Student Support Programs
- Economic Justice Alliance Taskforce
- Legislative Executive WorkFirst Poverty Reduction Oversight Taskforce (LEWPRO)
- Washington Postsecondary Basic Needs Coalition
- WA Child Care Centers Council
- WA Connection Advisory Committee
System Messaging
The Student Support Canvas Community is your one stop shop for BFET, WorkFirst, Benefits
Navigation, SEAG, SSEH, SPEEA ACE, and Opportunity Grant program resources and system
messages.
Contact the Student Support Programs Team email to join the Canvas and get involved in conversations with your peers at other colleges.
In your email, state which programs you work with. The Canvas is for SBCTC and CTC
employees.
Contact
Dylan Jilek
Integrations Coordinator, Student Support Programs
djilek@sbctc.edu
360-704-4327
Jennifer Dellinger
Policy Associate, Student Support Programs
jdellinger@sbctc.edu
360-704-4339
Student Support Programs
Student Support Programs are a community of programs that increase access to education and basic needs for economically disadvantaged youths and adults.
Core Student Support Programs
At SBCTC, the Core Student Support programs are located within the Workforce Education department. They are integrated cross-departmentally with the Integrated Student Support programs below.
The Basic Food, Employment and Training (BFET) program supports Basic Food (SNAP) recipients who are not receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits.
WorkFirst is a referral-based program that supports students receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits. Services are offered at Washington State community or technical colleges through a partnership with DSHS.
The intent of this program is to implement a free and/or low-cost food program for students with low incomes. Four community and technical colleges were chosen to participate in this three-year pilot program.
The Benefits Navigation Program connects students enrolled at Washington’s community and technical colleges with basic needs resources. Benefits Navigators are a single point of contact for students to access resources such as working connections childcare, basic food enrollment, housing supports, and more.
SPEEA ACE Childcare Scholarship Funds provide childcare assistance for students enrolled at Washington's community and technical colleges seeking high demand degrees that support the aerospace industry.
Integrated Student Support Programs
At SBCTC, the Integrated Student Support Programs are located within the Student Services Department. They are integrated cross-departmentally with the Core Student Support Programs.
The Student Emergency Assistance Grant Program (SEAG) allows community and technical colleges to provide monetary assistance to students experiencing unforeseen emergencies or situations that affect the student’s ability to remain enrolled in their classes.
The Supporting Students Experiencing Homelessness Program (SSEH) helps students experiencing homelessness and/or who were in foster care when they graduated high school.
The Opportunity Grant Program helps low-income students complete up to one year of college and a certificate in a high-wage, high-demand career.
The Mental Health Counseling and Services Pilot Program is intended to increase mental health counseling and services for community and technical college students, and to expand the use of best practices that positively impact student mental health and improve student success at our colleges.
Support & Guidance for the 2025 Federal Government Shutdown
We encourage all staff and faculty to use these resources to support students and themselves. We will continue to monitor the situation and share updates.
What Colleges Can Do
- Communicate clearly about potential SNAP delays, share updates from SBCTC and DSHS
regularly.
- Be sure to seek guidance and messaging support from your campus communications team.
- Activate/re-open emergency aid and basic needs support, if available.
- Partner locally with food banks and nonprofits.
- Engage your Foundation office to share information and discuss options to support students
- Promote on-campus food pantries, food drives, donations, etc.
- Encourage students to check EBT balances. SNAP beneficiaries can continue to use their EBT card with funds they have already received.
National Resources
- Feeding America - food bank locator
- SNAP Benefit and Administrative Expense USDA Update for November 2025
- USDA SNAP Contingency - federal updates
Washington State Level Resources
- 2nd Harvest - connects individuals east of the Cascades to food resources.
- College SNAP Eligibility & Frequently Asked Questions - Updated April 2025
- DSHS SNAP Status - State benefit information
- DSHS Federal Law Changes Impacts Info Sheet
- Employment Security Department resources for impacted workers
- Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program - this program connects patients who are experiencing food insecurity with vouchers for fruit and vegetables
- Hopelink - a food market program that operates in Bellevue, Redmond, Shoreline, Kirkland, and Carnation.
- Hunger Free WA - Local SNAP/WIC updates
- Washington 211 - connects callers to critical community resources and assistance statewide.
- Washington Connection - online applications for public benefits such as SNAP, TANF, childcare, and medical.
- Washington Community and Technical Colleges Student Funding Guide
- Washington State Department of Financial Institutions - financial resources for federal workers
Washington State Level Information
- Federal Shutdown Impacts on Washington State
- DSHS Federal Shutdown Updates
- Washington State Department of Financial Institutions - guidance for consumers, financial institutions and federal workers
- Workforce Training & Education Coordinating Board - federal shutdown resources for Washington's workforce system
Questions
- General questions or additional resources to add to this list: studentsupport@sbctc.edu
- Specific concerns or questions:
- Jennifer Dellinger, Policy Associate for Student Support Programs
- Christine McMullin, Policy Associate for Student Services & K12 Alignment
