Student Support Programs
System Messaging
The Student Support Canvas Community is your one stop shop for Benefits Navigation,
BFET , Opportunity Grant, SEAG, SPEEA ACE, SSEH, and WorkFirst 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 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.
The Basic Food, Employment and Training (BFET) program supports Basic Food (SNAP) recipients who are not receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Integrated Service Delivery Model
The SBCTC Student Support Programs teams have developed, implemented, and scaled an integrated services delivery model that informs our practices, procedures, and how we provide methods of support to each other and the system. This model is founded in the teams’ shared values for cross-collaborative work in effort to create a cohesive ecosystem of programs that provide support to colleges through practice sharing, leveraging resources, and flexible and adaptable approaches that honor creativity and individualism for intentional connection and relationship building in a safe, respectful, and supportive environment.
SSP Team Vision
All economically disadvantaged populations have equitable access to education and the support services needed to attain economic self-sufficiency and thrive.
SSP Team Mission
Centering student basic needs to increase access to education for economically disadvantaged youth and adults by supporting our education and services providers, collaborating with partners and stakeholders, and advocating to positively impact policy and resources.
Basic Needs Support & Guidance
We encourage all staff and faculty to use these resources to support students and themselves.
What Colleges Can Do
- 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.
National Resources
- Feeding America - food bank locator
- 988 Lifeline - Suicide & Crisis Line. Call, text, and chat options are available
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 Federal Law Changes Impacts Info Sheet
- Fruit and Vegetable Prescription 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 Connection Community Partnership Program - information that colleges can use to assist students with applying for services through Washington Connection
- Washington Community and Technical Colleges Student Funding Guide
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
