www.washingtonpassportnetwork.org

Webinar: Healing-Centered Engagement
2024-10-16 13:00 - 14:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Zoom
Join us for a webinar on healing-centered engagement and learn how to incorporate an asset-based approach to trauma informed practices. More details to come.

South Central Regional Passport Group Meeting (virtual)
2024-10-24 11:00 - 12:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual, United States
Join Passport Network members from the South Central region for a collaborative discussion. Specific agenda items will be shared prior to the meeting. To learn more, contact passport@collegesuccessfoundation.org.

Eastern Regional Passport Group Meeting (virtual)
2024-11-04 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-01-13 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-04-14 10:00 - 11:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual, United States
Join Passport Network members from the Eastern region for a collaborative discussion. Specific agenda items will be shared prior to the meeting. To learn more, contact passport@collegesuccessfoundation.org.

Western Regional Passport Group Meeting (virtual)
2024-11-18 10:00 - 11:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual, United States
Join Passport Network members from the Western Washington region for a collaborative discussion. This month’s program spotlight is on Olive Crest, a dedicated Independent Living Skills (ILS) provider. Hear about the organization and the resources they provide from Program Director Angela Youtsey. Find the agenda here.
Register now
To learn more, contact passport@collegesuccessfoundation.org

Speaker Bio
Angela Youtsey has been working with children and families for more than 20 years. After graduating from USC’s School of Social Work with her MSW in 1999, she worked as a pupil services and attendance counselor for the Los Angeles Unified School District for six years. She then moved into the child welfare arena and facilitated Child Protection Team meetings in Kitsap County. For the past twelve years, she has worked as a program director with Olive Crest. Angela has overseen Olive Crest’s West Sound Foster Care program on the Kitsap Peninsula. More recently, she has transitioned to the program director role in Olive Crest’s Independent Living Skills and Housing programs. These programs provide support to youth exiting foster care in 13 counties in Washington. Angela is passionate about keeping children safe and currently keeps busy raising three redheads of her own!

Webinar: Financial Aid 101 for Support Staff
2024-11-20 13:00 - 14:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Zoom
Join us for a webinar on understanding and navigating the financial aid application processes for Passport-eligible students. In this session, there will be an overview of understanding the FAFSA Simplification Act, best practices in overcoming application barriers for these youth populations, and guidance on additional verification processes to receive financial aid. We will also share resources to support you as you help students take their next steps in their post-secondary education.
At the end of this webinar, attendees will learn about the different federal, state, and school-based financial resources available to students. Attendees will also better understand how students access financial aid resources, how aid is awarded, and how financial aid offices build cost of attendance budgets and prioritize aid awarding.
Register Now

About the Presenter
Maria Rebecchi is director of scholarships and financial aid education at College Success Foundation. Over the course of 30 years, she built a career at postsecondary institutions and nonprofit organizations with the goal of helping low-income, first-generation students and their families navigate the complexities of financial aid.
Her prior work experience includes director of programs and evaluation at TheDream.US, interim director of financial aid at South Seattle College, director of programs at The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis, associate director of financial aid at Bastyr University as well as WorkSource-affiliate coordinator and employment case manager at the YWCA in downtown Seattle.
Maria is co-founder of Universidad YA!/College NOW!, a task force of the Hispanic Arts Council of St. Louis geared towards addressing the needs of DREAMers in their quest for postsecondary education in the Midwest. She worked with United Way of Greater St. Louis to develop ‘Get on Board’, a program that provides comprehensive training for BIPOC leaders interested in serving on nonprofit boards. She was also a board member of the Hispanic Arts Council of St. Louis and chair of the John F. Garganigo Scholarship Committee. More recently, Maria served as a scholarship board member of the Latino Leadership Initiative, a joint effort of Edmonds College, Skagit Valley College and the University of Washington-Bothell.
Maria received her master’s degree in human services from St. Edward’s University, a bachelor’s degree in sociology with an emphasis in diversity from the University of California-Irvine, and certification in print journalism from the University of California-Los Angeles. Her extensive volunteer experiences range from supporting community health initiatives to intensive work with immigrant and refugee families in matters of education and social services to volunteer tax preparation for low-income individuals. Inclusion, equity, and educational opportunity have been consistent themes in much of her work.

