Working With and Supporting LGBTQ+ Youth in Foster Care
2020-11-18 14:00 - 15:00 UTC
LGBTQ+ youth are overrepresented in the foster care system, and often experience discrimination and rejection at a higher rate than their non-LGBTQ+ peers. Professionals who work with these youth need supportive resources and educational information about how to support LGBTQ+ foster youth so they can play an active role in promoting their healthy development and well-being in postsecondary settings and beyond. The primary objective of this workshop is to provide an interactive, experiential training (developed by researchers at WSU and UW) that provides an opportunity for professionals to learn strategies for building support and acceptance for LGBTQ+ youth in care.
Register for this webinar now!
The primary objective of this workshop is to provide an interactive, experiential training (developed by researchers at WSU and UW) that provides an opportunity for professionals to learn strategies for building support and acceptance for LGBTQ+ youth in care.
Presented by Amy Salazar and Sara Spiers of WSU Vancouver.

Effective Use of Passport Student Support Funds
2020-12-09 14:00 - 15:00 UTC
Join us for a discussion on effective use of your Passport Student Support Funds (formerly Incentive Grants) during these times. We will share examples to generate concrete and actionable uses for these funds. This webinar is geared toward Passport Designated Support Staff and Financial Aid Administrators, but all WPN members are welcome to participate.
Register for this webinar now!
Presented by Brian Davidson, Dawn Cypriano-McAferty, and Maria Reyna.

Webinar: Uprooting Racism with April Bowman of Bowman Global
2021-01-13 14:00 - 15:00 UTC
Join us for an anti-racism training that addresses racism and oppression at the root, in order to build a more equitable, just and unified world. This training is designed to help you do this hard, heart work truthfully and gracefully. It will empower you to grow from where you are and embrace the change process. From the Bowman Global website, “as individuals are nurtured to grow and activated to influence change, our organizations and communities are transformed.”
April Bowman, M.S., founder of Bowman Global, is an expert at managing change and developing leaders. She earned a Master’s of Science in Learning and Organizational Change from Northwestern University in 2012. As a founder of multiple companies and educator of 15+ years who has impacted over 25,000 people across the country, April is uniquely positioned to lead through times of crisis and equip others to do the same. Read more about April Bowman on the Bowman Global website.
Register for this webinar now!
Read about April Bowman in her bio here.
Facilitated by April Bowman, M.S., Founder & CEO of Bowman Global, www.BowmanGlobal.co, First Cohort Achievers Scholar and former CSF College Prep Advisor.

Mental Health First Aid: Suicide and Self-Harm
2021-02-17 14:00 - 15:00 UTC
Suicidal ideation and self-harm continue to be prevalent areas of concern among partners working with young people. While rates of completed suicide have decreased over the past 10 years, we are all aware of the immense stressors of the past year and anecdotally have experienced an increase in reports of suicide ideation and self-harm. Join us for a webinar on mental health first aid, specifically related to suicide and self-harm.
At the end of this webinar, partners will have an increased awareness of stats, contributing factors, and recommended practices regarding suicidal ideation and self-harm in young adult population, and increased confidence in responding to possible suicidal ideation (SI) and self-harm. Webinar attendees will leave this webinar with a personalized plan and next steps to utilize when encountering these topics.
Register for this webinar now!
Presented by Sarah Odell from Southwest Family and Youth Services.
Goals:

Partners will have increased awareness of stats, contributing factors, and best practices regarding suicidal ideation and self-harm in young adult population
Partners will have increased confidence in responding to possible suicidal ideation (SI) and self-harm

Objectives:

Partners will leave with a personalized plan and next steps to utilize when encountering SI or self-harm with students
Partners will leave with increased networks and resources in their local area to utilize when encountering SI or self-harm with students

Boarding Schools: The Lasting Ripple Effect
2021-03-24 14:00 - 15:00 UTC
Boarding Schools: The Lasting Ripple Effect, is a continuation from the presentation “Diving Deeper: Working with Tribal Foster Youth” as presented at the Passport to Careers State Conference in October 2020. Please join us to learn more about Boarding Schools, why they were created, and how they are currently impacting our Indigenous Youth today through intergenerational trauma.
You can watch the “Diving Deeper” presentation online by clicking here.
Register for this webinar now!
Presented by Shoshaunee Perez from Northwest Indian College and Kateri Joe from Treehouse

Shift your thinking! Moving into a Growth Mindset
2021-04-14 14:00 - 15:00 UTC
How can a person’s mindset shape their educational and professional experiences? A simple change in thinking can have profound impacts on a student’s life. This session will provide attendees with an overview of the growth mindset theory and an opportunity to develop their own growth mindset plan.
Upon successful completion of this workshop, participants will have gained: knowledge of the difference between a growth mindset and a fixed mindset, an understanding of the concept of Grit, tools to shift language and thinking to help students implement their own growth mindset, and resources for additional learning.
Register for this webinar by clicking here!
Presented by Dawn Cypriano-McAferty from the Washington Student Achievement Council

New Education and Training Voucher (ETV) Updates
2021-04-28 14:00 - 15:00 UTC
In response to COVID-19, new federal legislation provides additional funding through the Chafee Program to young people who have experienced foster care. Join us for a webinar to learn more about the temporary changes to the Education and Training Voucher (ETV) program and how to support students to access these funds.
Presented by Kathy Ramsay and Victoria Ackerman of Washington State Department of Children, Youth and Families.
Register now! **Please note this webinar will be set up as a Zoom meeting.

