www.washingtonpassportnetwork.org

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.

Northwest Regional Passport Group Meeting
2021-08-10 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.

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.

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!

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

Breakout Groups Networking – Passport to Careers State Conference 2020
2020-10-29 14:30 - 16:00 UTC

Keynote Speech – Passport to Careers State Conference 2020
2020-10-29 13:00 - 14:20 UTC
With Jamerika Haynes-Lewis. Read about Jamerika on our keynote speakers page.

Preparing Students for Careers: Apprenticeships - Passport to Careers State Conference 2020
2020-10-29 10:30 - 11:45 UTC
A lot of students plan on going to college after high school- but how many students do you know that have career goals that fit well with their interests and skillsets? Have you considered ALL options of how to be successful in that field? Do you have any students that are interested in being a doctor or nurse, but can’t handle seeing blood? This workshop provides tools for taking steps to encourage your students to contextually and tangibly think about the realities of specific jobs, as well as options for how to achieve career goals. Although college is the most chosen path after high school, it may not always be the best option for people interested in certain career paths. Did you know that most trades jobs have apprenticeship programs that pay people to learn about and practice job skills- all without accruing any student debt? There are over 200 apprenticeship programs in Washington from Construction to Healthcare, to Information Technology, to Aerospace, Early Childhood Education, and much more! Come learn more about how to identify career options for students so that they can make an educated decision about choosing a career and how they want to accomplish their career goals.
Attendees will learn how to effectively support students with identifying career paths and ways to become successful in those career paths. Attendees will also have information about apprenticeship options.
Presented by Emily Stochel of ANEW.

Secondary Traumatic Stress and Self Care - Passport to Careers State Conference 2020
2020-10-29 10:30 - 11:45 UTC
Working with youth who have experienced trauma can be difficult, draining, exhausting, and frustrating.This training will help professionals to understand the differences between Secondary Traumatic Stress, Compassion fatigue and Vicarious trauma, as well as gain awareness of the impact of organizational stress. Participants will also be able to recognize warning signs and personal triggers, as well as understand why self-care is important and develop a personal self-care plan.
Participants will:

Define and differentiate between the terms related to secondary traumatic stress
Learn the red flags and warning signs of Secondary Traumatic stress and related conditions
Understand the importance of self care and co-care in mitigating the impact of indirect trauma exposure.
Develop a personal self care plan.

This workshop is geared toward a professional audience who encounters indirect trauma exposure through their professional or volunteer work. Part of the workshop covers becoming triggered by your clients trauma experiences due to the individuals own history of trauma. This section would be helpful for youth with lived experience who are currently working in a professional role with others who have trauma histories.
Presented by Heather Perry of Coordinated Care.

Introduction to Trauma-Informed Care - Passport to Careers State Conference 2020
2020-10-29 09:00 - 10:15 UTC
Research suggests that between 60-80% of the population experiences at least one traumatic event during their lives, and prevalence of trauma is higher still for youth who have been homeless or involved in the foster care system. As communities respond to ongoing stress and potential traumas related to COVID-19 and its impacts, trauma-informed care is increasingly relevant. By working from a trauma-informed perspective, professionals can ensure that the services they provide are sensitive and relevant for trauma-affected individuals and communities. This workshop offers an introduction to trauma-informed care, including definitions of acute and chronic trauma, impacts on brain and behavior, foundations of trauma-informed care, and concrete strategies for professionals to provide sustainable and effective support within their roles.
Participants will learn definitions for acute and chronic trauma, common impacts of trauma on brain and behavior, foundations of trauma-informed care, and concrete strategies to implement trauma-informed practices within their roles.
Presented by Anna Scott and Sarah Odell of Southwest Youth & Family Services.
With over 23 years of combined experience working with diverse populations of youth and families in a variety of settings both in the USA and abroad, Anna and Sarah’s past and present relationships with trauma-affected youth and families inform and shape their perspectives and presentation. While protecting client confidentiality is critical for all mental health professionals, a primary tenet of trauma-informed care is empowerment, voice, and choice. Meeting trauma-affected individuals where they are, respecting their right to make choices in their lives, and empowering them to use their voices will be emphasized as essential parts of trauma-informed service provision.