Passport Leadership Team Q2 Meeting (virtual)
2024-12-02 09:00 - 11:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual, United States
Quarterly Passport Leadership Team meetings are open to all members of the PLT. Composed of a cross-sector of student-support practitioners and stakeholders from across the state, the PLT is dedicated to enhancing the program design, implementation and quality of the Passport to Careers program. Specific agenda items will be shared with attendees prior to the meeting. To learn more, contact passport@collegesuccessfoundation.org.

Webinar: Trauma-Informed Practices for Postsecondary Education
2024-12-11 13:00 - 14:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual, United States
Postsecondary students represent a wide spectrum of ages, backgrounds, and life experiences, and many have already navigated trauma in their lives when they start their postsecondary education journey. This presentation is intended to raise awareness of trauma and resilience in the context of postsecondary education, help educators understand how trauma affects learning and development into adulthood, and highlight the ways trauma intersects with stress related to basic needs, discrimination, and social exclusion.
Participants will hear ideas and strategies grounded in core principles of trauma-informed practice that can benefit learners with varying levels of exposure to trauma, and learn to manage their own stress and compassion fatigue through self-care. Throughout the presentation, participants are encouraged to connect the content with their own experiences and reflect on the importance of relationships in protection, healing, and growth from trauma.
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Presenter
Shannon Davidson is a leader in applied research and evaluation at Education Northwest and the author of “Trauma Informed Practices for Postsecondary Education: A Guide.” Shannon has delivered trainings in TiP for postsecondary education at the National Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine as well as a variety of higher education institutions including Columbia College, Clackamas Community College, and North Dakota State University. Shannon also leads formative, summative, and developmental evaluation and technical assistance projects for state and local education agencies and postsecondary institutions including Wenatchee Valley College and Portland State University. A former classroom teacher, Shannon is dedicated to helping partners translate research and data into meaningful action to promote learning and well-being. Shannon holds a Ph.D. in International and Comparative Education from Stanford University and has a background in both domestic and global issues in education.

Pierce/Kitsap Regional Passport Meeting (virtual)
2024-12-11 14:15 - 15:45 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual, United States
Join Passport network members from the Pierce/Kitsap region for a collaborative discussion. This month’s program spotlight is on Olive Crest, a dedicated Independent Living Skills (ILS) provider. Hear about the organization and the resources they provide from Program Director Angela Youtsey. Additional agenda items will be shared prior to the meeting. To learn more, contact passport@collegesuccessfoundation.org.
Register now

Speaker Bio
Angela Youtsey has been working with children and families for more than 20 years. After graduating from USC’s School of Social Work with her MSW in 1999, she worked as a pupil services and attendance counselor for the Los Angeles Unified School District for six years. She then moved into the child welfare arena and facilitated Child Protection Team meetings in Kitsap County. For the past twelve years, she has worked as a program director with Olive Crest. Angela has overseen Olive Crest’s West Sound Foster Care program on the Kitsap Peninsula. More recently, she has transitioned to the program director role in Olive Crest’s Independent Living Skills and Housing programs. These programs provide support to youth exiting foster care in 13 counties in Washington. Angela is passionate about keeping children safe and currently keeps busy raising three redheads of her own!

South Central Regional Meeting (virtual)
2024-12-12 11:00 - 12:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual, United States
Join Passport network members from the South Central region for a collaborative discussion. This month’s program spotlight is ANEW. Hear from Passport to Careers Apprenticeship Navigator Halley Shriber about ANEW’s apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs available to your students. No registration necessary; follow the link below to join the meeting. To learn more, contact passport@collegesuccessfoundation.org.
Join the meeting

Lunch and Learn with Treehouse
2024-12-12 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual, United States
Join us for a Lunch and Learn collaboration with Treehouse! The purpose of our new Lunch and Learn pilot project is to increase statewide coordination and quality of supportive services for youth from foster care and unaccompanied homeless youth by highlighting different organizations and providing informal opportunities to closely connect for partnership building.
During this event, we will receive high-level information about the various programs that Treehouse offers to eligible foster youth, as well as have an opportunity to network with Treehouse staff and other professionals to cultivate partnerships with one another. At the end, attendees will learn about Treehouse programs, services, and resources for eligible foster youth. Attendees will also learn about opportunities for partnership building to strengthen supports for the foster youth population.
Register now

