February 2019

Helping Homeless Students with College Transition: An Online Training

This online training offers a series of brief lectures on topics such as creating a college-going culture, college application, enrollment, and financial aid, all through the lens of special considerations for students who have experienced homelessness. The lectures are accompanied by optional quizzes and activities to support retention of the material.

August 22, 2018

Academic Case Management: How to Support Youth as College Students

This webinar provided training on how to alter case management for current and former foster youth and homeless youth so that it is tailored for college students and supports a youth’s identity as a student. Featured panelists offered examples of how they utilize this case management model in their housing programs. A new tool was shared on the webinar, moving case managers from asking “how’s school going?” to asking targeted questions at just the right time, building trust, and providing timely reminders, support and referrals to resources.

April 18, 2018

Unpacking Matriculation for Foster & Homeless Youth: Assessment, Remediation & Recent Changes

This webinar provided an overview of the matriculation process at community colleges & CSUs. Panelists discussed the priority enrollment verification process for homeless youth, how students can avoid being unnecessarily placed in remediation (below-transfer-level courses) during the assessment process, more effective mechanisms for addressing remediation needs, and how state-level changes to assessment and remediation will affect students.

March 21, 2018

Financial Aid for Homeless & Foster Youth, Part II: After the FAFSA

This web seminar featured Elizabeth Alaniz with Chico State University, Britney Slates with Sierra College, and Simone Tureck with John Burton Advocates for Youth. Panelists walked attendees through the steps from the time a student submits the FAFSA to their first disbursement of financial aid, including the process for verifying their status as foster youth or homeless youth. The training also discussed how to support students in maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress so they don’t lose their financial aid, how to avoid student debt, and how to handle these pitfalls should they occur. 

January 17, 2018

Financial Aid for Homeless & Foster Youth, Part I

This web seminar featured Marisol Ramirez with Pierce College, Tanae McCall with CSU Bakersfield, and Simone Tureck with John Burton Advocates for Youth. Panelists shared information about the application process associated with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), provided a breakdown of what typical financial aid award packages include, and important tips for helping ensure current and former foster youth and homeless youth access maximum aid.

May 11, 2017

Career Technical Education: Short-Term Programs into Living Wage Employment

This web seminar featured Lynell Wiggins, Strong Workforce Technical Assistance Provider with the California Community College Chancellor’s Office and Career Technical Education (CTE) Counselor with Pasadena City College. Mr. Wiggins synthesized some of the systemic changes occurring within the state’s community college system impacting CTE, and shared with attendees several new tools to assist youth in navigating the range of CTE options and determining their education and career path.

March 9, 2017

On-Campus Support & Resources for Foster Youth in College

This web seminar featured Deborah Pruitt with John Burton Advocates for Youth, Jessica Smith, the Statewide FYSI Liaison with the Foundation for California Community Colleges; Kalynda Webber McLean, Dean of Student Success at Pierce College; and Kizzy Lopez, the Renaissance Scholars Program with CSU Fresno. Attendees learned about the support and resources available to current and former foster youth on college campuses, including the various types of campus support programs, priority enrollment, student housing, tutoring, counseling and mentoring.

November 11, 2016

Collaboratives Supporting Foster Youth to & through College

This web seminar featured Sara Goldware with Beyond Emancipation, Marie Hughes with Family Care Network, and Gabrielle Ridley with Orange Coast College. They presented about existing collaboratives focused on improving post-secondary education accessibility, opportunity and outcomes for current and former foster youth in their respective communities, Alameda County, San Luis Obispo County and Orange County.