www.washingtonpassportnetwork.org

King County Passport Consortium Meeting
2023-03-14 10:00 - 11:30, 2023-01-10 10:00 - 11:30, 2022-11-08 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

Northwest Regional Passport Group Meeting
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.

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

Eastern Regional Passport Group
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.

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

ETV Program is Accepting 2023–2024 Applications
2023-01-01 08:00 - 2023-04-30 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
The Education and Training Voucher (ETV) Program is a national program for youth who qualify and are likely to age out of the foster care system. ETV offers financial assistance to eligible youth to attend an accredited college, university, vocational, or technical college. Dependent Youth who are attending a Running Start program could be eligible for the Dual Credit ETV program and applications are accepted year-round.

A student may be eligible to apply to the ETV program if they meet any of the following: They are 16 to 20 years old, currently involved in a dependency action in a Washington State or Tribal Court, in the care and custody of DCYF or an ICW agency, and in foster care.
They are 18-20 years old and have aged out of state or tribal care. Youth who have aged out of foster care in a state other than Washington may also be eligible to apply.
They were adopted or entered guardianship with a relative on or after 16.
If they participated and received ETV funds prior to age 21, they may be eligible until age 26. ETV cannot fund more than 20 quarters or 15 semesters.

To learn more about the program and eligibility, and to apply for the 2023–2024 school year, please visit the new ETV webpage and ETV Brochure. To meet the priority deadline, you must submit an application by April 30, 2023. All applications received after April 30 will be awarded on a funds-available basis.

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.

Eastern Regional Passport Group Meeting
2022-11-15 14:30 - 16:00 UTC | Zoom

WPN Webinar November 2022: Introduction to the McKinney-Vento Program
2022-11-09 13:00 - 14:00 UTC | Zoom
Join us for our next WPN webinar on Wednesday, November 9 from 1-2 p.m. presented by Vivian Rogers Decker of OSPI.
Whether you are brand new to working with the McKinney-Vento Act or just want to check your understanding, this interactive session is for you. Staff from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) will provide an overview of McKinney-Vento, including definitions, eligibility, provisions, educational resources, intersection with foster care, and connection to post-secondary education and opportunities for students who have experienced homelessness. Participants will have an opportunity to check their current knowledge, process scenarios that can be applied in their daily work and dig into questions as time permits.
REGISTER TODAY

Vivian Rogers Decker, Homeless Student Stability Education Program Supervisor for the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), has spent over 25 years in education serving students and families experiencing trauma, poverty, and housing insecurity. Prior to joining OSPI, Vivian spent 20 years as a liaison and student support specialist between two school districts in Island County where she developed and implemented strong homeless education programs. In addition to her work in education, Vivian has been instrumental in the founding and leadership of many non-profit organizations and efforts related to meeting the needs of our most vulnerable populations.
Vivian is dedicated to creating inclusive communities and organizations that are responsive to the needs of all citizens, especially those who are struggling with issues related to isolation, economic hardship, and homelessness. In her spare time, she enjoys being with family and friends, traveling, coaching, designing programs and places, connecting with others, and learning new ideas that challenge her to become a better human.

Networking Session: Working together to facilitate a warm hand-off
2022-10-19 13:00 - 14:00 UTC
We’re excited to offer a a cross system networking opportunity for professionals that work with Passport to Careers eligible students (students in foster care or experiencing unaccompanied homelessness). This will be a casual, facilitated meeting with some guided questions to encourage conversations and connections.
If you are in any of the roles below, this webinar would be a great fit for you!

K-12 Professional (e.g. Counselor, Foster Care Liaison, McKinney-Vento Liaison, etc.)
Community-Based Organization Staff
College Partner (e.g. Passport Designated Support Staff, Financial Aid Administrator)
Child Attorney
Independent Living Services or SETuP Provider
Parent (bio, foster, or adoptive)
A person who has experienced foster care or homelessness
Social Worker
WIOA Youth Service Provider
Shelter Staff
Other professionals that serves students in foster care or experiencing homelessness

Register for this webinar now!

WPN Webinar - Project Education Impact Workgroup: An approach to state level systems change for students in foster care and/or experiencing homelessness
2022-09-21 13:00 - 14:00 UTC
This session will cover an overview of Project Education Impact (PEI) and its focus on strengthening the systems that serve students in foster care and/or experiencing homelessness. Attendees will gain an understanding of PEI’s vision, structure, and state level role. We will also spend time sharing about the work of PEI’s Post Secondary Sub Group and their recent efforts to elevate the voices of students and student support professionals to influence, inform, and create legislative priorities and drive systems change.
Presented by Fred Kingston, Director of Systems Change and Youth Engagement with Treehouse and Samie Iverson, Senior Manager, Education Strategy with Building Changes.
Register for this webinar now!

South Central Regional Passport Group Meeting
2022-08-18 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 region (i.e. 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.