Identity in Foster Care Webinar with Jamerika Haynes-Lewis
2021-05-12 14:00 - 15:00 UTC
This workshop will provide skill-building activities and knowledge to professionals who are working with children and young adults in the foster care. Through research and storytelling, foster care alumna Jamerika Haynes shares how societal stereotypes impact youth and families in the system. Attendees will learn about the significance of these experiences and what they can do to best serve clients.
Learning objectives:

Identify resources youth need in care to form a secure identity,
Understand why stereotypes are harmful to young people in foster care; describe ways to combat prejudice and implicit bias when working with foster youth and their families,
Learn how to help foster youth thrive through positive identity formation, community, and independence while in foster care and beyond.

A native of Tacoma, Washington, Jamerika has more than ten years of experience as a journalist and as an advocate for children involved in the child welfare system. While growing up in foster care, Jamerika was determined to have a different life than the one she experienced. She put herself through college earning a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Washington State University, and is currently the reigning titleholder Ms. Evergreen State 2020 through the USA Ambassador Pageant. Her platform is ‘A Chance to Succeed: Empowering Youth in Foster Care.
Register for this webinar now!

Showing Up for the People Around Us in Meaningful Ways
2021-06-09 14:00 - 15:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
After more than a year of social isolation and remote learning, young adults – and those who support them – are facing unprecedented work and academic circumstances. Our mental health, compounded by the toll of the pandemic, is in need of attention now, more than ever. Join Active Minds for a conversation about navigating the new “normal”, and gain tangible skills to promote a climate that is supportive of mental wellness, including Validate-Appreciate-Refer® (V-A-R) a simple, revolutionary tool that enhances conversations about everyday struggles among young adults, employees, families, partners, and colleagues throughout the United States.
Register now! Meeting format.
Please note this webinar will not be recorded and uploaded on our YouTube channel.
Workshop attendees can expect to:
Explore circumstances that may impact mental wellness
Engage with current trends in mental health, based on data
Understand the meaning and usage of the V-A-R tool
Identify at least three “barriers” we may have in place that may impede our willingness to engage with someone about their struggles.
Discuss the value and importance of self-care as a critical component of mental health
About the presenter:
Becky Fein is a professional speaker, trainer, mental health advocate, and non-profit team leader. Becky received her Master’s degree in Public Health from Columbia University and Bachelor’s in Sociology from the University of California at Davis. Today, Becky is the Director of Training & Engagement at Active Minds, and the Founding Director of the Powerful Voices Project, a documentary film series that tells stories of recovery and resilience after experiencing sexual assault. Becky’s presentations are interactive and action-oriented. Her expertise centers around engaging people in productive, nuanced conversations about mental health, sexual assault, suicide, and more, all with the goal of encouraging people to show up for one another in meaningful ways. She has been working in the field of public health and mental health since 2009.

Northwest Regional Passport Group Meeting
2021-08-10 14:00 - 15:00, 2021-09-14 14:00 - 15:00, 2021-10-12 14:00 - 15:00, 2021-11-09 14:00 - 15:00, 2021-12-14 14:00 - 15:00 UTC
This regional group is for professionals in the Northwest region (i.e. Snohomish, Skagit, Whatcom, Island, and/or San Juan Counties) that are working in the secondary or postsecondary area and supporting Passport to Careers eligible students. Please contract passport@collegesuccessfoundation.org for more information.

Pierce County Passport Group Meeting - Virtual
2021-08-12 13:00 - 14:00 UTC
If you work in the secondary or postsecondary space and support Passport to Careers eligible students in Pierce County and would like to connect with professionals, this meeting is for you! Please email passport@collegesuccessfoundation.org for more information.

Southwest Regional Passport Group Meeting - Virtual
2021-09-09 13:30 - 15:00 UTC
If you work in the secondary or postsecondary space and support Passport to Careers eligible students in the Southwest region (e.g. Kelso, Cowlitz, Clark county), and would like to connect with professionals, this meeting is for you! Please email passport@collegesuccessfoundation.org for more information.

King County Passport Consortium Meeting
2021-09-14 10:00 - 11:30, 2021-11-09 10:00 - 11:30, 2022-01-11 10:00 - 11:30 UTC
The 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 kanguyen@highline.edu for more information.

Eastern Regional Passport Group Meeting - Virtual
2021-09-28 14:30 - 16:00, 2022-01-18 14:30 - 16:00 UTC
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, this meeting is for you! Please email passport@collegesuccessfoundation.org for more information.

South Central Regional Passport Group Meeting - Virtual
2021-10-21 13:00 - 14:30 UTC
If you work in the secondary or postsecondary space and support Passport to Careers eligible students in the South Central region (e.g. Yakima, Klickitat, Benton, Franklin, Walla Walla, Tri-Cities – Kennewick, Pasco, Richland) and would like to connect with professionals, this meeting is for you! Please email passport@collegesuccessfoundation.org for more information.