Adolescent2Adult: An Overview of Medicaid/Health Coverage for Alumni of Foster Care - Passport to Careers State Conference 2020
2020-10-29 09:00 - 10:15 UTC
Coordinated Care’s Apple Health Core Connections is the Medicaid program that serves youth in foster care and alumni of foster care (ages 18-26). For youth not covered by AHCC, the workshop will address how youth can enroll in Medicaid. As youth transition from adolescence to adulthood, AHCC believes that youth and their advocates should know 3 key things:

How to access physical and behavioral health services, and accessing services safely during the COVID-19 pandemic
Their health care rights (what is protected and how to access records), and
What Medicaid covers (including dental, vision, reproductive health care, transgender services, prescriptions, preventative care, and urgent/emergent care).

At the end of the workshop, attendees will be able to:

Identify who to call when a question around Medicaid coverage arises
Understand youth rights to protect their health information and how to access their own records
Understand the basics of what services Medicaid covers so they can better help a youth navigate the health care system

This presentation was designed specifically for youth who will be accessing their own healthcare as they enter adulthood. Young people attending this workshop will be given the opportunity to ask any questions they have, as well as given contact information in the event they need to reach out on the future.
Presented by Lindsey Greene of Coordinated Care.

Breakout Groups Networking - Passport to Careers State Conference 2020
2020-10-28 14:30 - 16:00 UTC

Passport: What is It and How Does it Work? - Passport to Careers State Conference 2020
2020-10-28 13:00 - 14:15 UTC
Learn how the Passport to Careers program can support foster youth and unaccompanied homeless youth pursue a college education or apprenticeship. Apply what you’ve learned during the session to find solutions to typical challenges students face.
At the end of the workshop, participants will have learned:

What the Passport to Careers program is
Who is eligible for Passport
How the Passport program helps students

Realistic student scenarios will be presented to attendees and will challenge participants to work together to develop solutions.
Presented by Dawn Cypriano McAferty from the Washington Student Achievement Council.

The Washington College Grant and Financial Aid Updates - Passport to Careers State Conference 2020
2020-10-28 13:00 - 14:15 UTC
Washington State now has more opportunities than ever before for students to access state financial aid. The new Washington College Grant has expanded eligibility and access to state aid for students in Washington. Learn more about financial aid updates and how you can support students as they go through the financial aid process.
Our session will explore what best practices and resources have been successful at increasing financial aid completion rates across the state, including the 12th Year Campaign. There will be an overview of the financial aid basics and both the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and the WASFA (Washington Application for State Financial Aid).
At the end of the workshop, attendees will have learned how to understand Washington State financial aid opportunities, and how students can access them.
Presented by Yokiko Hayashi-Saguil of the Washington Student Achievement Council.

Getting Unstuck: Maintaining Relationships with Students - Passport to Careers State Conference 2020
2020-10-28 10:30 - 11:45 UTC
Ever feel stuck in building or maintaining relationships with youth you are working with? The goal of the roundtable discussion is to understand why maintaining relationships with youth is critical to their success and learn from each other about how we can create meaningful connections with every student. The presenters will share times they felt “stuck” and provide strategies and ways to maintain or re-engage with students. We will focus some of the time specifically addressing how to maintain and re-engage students virtually. We will also invite attendees to share their experiences and reflect on what did and did not work. The roundtable will conclude with an activity for attendees to practice new skills and strategies.
At the end of the workshop, attendees will have learned how to:

Recognize the importance of maintaining relationships with students
Recognize when a relationship with a student is “stuck” or frozen
Develop strategies that may help maintain relationships with students

Presented by Sara Spiers and Amy Salazar of Washington State University Vancouver

Diving Deeper: Working with Tribal Foster Youth - Passport to Careers State Conference 2020
2020-10-28 10:30 - 11:45 UTC
This workshop is a follow up and deeper discussion into how to best support Native students in the education system. Topics will include sovereignty, the definition of historical trauma and the ways it shows up currently, and different types of Tribal enrollment.
At the end of the workshop, attendees will have learned how historical trauma affects Native youth – especially those in the foster care system – and how to best support Native students in Washington state.
Presented by Kateri Joe of Treehouse and Shoshaunee Perez of Northwest Indian College.