About Treehouse
Treehouse creates opportunities for young people in foster care to thrive. Treehouse provides academic and other essential support for more than 6,000 youth in foster care across Washington state each year. We invest in the unique educational needs of children, youth and young adults who have experienced foster care and create a strong network of support as they make the difficult transition into adulthood. We work to ensure every child, youth and young adult who has experienced foster care has access to essentials such as clothing, school and job supplies, extracurricular activities and even car insurance. Learn more >>
Panelists
Kateri Joe (she/her)
Co-Director, Graduation Success
Kateri Joe, an enrolled member of Swinomish and Halalt First Nations, is a passionate advocate for youth empowerment and education. With a master’s in social work from the University of Washington, Kateri serves as one of three co-directors for graduation success at Treehouse. Beyond her professional endeavors, Kateri actively participates in cultural activities like canoe pulling, dancing, beading, and sewing, emphasizing the importance of preserving traditions.
Alyosha Van Dusen (he/him)
Regional Manager, Graduation Success
As a regional manager that has been at Treehouse for over 8 years, Alyosha finds it an honor that he gets the opportunity to work with a team of folx who are just as passionate about supporting young people experiencing foster care as he is. When he’s not working in the community, he enjoys painting, reading books, and spending time with family, friends, and his cat.
Victoria Kutasz (she/her)
Director, Resources & Operations
Victoria has been working with Treehouse’s Resource programs since 2013. With a background in community engagement, she is passionate about building strong networks and identifying ways that communities can come together to support young people. In her free time Victoria can be found walking her dog, reading a good book or trying out a new craft project.
Amy Navarro (she/her)
Director, Launch Success
Amy has been with Treehouse since July 2023, and previously worked with college access programs at the high school and college levels. Her passion is supporting staff to connect young adults with educational opportunities. Amy is a working mom, a board game enthusiast and loves a good walk in the woods!

King County Passport Consortium Meeting (virtual)
2025-01-28 10:30 - 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual, United States
Join Passport Network members from the King County region for a collaborative discussion. DCYF’s Veneza Tena will give a presentation about the Education and Training Voucher (ETV) Program for this month’s partner spotlight. See the agenda. To learn more, contact passport@collegesuccessfoundation.org
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Webinar: Storytelling for Advocacy
2025-01-29 15:30 - 16:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual, United States
Join us for a unique WPN webinar geared toward students. Sierra Rogers and Darian Isom from The Mockingbird Society will help young advocates understand how getting involved in policy and using their voices and stories can make a lasting impact. They’ll provide background about The Mockingbird Society, an organization that provides meaningful opportunities for youth across Washington state to participate in the social justice effort to improve the foster care system. They will also outline the process for how legislation gets passed and provide helpful tips and advice on how young people can share their own stories while still protecting themselves, advocate for their communities, and help change lives.
This webinar is geared toward students, but practitioners and support staff are welcome to attend as well!
Register now

Presenters
Sierra Rogers (she/her) currently serves as director of youth programs for The Mockingbird Society, curating youth development and support networks locally and nationally. Sierra was the deputy project administrator for Bitfocus and Clarity Human Services. She assisted King County in its data quality and training in HUD data requirements. For many years, Sierra has committed to ending youth homelessness as a lived expert, including being part of the development and implementation of the Youth Homelessness Demonstration Project for the Office of Homeless Youth, and being a part of the Y4Y board. Additionally, she has contributed to helping service providers implement Coordinated Entry, shared understanding of HUD requirements, equitable practices in spaces, disability support services and advocacy, crisis intervention practices, trauma & empathy informed approaches, TA support for agencies to thrive, and dedicated time to legislative advocacy to help support those experiencing homelessness, housing instability and foster care systems.
Sierra was born and raised in the beautiful Evergreen State, living in all corners of Washington. She currently resides in central Washington where she has access to all the state has to offer. In her free time, you can find her in nature or traveling in the company of friends and family.
Darian Isom has been working in the youth homelessness sphere for almost four years in Washington state. In this time, she has worked as a youth advocate at Ryan’s House for Youth in Island County, and has been a member of the Youth for Youth, Y4Y, board with the Office of Homeless Youth. She is the outreach and engagement coordinator at The Mockingbird Society, and previously served as the northern engagement coordinator. Darian has a passion for travelling the state and connecting with community organization in order to learn from lived experts.
Darian is originally from Idaho but has had the joy of living in Washington for the past four years. Currently she resides in the northwest corner of the state and loves to curl up with a good book on those rainy days!

