www.washingtonpassportnetwork.org

The Journey Continues - We Got You!
2023-04-18 11:00 - 12:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Zoom
Please join us for the third annual The Journey Continues – We Got You! a virtual College and Career Resource Fair. This is an opportunity to meet representatives at the local colleges and get your questions answered about supports, apprenticeships, financial aid, scholarships, and resources specifically for students who have experienced foster care or unaccompanied homelessness.
Who: High school juniors and seniors with experience in foster care or unaccompanied homeless (homelessness without a parent or guardian). Providers attending the event will also need to register.
What: College and Career Resource Fair for Passport to Careers eligible students
When: April 18, 2023 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom (meeting link provided upon registration)
An e-gift card will be provided for all students who participate! Participants will also have the opportunity to receive door prizes for attending.
Register

Northwest Regional Passport Group Meeting
2023-04-11 14:00 - 15:30, 2023-02-14 14:00 - 15:30, 2022-12-13 14:00 - 15:30 UTC | Zoom
This regional group is for professionals and educators in the Northwest region/Region 3* that work in the secondary or post-secondary area and support Passport to Careers eligible students. Please contact passport@collegesuccessfoundation.org for more information.
*Region 3 includes Snohomish, Skagit, Whatcom, Island, and/or San Juan Counties.

WPN Webinar: College Completion Coaching – Promising Practices
2023-04-05 13:00 - 14:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | 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.
Register Here
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.

OSPI-WSAC Webinar: Supporting Student Access to Career Preparation and Apprenticeships
2023-03-22 09:00 - 10:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | 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.

Eastern Regional Passport Group
2023-03-21 14:30 - 16:00, 2023-01-17 14:30 - 16:00 UTC | Zoom
The Eastern Regional Passport Group facilitates collaboration among local service providers, addresses barriers, and further empowers students who have experienced foster care or unaccompanied homelessness to achieve their secondary and post-secondary educational and training goals. You are invited to join our group if you work in the secondary or postsecondary space and support Passport to Careers eligible students in the Eastern Washington region, and would like to connect with professionals. These meetings are facilitated by the College Success Foundation. Please email passport@collegesuccessfoundation.org for more information.

Foster Care Education Training for All District Staff
2023-03-15 10:00 - 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | 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

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 (America/Los_Angeles) | 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

King County Passport Consortium Meeting
2023-03-14 10:00 - 11:30, 2023-01-10 10:00 - 11:30 UTC | Zoom
The King County Passport Consortium is a diverse group of King County stakeholders who create strategies that improve access to post-secondary programs for youth who have been in foster care or have experienced unaccompanied homelessness. Please email passport@collegesuccessfoundation.org for more information.

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.

Equitable Standards for Transitions to Adulthood for Youth in Care: A Canadian First Voice Advocate-led initiative
2023-02-28 11:00 - 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Zoom
Please join us for the National Research Collaborative for Foster Alumni and Higher Education (NRC-FAHE)’s webinar series! This series features presentations from leaders in the field of foster care and higher education. Content will be appropriate for researchers and practitioners alike.
Our February webinar will be held Tuesday, February 28, 2023, 11am-noon Pacific time (2-3pm Eastern time). The presenter will be Dr. Melanie Doucet, Adjunct Professor at McGill University School of Social Work and Senior Researcher & Project Manager, Child Welfare League of Canada, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Her presentation is entitled Equitable Standards for Transitions to Adulthood for Youth in Care: A Canadian First Voice Advocate led initiative.

South Central Regional Passport Group
2023-02-23 11:00 - 12:30 UTC | Zoom
If you work in the secondary or post-secondary space and support Passport to Careers eligible students in the South Central area/Region 2* and would like to connect with other professionals and share resources, consider joining this group! The South Central Passport group convenes quarterly and meetings are facilitated by the College Success Foundation. Please email passport@collegesuccessfoundation.org for more information.
*Region 2 includes Yakima, Klickitat, Benton, Franklin, Walla Walla, Tri-Cities – Kennewick, Pasco, Richland.