Kickoff Keynote Speech - Passport to Careers State Conference 2020
2020-10-28 09:00 - 10:20 UTC
With George Duvall. Read about George on our keynote speakers page.

Webinar: Tribal Foster Youth
2020-04-01 14:00 - 15:00 UTC

PTC Conference Workshop Proposal Support/Q+A (option 2)
2020-02-26 14:00 - 15:00 UTC
Interested in presenting at the Passport to Careers (PTC) State Conference? Have an idea, but now sure if it will translate to the conference workshop format? Need support designing your workshop proposal?
We are offering 2 workshop proposal support sessions to field questions and support with workshop proposal design.
Thanks for your interest in presenting at the 2020 PTC State Conference. We look forward to brainstorming workshop ideas with you!
Please register to join the meeting: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Ywlu59BTTdGU_3r8APlYqQ

PTC Conference Workshop Proposal Support/Q+A (option 1)
2020-02-20 10:00 - 11:00 UTC
Interested in presenting at the Passport to Careers (PTC) State Conference? Have an idea, but now sure if it will translate to the conference workshop format? Need support designing your workshop proposal?

We are offering 2 workshop proposal support sessions to field questions and support with workshop proposal design.
Thanks for your interest in presenting at the 2020 PTC State Conference. We look forward to brainstorming workshop ideas with you!

Register to join the meeting: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_3qNWJdTjSMKuvkrH4nlHpA

Webinar 6: Understanding the Unique Needs of Unaccompanied Refugee Minors
2020-02-12 14:00 - 15:00 UTC
Join us to learn about foster youth in the federal Unaccompanied Refugee Minor Program and find out how they get to the U.S. and Washington State; what their unique needs are; and how they can best be supported in their educational and career journeys.
This webinar will describe to the audience the federally-funded Unaccompanied Refugee Minor Program, administered by DSHS, Catholic Community Services, and Lutheran Community Services Northwest. Who these youth are; how they came to reside in Washington State; and what makes them eligible for the program will be covered. Additionally, the audience will learn about the unique needs and journeys of eligible youth, and strategies for successfully supporting them in postsecondary education.
Webinar presenters:
Dorothy McCabe, Catholic Community Services – Tacoma/Vancouver URM Program
Zach Reiber, Lutheran Community Services Northwest – Spokane URM Program
Tigest Coleman, Lutheran Community Services Northwest – Seattle URM Program
Learning objectives of the webinar:
1) Learn more about who unaccompanied refugee minors are – their countries of origin, backgrounds, and needs.
2) Learn best practices on how to support and engage unaccompanied refugee youth, and what some of their unique challenges are in attaining postsecondary education.
Register for the free webinar: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_cthkA4gwRNiHNBJXaUJYcA

Webinar 5: Medicaid Benefits for Youth in/Alumni of Care
2020-01-29 14:00 - 15:00 UTC
On April 1, 2016 Coordinated Care became the Managed Care Program for all foster, alumni, and adopted youth. On January 1st, 2019, behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment was integrated into the program. This program, known as Apple Heath Core Connections (AHCC), serves children and youth in foster care and adoption support as well as alumni of foster care (ages 18-26).
Join this webinar to learn how to access and use covered physical and behavioral health services. Attendess will also learn the added benefits for Apple Health Core Connections members.
Following this presentation, participants will:
1. Know how to connect a youth to Coordinated Care if the youth needs assistance navigating the healthcare system.
2. Be able to identify what physical and behavioral health services are available to alumni of foster care.
Register for the free webinar: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_P-TaRWICSBWbyG2hjKXXJg

Eastern Regional Service Coordination Meeting
2020-01-22 10:00 - 13:30 UTC

Yakima Regional Meeting
2020-01-16 14:00 - 16:00 UTC