Webinar: Financial Aid Applications for Passport to College Eligible Students
2021-10-27 14:00 - 15:30 UTC
This webinar will be presented by Maria Rebecchi, the Director of Scholarships & Financial Aid Education at College Success Foundation, and Dina Murphy, the Assistant Director of Financial Aid Western Washington University.
This webinar is will cover information to assist those working with foster youth and unaccompanied homeless youth to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA). Presenters will also provide information on the process for verifying and awarding the Passport to College scholarship.

Register here!

Webinar: Coping with Holiday Stress for Youth in Foster Care
2021-11-17 14:00 - 15:00 UTC
All of us can feel stressed around the holidays. This stress can be amplified by feelings of grief and loss for children and youth in foster care. This training will help participants identify holiday stress that children in foster care feel, tips to create a healthy environment for the holidays, and how to help children and youth cope.
Hosted by Lindsey Greene of Coordinated Care

Register here!

Coordinated Care is a managed care organization that provides healthcare services to more than 200,000 members across Washington state. Coordinated Care has a commitment to improving the health of the community one individual at a time through affordable and reliable health care plans. They’re here to treat the whole person by breaking down barriers to accessing care, walking members through their benefits and connecting them to what they need. Learn more on their website, and check out other Apple Health Events by clicking here.

Pierce County Passport Group Meeting
2021-11-18 13:00 - 14:00 UTC

Eastern Regional Passport Group Meeting
2021-11-30 14:30 - 16:00 UTC

Southwest Regional Passport Group Meeting
2021-12-09 13:30 - 15:00 UTC

Washington State Foster Care Placements - How a child or youth may arrive in the care and custody of the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF)
2021-12-15 14:00 - 15:00 UTC
This Washington State Foster Care Placement presentation will provide basic details of how a child or youth may arrive in the care and custody of the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF).
DCYF is the Washington state’s lead agency for state-funded services that support children and families to build resilience and health, and to improve educational outcomes. Our presenter will also share what the DCYF policies are with regards to engaging youth in positive educational outcomes and post-secondary programs.

Register here!

About the presenter, Monica Jenkins, MSW of DCYF:
Monica holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington and a Master of Social Worker from Eastern Washington University. Her entire career has been working with children and families with trauma. After receiving her bachelor’s degree, she began working with Service Alternatives in a group home for boys. She previously served as the family preservation services provider and the program manager of the group home for three years. In 2000 Monica was hired by DCYF in the adolescent unit where she worked in Children and Family Welfare Services (on-going social work) and FRS (Family Reconciliation Services). In 2004 she moved to the Family to Family unit, where she was one of the first Family Team Decision Making (FTDM) facilitators in the State. Monica moved to regional programs in 2012 where she oversaw Family to Family for two years, then Child Protective Services for two years, and most recently serving as the regional program consultant over Independent Living Skills, Homelessness, Education, and supervises three regional staff. Monica’s passion is public child welfare, particularly adolescents; and hope to be a change agent in how we work with families and communities in embracing and supporting young people unconditionally.

Northwest Regional Passport Group Meeting
2022-01-11 14:00 - 15:00 UTC
This regional group is for professionals in the Northwest region (i.e. Snohomish, Skagit, Whatcom, Island, and/or San Juan Counties) that are working in the secondary or postsecondary area and supporting Passport to Careers eligible students. Please contact passport@collegesuccessfoundation.org for more information.

Webinar: Federally-funded Foster Care
2022-01-19 14:00 - 15:00 UTC
Come and get your questions answered on this specialized type of foster care!

What exactly is federally-funded foster care?
Who qualifies in Washington, and what sorts of placement options are there?
How do youth arrive in the U.S. and what is their status while in foster care?

The presenters will also share the types of educational support services unaccompanied refugee minors can receive.
Please bring your questions, and we’ll cover them while discussing the unique strengths and needs of youth in this program. Presented by Molly Daggett of the Department of Social and Health Services and Dawa Sherpa of Lutheran Community Services Northwest

Register here!

About the presenters:
Molly is a Program Manager at the DSHS Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance, overseeing administration of the statewide Unaccompanied Refugee Minor (URM) Program. She is a member of the Passport Leadership team, and in her role works to ensure access to higher education for URMs through collaboration with Washington Passport Network and other partners.
Prior to working for DSHS, Molly worked for almost 25 years with a local URM program in different capacities, from caseworker to Program Director. She has worked in refugee camps in Thailand and Kenya, and has a background in Anthropology and Social Work. Molly has been a foster parent with DCYF and is now an adoptive parent of a lively teenager.
Dawa is the Independent Living Services (ILS) Case Manager Lead at Refugees Northwest Foster Care, a program of Lutheran Community Services NW.
Dawa has been with the IL program for over 8 years: assisting youth to attain IL skills, supporting youth thru their post-secondary education, and transition to adulthood. As a member of Passport Leadership Team, she strives to provide support and advocacy for the URM youth pursuing higher education.