OSPI- Annual McKinney-Vento and Foster Care Building Points of Contact Training
2023-02-22 10:00 - 15:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Zoom
Homelessness and foster care can create many barriers to accessing and participating in learning opportunities. But, with a knowledgeable and caring district support team, you can ensure that every child and youth experiencing homelessness in Washington state has access to the education and support they need to end their homelessness and achieve their dreams.
OSPI invites you for a full-day, interactive, virtual training designed to help you develop robust supports for students experiencing homelessness and/or foster care. This learning opportunity, open to all school staff, will be particularly helpful for liaisons, principals, counselors, social workers, registrars, and administrative assistants.
The morning session is applicable to all participants, while the afternoon portion of the training will be most relevant to high school building contacts.
Clock hours are available through PD Enroller.
Liaisons please forward this opportunity to your building points of contact, colleagues, and administrators. We encourage you to register early! Space is limited.
Our agenda will help you stock your “toolbox” with:

The importance of building points of contact in program sustainability
Resources for students experiencing homelessness and/or foster care
Best practices in identification
Trauma-informed approaches to cultivating connection and belonging for students experiencing homelessness and/or foster care
An understanding of the Housing Continuum and agencies that make up the support network for youth and families experiencing homelessness
Strategies for credit accrual
Navigating FAFSA, graduation, and post-secondary education

Passport Leadership Team Meeting
2023-02-14 10:00 - 12:30, 2022-12-06 09:00 - 11:30 UTC
The Passport Leadership Team (PLT) is a 30-member advisory body representing post-secondary institutions, non-profit and state organizations from all areas of Washington state that advises The Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) on Passport to Careers policy and program practice. PLT members represent the knowledge, expertise, and perspectives of the broad community of practitioners responsible for the implementation of the Passport to Careers program. The PLT convenes quarterly meetings, facilitated in partnership with the College Success Foundation.
To learn more about the Passport Leadership Team, please email passport@collegesuccessfoundation.org.

Pierce & Kitsap County Passport Group Meeting
2023-02-09 13:30 - 15:00, 2022-11-17 13:30 - 15:00 UTC | Zoom
If you work in the secondary or post-secondary space and support Passport to Careers eligible students in Pierce & Kitsap and would like to connect with professionals, this meeting is for you! This Passport regional group convenes quarterly and meetings are facilitated by the College Success Foundation. Please email passport@collegesuccessfoundation.org for more information.

Region 6 Training: Post-secondary resources for students in foster care and unaccompanied homeless youth
2023-02-09 00:00 - 23:59 (America/Los_Angeles) | Zoom
Join the Washington Passport Network for an online training on post-secondary education pathway and resources for students in foster care and young people experiencing homelessness without a parent or guardian. This training is designed for providers in Region 6 (Grays Harbor, Thurston, Lewis, Cowlitz, Skamania, Clark) including DCYF caseworkers, OSPI foster care and McKinney-Vento liaisons, high school career and guidance counselors, and community-based partners.
The training will highlight:
– College scholarship and apprenticeship options, including the Passport to Careers program
– Education and Training Voucher (ETV) program
– Introduction to the Washington Passport Network – a network for the providers who work with youth in foster care or youth experiencing homelessness. Representatives from local community colleges, apprenticeship programs, and universities that support Passport to Careers students will be online to introduce themselves.

Western Regional Passport Group Meeting
2023-02-02 13:30 - 15:00 UTC | Zoom
If you are a service provider in the secondary or post-secondary space working with Passport to Careers eligible students in Region 6* and would like to connect, build community, and share resources with other professionals, this meeting is for you! This Passport regional group convenes the College Success Foundation facilitates quarterly and meetings. Please email passport@collegesuccessfoundation.org for more information.
*Region 6 includes Grays Harbor, Thurston, Lewis, Cowlitz, Skamania, Clark

Region 1 Training: Post-secondary resources for students in foster care and unaccompanied homeless youth
2023-02-01 13:00 - 14:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Zoom
Join the Washington Passport Network for an online training on post-secondary education pathway and resources for students in foster care and young people experiencing homelessness without a parent or guardian.
This training is designed for providers in Region 1 (Spokane, Lincoln, Douglas, Grant, Adams, Whitman) including DCYF caseworkers, OSPI foster care and McKinney-Vento liaisons, high school career and guidance counselors, and community-based partners.
The training will highlight:
– College scholarship and apprenticeship options, including the Passport to Careers program
– Education and Training Voucher (ETV) program
– Introduction to the Washington Passport Network – a network for the providers who work with youth in foster care or youth experiencing homelessness. Representatives from local community colleges, apprenticeship programs, and universities that support Passport to Careers students will be online to introduce themselves.

