ID to access and sign the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). They will use their FSA ID every year to fill out a FAFSA form.
Join us to learn how students and parents will create and use their FSA ID.
Presented by College Success Foundation
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Webinar: CSF Scholarships- for Staff
2023-10-16 10:00 - 11:30
This webinar will prepare you for the next CSF scholarship cycle. Learn about different programs, and changes for the upcoming year, and get a tour of the scholarship application platform.
Presented by College Success Foundation
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Webinar: Creating an FSA ID- for Students and Families
2023-10-17 18:00 - 18:30, 2023-10-26 18:00 - 18:30
Whether you’re a student or parent you’ll need to create your own FSA ID to access and sign the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You will use your FSA ID every year you fill
out a FAFSA form. Join us to learn how to create and use your FSA ID.
Presented by College Success Foundation
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Webinar: Cómo crear un FSA ID (Español)- for Students and Families
2023-10-19 18:00 - 18:30, 2023-10-24 18:00 - 18:30
Los estudiantes y padres necesitan crear la credencial FSA ID para acceder y firmar la Solicitud Gratuita de Ayuda Federal para Estudiantes (FAFSA). Utilizaran la credencial FSA ID cada año para llenar y firmar el formulario FASFA. En esta sesión aprenderá como crear y utilizar su FSA ID.
Presented by College Success Foundation
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Webinar: FASFA pt. 1- For Staff
2023-10-23 10:00 - 11:30
Part 1 is an in-depth tour of the FASFA application, changes for the upcoming year, how to avoid common mistakes, and address special circumstances. Recommended for all levels.
Presented by College Success Foundation
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Webinar: FAFSA- for Students and Families
2023-11-02 18:00 - 19:00
Students and families, come join our FAFSA webinar to learn about the form, what documents you’ll need, review the FAFSA learn how to address special circumstances, and prepare for next steps!
Presented by College Success Foundation
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