Passport Office Hours
2025-02-03 14:00 - 15:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual, United States
Drop in for virtual office hours with the Passport to Careers team on the first Monday of every month. Got a quick question about program eligibility, need technical assistance, or just looking for help brainstorming strategies? Staff from both the college and apprenticeship pathways will be here to help with all this and more!

No registration necessary, simply follow the Zoom link below to join.

Join Office Hours

Pierce/Kitsap Regional Passport Group Meeting (virtual)
2025-02-04 13:00 - 14:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual, United States
Join Passport Network members from the Pierce/Kitsap region for a collaborative discussion. Agenda coming soon. To learn more, contact passport@collegesuccessfoundation.org

Western Regional Passport Group Meeting (virtual)
2025-02-05 10:00 - 11:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual, United States
Join Passport Network members from the Western Washington region for a collaborative discussion. Agenda coming soon. To learn more, contact passport@collegesuccessfoundation.org

Passport Leadership Team Q3 Meeting (virtual)
2025-02-11 09:00 - 11:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual, United States

Lunch and Learn: Apprenticeship Search Tool
2025-02-19 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual, United States
Learn to use the apprenticeship search tool on the LNI website to help the young people you work with discover state-registered apprenticeship opportunities across various industries. Halley Shriber, apprenticeship navigator at ANEW, will walk us through how to find opportunities that match students’ skills and career goals, understand the application process, and familiarize you with the occupation-specific curriculum. By the end of the session, you’ll be equipped to help students access valuable workforce development pathways and discover the nuances to each apprenticeship program!
Register now

Passport Office Hours - March
2025-03-03 14:00 - 15:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual, United States

Passport Office Hours - April
2025-04-07 14:00 - 15:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual, United States

Region 3 College & Career Resource Fair
2025-04-21 13:00 - 14:00 (America/Detroit)
Join us for a virtual college and career resource fair. This event is geared toward high school juniors and seniors in the Northwest Coastal region (region 3) with experience in foster or unaccompanied homelessness, but all are welcome!

Students will have a chance to meet representatives from local organizations and learn about supports, scholarships and resources. This resource informational session will be an hour long, and will include information on the Passport to Careers program, ANEW (apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs), and DCYF’s Education and Training Voucher (ETV) program. Attendees will be entered in a raffle to win e-gift cards!

Webinar: 2025 Legislative Highlights & Updates
2025-05-02 11:00 - 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | https://www.washingtonpassportnetwork.org/event/webinar-2025-legislative-highlights-updates/
Get updates about this year’s legislative session from Joel Anderson, WSAC’s assistant director of external affairs and legislative liaison, and Yokiko Hayashi-Saguil, College Success Foundation’s director of government relations and advocacy. They will walk us through the latest from Olympia, with a focus on funding for the Passport to Careers program and other related measures.

Presenters

Joel Anderson is an assistant director of external affairs and legislative liaison for the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC). Prior to joining WSAC, he served as vice president of external affairs for UW-Seattle’s Graduate and Professional Student Senate while earning his Master of Public Administration from the UW Evans School of Public Policy & Governance. Joel has also worked for multiple elected officials, including former U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer (WA-06) and Tacoma City Council Member Kiara Daniels, and earned a BA from Washington University in St. Louis.

Yokiko Hayashi-Saguil is director of government relations and advocacy at College Success Foundation. A former member of the Passport Leadership Team, Yokiko has spent more than a decade advocating for diversity, equity and inclusion within educational systems in her policy roles at the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, WSAC, and more. She is a lifelong Pacific Northwesterner from Olympia, Washington. She holds a bachelor’s of liberal arts with an emphasis on Japanese culture and language and received her master’s of public administration and public policy from the Evergreen State College. She is currently pursuing a doctorate in educational leadership, focusing on multiracial identity, at UW-Tacoma.