OSPI- Annual McKinney-Vento and Foster Care Building Points of Contact Training
2023-02-01 10:00 - 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Zoom
Homelessness and foster care can create many barriers to accessing and participating in learning opportunities. But, with a knowledgeable and caring district support team, you can ensure that every child and youth experiencing homelessness in Washington state has access to the education and support they need to end their homelessness and achieve their dreams.
OSPI invites you to join a full-day, interactive, virtual training designed to help you develop robust supports for students experiencing homelessness and/or foster care. This learning opportunity, open to all school staff, will be particularly helpful for liaisons, principals, counselors, social workers, registrars, and administrative assistants.
The morning session is applicable to all participants, while the afternoon portion of the training will be most relevant to high school building contacts.
Clock hours are available through PD Enroller.
Liaisons please forward this opportunity to your building points of contact, colleagues, and administrators. We encourage you to register early! Space is limited.
Our agenda will help you stock your “toolbox” with:

The importance of building points of contact in program sustainability
Resources for students experiencing homelessness and/or foster care
Best practices in identification
Trauma-informed approaches to cultivating connection and belonging for students experiencing homelessness and/or foster care
An understanding of the Housing Continuum and agencies that make up the support network for youth and families experiencing homelessness
Strategies for credit accrual
Navigating FAFSA, graduation, and post-secondary education

Region 2 (South Central) Training- Post-secondary resources for students in foster care and unaccompanied homeless youth
2023-01-23 13:00 - 14:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Zoom
Join the Washington Passport Network for an online training on post-secondary education pathway and resources for students in foster care and young people experiencing homelessness without a parent or guardian.
This training is designed for providers in Region 2 (Kittitas, Grant, Yakima, Benton, Franklin, and Walla Walla County) including DCYF caseworkers, OSPI foster care and McKinney-Vento liaisons, high school career and guidance counselors, and community-based partners.

The training will highlight:
– College scholarship and apprenticeship options, including the Passport to Careers program
– Education and Training Voucher (ETV) program
– Introduction to the Washington Passport Network – a network for the providers who work with youth in foster care or youth experiencing homelessness. Representatives from local community colleges, apprenticeship programs, and universities that support Passport to Careers students will be online to introduce themselves.

WPN Webinar January: Bringing Voices of Experience to the Table Part 2
2023-01-18 13:00 - 14:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Zoom
Join us for Bringing Voices of Experience to the Table Part 2: People Who Have Experienced Foster Care. Hear from representatives fromHear from representatives from The Mockingbird Society, Passion to Action (DCYF’s Youth Advisory Board), and Treehouse’s Collaborative Learning Lab (CoLLab) as they share information about what these groups are currently discussing and how you can support them.
Presented by:
– Caitlin Wallin, Mockingbird Society Advocate
– Esther Taylor, Passion to Action (P2A) Member
– Summer Rose Calsadillas, Treehouse’s Collaborative Learning Lab Participant

Advocacy 101 Training for WPN Members: Bringing Your Voice and Expertise to Olympia
2023-01-06 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Zoom
YOU understand the reality of young people who have experienced homelessness and/or foster care and legislators want to hear from you!
The legislative session starts on January 9, and we would love to include your voices in our advocacy efforts! Whether you are new to the legislative process or not, please consider joining us on Friday, January 6 at noon for a webinar to learn about tangible ways you can get involved including but not limited to:

Meeting with us and sharing messages you’d like us to relay to legislators
Providing us with quotes
Joining us in meetings with legislators (typically virtual)
Weighing in on bills (takes 1-2 minutes online!)
Providing spoken testimony virtually or in Olympia
Providing written testimony
Sending emails to legislators
Opting into the advocacy email list to receive emails about upcoming advocacy-related opportunities

WPN Webinar December: Bringing Voices of Experience to the Table Part 1
2022-12-07 13:00 - 14:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Zoom
In Washington state, we have coalitions dedicated to youth and young adults with lived homelessness experience that advise different agencies regarding processes, projects, and policies. These groups tend to be a special space for lived experts, as they can build community with others that have experienced similar circumstances. This webinar will feature a representative from two groups: The Mockingbird Society and the Office of Homeless Youth’s Youth Advisory Board (Y4Y). Come join us for this webinar to learn about some of the topics of conversation these groups have been focused on as well as how you can support them.
Register for the webinar here

Governors' Scholarship Application Open
2022-12-01 00:00 - 2023-01-31 23:59 (America/Los_Angeles)
To support young people from foster care to achieve their educational goals, the Washington State Governors’ Scholarship for Foster Youth scholarship program provides financial assistance for higher education. The program is supported by Gov. Jay Inslee, The Honorable Chris Gregoire (former governor), The Honorable Gary Locke (former governor), and other former governors in Washington State. The 2022-23 application opens on December 1, 2022, and is due on January 31, 2023.
Eligibility requirements Governors’ Scholarship for Foster Youth – College Success Foundation

South Central Regional Passport Group Meeting
2022-11-17 11:00 - 12:30 UTC
If you work in the secondary or postsecondary space and support Passport to Careers eligible students in the South Central WA/Region 2 (e.g. Yakima, Klickitat, Benton, Franklin, Walla Walla, Tri-Cities – Kennewick, Pasco, Richland) and would like to connect with other professionals and learn more resources, this meeting is for you! Please email passport@collegesuccessfoundation.org for more information.
