www.washingtonpassportnetwork.org

Upcoming Webinar from the National Research Collaborative for Foster Alumni and Higher Education
2023-04-27 11:00 - 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | 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.
Register

Western Regional Passport Group Meeting
2023-05-04 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

Passport Leadership Team Meeting
2023-05-09 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.

King County Passport Consortium Meeting
2023-05-09 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.

Pierce & Kitsap County Passport Group Meeting
2023-05-09 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.

Webinar: New Federal FAFSA Guidance for Homeless Youth
2023-05-11 10:30 - 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | 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 (America/Los_Angeles) | 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

Final Day to Cancel Registration for 2023 Conference
2023-05-12 08:00 - 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
May 12 is the final day to cancel your registration to the 2023 State Passport to Careers Conference and receive a full refund. Contact us at passport@784f4b0c48.nxcli.io.

Eastern Regional Passport Group
2023-05-16 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.

South Central Regional Passport Group
2023-05-18 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.

2023 Passport to Careers Annual Conference
2023-05-23 00:00 - 2023-05-24 23:59 UTC | DoubleTree by Hilton, 18740 International Blvd, SeaTac, 98188, United States
The Passport to Careers State Conference is an engaging two-day event with multiple opportunities to network, connect, share, learn, and be inspired by professionals actively supporting youth with foster care and/or unaccompanied homeless experience to reach their academic goals. In addition, you will have the opportunity to hear about new concepts and emerging issues that you can directly apply to your work.

Webinar: Equitable Strategies for Mental Health Support
2023-05-23 11:00 - 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | 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

Webinar: Empowering Students with Learning Differences Through the Transition to College
2023-05-24 11:00 - 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Zoom
This webinar will highlight the major differences between high school and college, such as IDEA vs. ADA, time management, academic responsibility, and self-advocacy. Intended for college-bound students, families, and professionals, this presentation will examine areas of transition such as self-advocacy, career awareness, goal setting, and campus resources essential in supporting students’ success as they move into postsecondary settings.
Join speakers from the East Carolina University (ECU) STEPP Program as they share some of the efforts and methods they use with their students to get them ready to be full-fledged ECU students.
Speakers:

Adam Denney, Director at STEPP Program, East Carolina University
Ashley Cooper, Transition Specialist at STEPP Program, East Carolina University

WPN Webinar: 2023 Legislative Update: Removing Obstacles for the Passport Population
2023-06-07 13:00 - 14:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | 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.

Schoolhouse Connection Youth Leadership and Scholarship Program
2023-06-12 08:00 - 2023-11-24 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
This is one of the only national scholarship programs specifically serving youth that have experienced homelessness with financial assistance and staff and peer support to get into and complete higher education.
Applications will be accepted starting June 12.
More information

Northwest Regional Passport Group Meeting
2023-06-13 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.

WSAC Webinar: Passport to College
2023-06-20 11:00 - 12:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Zoom
Register

WSAC Webinar: State Workstudy Updates and Portal Walkthrough
2023-06-20 14:00 - 15:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Zoom

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

WSAC Webinar: All About the WAFSA
2023-06-22 14:00 - 15:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Zoom

Webinar: Targeted Education Case Management for Students in Foster Care: Models and Impact
2023-07-12 12:30 - 14:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | 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.
REGISTER

College Access Professionals 2024-25 FAFSA® Demonstration
2023-08-17 10:00 - 23:30 (America/Los_Angeles)
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

Western Regional Passport Group Meeting - virtual
2023-08-17 11:00 - 12:30 (America/Los_Angeles)
If you are interested in learning more, please email us at passport@collegesuccecssfoundation.org.

South Central Regional Passport Group Meeting - in person
2023-08-28 08:00 - 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Perry Technical Institute, 2011 W Washington Ave, Yakima, WA, 98903, United States

Pierce Kitsap Regional Passport Group Meeting - in person
2023-08-29 10:00 - 13:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | University of Washington – Tacoma

Eastern Regional Passport Group Meeting - in person
2023-09-12 10:30 - 13:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Spokane Falls Community College, 3410 W Whistalks Way, Spokane, WA, 99224, United States

Webinar: ARP-HCY Info Session with ED- SchoolHouse Connection
2023-09-12 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
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.
Register

WPN Webinar: Using Real-Time Data to House QTBIPOC Youth and Young Adults
2023-09-13 13:00 - 14:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | 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.
Register Today

Webinar: Getting Ready for the Better FAFSA
2023-09-25 10:00 - 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
Presented by NCAN
Register

Passport Leadership Team Meeting- in person
2023-10-02 10:00 - 14:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