Passport Office Hours
2025-05-05 14:00 - 15:00 (America/Detroit) | https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84324460920?pwd=[REDACTED]
Drop in for virtual office hours with the Passport to Careers team on the first Monday of every month. Got a quick question about program eligibility, need technical assistance, or just looking for help brainstorming strategies? Staff from both the college and apprenticeship pathways will be here to help with all this and more!

No registration necessary, simply follow the Zoom link below to join.

2025 Passport to Careers Conference
2025-05-06 00:00 - 2025-05-07 23:59 (America/Los_Angeles)
The annual Passport to Careers Conference returns in-person in 2025! At this two-day conference, you’ll have an opportunity to learn from experts, expand your professional network and enjoy the camaraderie of colleagues from across the state who are working to create educational parity for students with experience in foster care or unaccompanied homelessness.

Learn more & register

Western Regional Passport Group Q4 Meeting
2025-05-20 10:00 - 11:30 (America/Detroit) | https://www.washingtonpassportnetwork.org/event/western-regional-passport-group-q4-meeting/

Region 3 College & Career Fair
2025-06-03 16:00 - 17:00 (America/Detroit) | https://www.washingtonpassportnetwork.org/event/region-3-college-career-fair/
Join us for a virtual college and career resource fair. This event is geared toward high school juniors and seniors in the Northwest Coastal region (region 3) with experience in foster or unaccompanied homelessness, but all are welcome!

Students will have a chance to meet representatives from local organizations and learn about supports, scholarships and resources. This resource informational session will be an hour long, and will include information on the Passport to Careers program, ANEW (apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs), and DCYF’s Education and Training Voucher (ETV) program. Attendees will be entered in a raffle to win e-gift cards!

This event is presented in partnership with ANEW and Washington State Department of Children, Youth & Families.

Passport Leadership Team Q4 Meeting
2025-06-23 00:00 - 23:59 (America/Los_Angeles)
Quarterly Passport Leadership Team meetings are open to all members of the PLT. Composed of a cross-sector of student-support practitioners and stakeholders from across the state, the PLT is dedicated to enhancing the program design, implementation and quality of the Passport to Careers program. Specific agenda items will be shared with attendees prior to the meeting. To learn more, contact passport@collegesuccessfoundation.org.
Venue and schedule TBA.

Pierce/Kitsap Regional Passport Group Q4 Meeting
2025-06-30 13:00 - 14:30 (America/Detroit) | https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88211623088?pwd=[REDACTED]
Join Passport Network members from the Pierce/Kitsap region for a collaborative discussion and program spotlight on Coffee Oasis. Agenda coming soon. To learn more, contact passport@collegesuccessfoundation.org.

View agenda >>

Webinar: Passport Alumni Spotlight
2025-06-30 14:30 - 15:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tU2rZAvhTOiRqv7SfLX_sQ#/registration
Join us to hear from two Passport alumni, Jose Velazquez and Cam Turner. Attendees will learn about their stories, their journey through college, what supports they found most meaningful, and much more!

Speakers

Jose Velazquez Mancilla is a recent MBA graduate from San Diego State University and a first-generation college graduate who earned his bachelor’s degree from Washington State University in 2019. As a former foster youth and proud alumni of the Passport to College program, his path through higher education has been shaped by the kind of support systems that help students persist when the odds are stacked against them.

Raised in a small farming town in Central Washington, Jose went on to lead student support and financial education initiatives at WSU, helping secure long-term funding for programming and improving outcomes for students navigating financial insecurity. While his work has since evolved beyond financial literacy, the lessons from that chapter – both personal and professional – continue to influence how he approaches strategy and impact.

Today, Jose has transitioned into the private sector, where he applies his experience to support firms with operational and financial planning strategies. While his day-to-day now looks different, the values that shaped his early work; community, access, and impact; continue to inform how he shows up when opportunities to give back arise. For Jose, it’s always been about opening doors, and leaving them open a little wider for whoever comes next.

Cam Turner was born and raised in the Bible Belt, specifically Texas, where they spent the longest amount of time. Cam moved to Washington at age 18, when they began attending Washington State University. They earned their BA in social science (cum laude) with a minor in Spanish in the spring of 2025. Cam is currently enrolled in a master’s program at the University of Washington for Public Policy. Cam now lives in Seattle with their partner and cats, and enjoys painting, writing and sewing during their free time.
