www.washingtonpassportnetwork.org

King County Passport Consortium Meeting
2021-09-14 10:00 - 11:30, 2021-11-09 10:00 - 11:30, 2022-01-11 10:00 - 11:30, 2022-03-08 10:00 - 11:30, 2022-05-10 10:00 - 11:30 UTC
The Passport Consortium is a diverse group of King County stakeholders who create strategies that improve access to post-secondary programs for youth who have been in foster care or have experienced unaccompanied homelessness. Please email kanguyen@highline.edu for more information.

Northwest Regional Passport Group Meeting
2021-09-14 14:00 - 15:00, 2021-10-12 14:00 - 15:00, 2021-11-09 14:00 - 15:00, 2021-12-14 14:00 - 15:00, 2022-02-08 14:00 - 15:00, 2022-03-08 14:00 - 15:00, 2022-04-12 14:00 - 15:00
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.

Eastern Regional Passport Group Meeting - Virtual
2021-09-28 14:30 - 16:00, 2022-01-18 14:30 - 16:00
If you work in the secondary or postsecondary space and support Passport to Careers eligible students in the Eastern Washington region, and would like to connect with professionals, this meeting is for you! Please email passport@collegesuccessfoundation.org for more information.

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

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

Register here!

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

Register here!

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

Pierce County Passport Group Meeting
2021-11-18 13:00 - 14:00, 2022-02-10 13:00 - 14:00, 2022-05-05 13:00 - 14:00
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.

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

Southwest Regional Passport Group Meeting
2021-12-09 13:30 - 15:00
If you work in the secondary or postsecondary space and support Passport to Careers eligible students in the Southwest region (e.g. Kelso, Cowlitz, Clark county), and would like to connect with professionals, this meeting is for you! Please email passport@collegesuccessfoundation.org for more information.

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

Register here!

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

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

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

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

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

Register here!

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

South Central Regional Passport Group Meeting
2022-01-20 13:00 - 14:30, 2022-04-21 13:00 - 14:30

Webinar: Youth Ascend Washington Webtool: Centering Young People in Resource Development
2022-02-23 14:00 - 15:00
Presenters: Joey Heilman, Samie Iverson, and Mandy Park of Building Changes
Join us for a webinar on Building Changes’ Youth Ascend Washington web-based tool and their journey developing a resource to meet the needs of young people. Youth Ascend WA is a youth-centered, online tool for providers working with young people experiencing homelessness and housing instability as they plan for life after high school. It offers an inclusive and collaborative space where young people can explore resources to support their stability and opportunities they may want to pursue post-graduation.
Presented by Joey Heilman, Samie Iverson, and Mandy Park of Building Changes. Building Changes is a nonprofit organization whose vision is communities thrive when people have safe and stable housing and can equitably access and use services. Building Changes’ mission is to advance equitable responses to homelessness in Washington State, with a focus on children, youth, and families and the systems that serve them.

Click here to register on Zoom!

Webinar: 2022 Legislative Session Recap
2022-03-30 14:00 - 15:00
Come and get your questions answered about the 2022 Washington state legislative session, including:

What is a ‘short’ legislative session and what is its purpose?
What is in the final budget and how will it help youth who have experienced foster care and unaccompanied homelessness?
What bills were passed this year that will affect these same populations?

The presenters will give an overview of the session and the dynamics that were in play, as well a summary of the most relevant funding and policies that were passed.
Please bring your questions about the 2022 legislative session or about the legislative process in general! Presented by Juliet Schindler, Director of Public Affairs and Strategic Partnerships, and Emily Stochel, Interim Program Manager of Statewide Initiatives, with the College Success Foundation (CSF).

Register for this webinar now!

About the presenters:
Juliet has been with the College Success Foundation for eight years and manages CSF’s Statewide Initiatives Team. In this role, she directs CSF’s government relations and advocacy work as well as the Washington Passport Network team. In addition to the advocacy focus on youth who have experienced foster care and/or unaccompanied homelessness, Juliet represents CSF by advocating for legislation and spending to benefit low-income, first generation and youth of color. She also is the lead on state funding for CSF, a public-private partnership.
Prior to working for CSF, Juliet worked for over a decade with the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, first as his deputy director and international trade specialist, followed by chief of staff. She has also held international public relations/public affairs jobs, research, speechwriting, and international development roles in Washington, DC and abroad. Juliet holds a BA in International Studies from the UW and a MA in International Affairs from George Washington University.
Emily is fairly new to the CSF team, but has been doing legislative advocacy in the foster care and UHY space for several years. Emily has also been working and volunteering in the child welfare field for over ten years in different capacities, starting after she was placed into foster care at age 16. Emily currently serves on the Supreme Court Commission on Children in Foster Care, is the Co-Chair of the Children’s Representation Standards Work Group, and works part-time with Think of Us.
Emily is extremely passionate about helping to create more compassionate and effective systems through user-centered design and co-design. Emily holds a BA in Human Services from Western Washington University, where she also earned the title of “Outstanding Graduate”.

Passport to Careers State Conference - 2022
2022-04-19 00:00 - 2022-04-20 23:59
Please register for our virtual, multi-session Passport to Careers State conference!
This year’s conference will take place on April 19-20 and will include workshop presentations, a keynote speaker, several panel discussions, and much more! You will be able to sign up for as many workshop sessions as you’re able to attend.
This year’s conference will offer you the opportunity to:

Connect and network with others who support students students who have experienced foster care or unaccompanied homelessness in graduating from high school and pursuing their post-secondary aspirations;
Share recommended practices aimed at improving the educational outcomes of students from foster care and/or unaccompanied homelessness;
Acquire skills, knowledge, and resources that advance professional development and enhance program impact;
Inspire one another with stories of success and ideas for innovation.

Quick info:

2022 Passport to Careers State Conference
April 19-20
Virtual via Zoom
$40 registration fee. If the registration fee is a barrier, financial support is available. Contact us for more information.
Contact us at passport@collegesuccessfoundation.org or (425) 417-3072 with any questions.
