Bates Technical College
The Basic Food Employment and Training (BFET) program at Bates is a part of the WorkForce Education Services department, and works to help low-income students overcome financial barriers while they pursue their vocational education. The BFET program at Bates can provide financial support for tuition, books, tools, uniforms, transportation, and emergency costs. The Bates WorkForce Education Services staff also provides enrollment to graduation navigation assistance for BFET participants.
The unique classroom settings at Bates Technical College mirror the workplace, providing students with opportunities to practice and develop skills to levels required for successful employment. Bates offers two-year associate of applied science degrees, certificates of competency, certificates of training, industry certifications and, in specific programs, prepares students for the achievement of state licensure. The college maintains articulation degrees with several four-year universities, making some of the college's two-year degrees transferable.
Bellevue College
The Bellevue College BFET Program provides comprehensive support and funding for Basic Food recipients who are pursuing professional and technical training in a variety of fields including Business, Technology, Early Childhood Education, Public Safety, Healthcare, and Basic Skills/GED/ESL coursework. Students are assigned a BFET Advisor who assists them from start to finish with identifying career goals, choosing and designing an educational path, navigating the college environment, and providing support to overcome barriers through to graduation.
Funding from the BFET program may cover the Bellevue College application fee, tuition, course fees, required textbooks, and a parking permit or bus pass. BFET also collaborates with DSHS to coordinate childcare for class time, study time, and travel hours.
In addition to comprehensive advising and funding support, BFET at Bellevue College offers access to a Workforce Education computer lab and staff assistance for to complete assignments. Students can also request a laptop or calculator loan on an as-needed basis. As students pursue work either during their academic program or as they near graduation, a Workforce Education Employment Specialist connects with students to assist with job searching and transitioning to employment.
Bellingham Technical College
Workforce Funding & Student Support at Bellingham Technical College (BTC) partners with the Department of Social and Human Services (DSHS) to offer access and support for education and training for students receiving food stamps (Basic Food Assistance). Students enrolled in the BFET program receive one-on-one academic, financial and college planning support from the Workforce Funding & Student Support team. This includes assistance with personal budgeting, access to quarterly bus passes to ensure consistent attendance, navigation to a variety of community supports, and potential financial assistance as well as access to childcare. The BTC Workforce Funding team is committed to assisting students from enrollment to graduation and maintains meaningful contact with BFET students throughout their program to ensure they are receiving the support needed to be successful.
Big Bend Community College
Big Bend Community College is a rural community college located Moses Lake, which is in the sunny, central part of Washington State. Big Bend is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities and serves approximately 5,000 students annually. Our services district is 4,600-square-miles and includes 15 communities in Grant and Adams Counties, and the Odessa School District in Lincoln County, with on-site and online instruction.
Our BFET Approved Programs of Study include:
Accounting Technology; Agriculture (AAS non-transfer degree); Automotive Technology; Aviation (AAS non-transfer degree); Aviation Maintenance Technology; Business Information Management; Commercial Driver’s License-CDL; Computer Science; Early Childhood Education; English as a Second Language; GED; High School Diploma; Industrial Systems Technology; Medical Assistant; Nursing; Nursing Assistant-Certified; Welding
BFET students at Big Bend Community College can expect significant support from their staff mentor, financial assistance with tuition, fees, books and tools, child care assistance, and an on-campus child care facility. Our program also provides students access to tutoring, workshops, events, and career services promoting transition to employment.
Clover Park Technical College
Clover Park Technical College students learn in a hands-on environment from industry experts. As a vital member of Washington’s higher-education system, Clover Park Technical College offers more than forty degree and short-term training programs in practical, in-demand career fields.
Clover Park’s Adult Basic Skills program offers day and evening classes in Adult Basic Education, English as a Second Language, high school credential testing preparation, and adult high school completion. Students in these programs are encouraged to transition into career training programs and receive strong academic and career support in the college’s I-BEST (Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training) program.
The Eligibility Programs Office provides BFET-eligible students with:
- Mentoring support.
- Information about financial aid, scholarships, college and community resources.
- Individual Employment Plan to set goals, identify potential barriers, and receive referrals to appropriate resources.
- Assistance with all steps of the enrollment and registration process, including admissions, entrance/placement testing, advising, financial aid application, file status, study tips/techniques and academic support.
Edmonds Community College
Edmonds Community College, founded in 1967, defines our mission as strengthening our diverse community by helping students access educational and career opportunities in a supportive environment that encourages success, innovation, service, and lifelong learning. Edmonds Community College offers 68 associate degrees, 58 professional certificates in 29 programs of study serving over 11,800 students per quarter. The BFET grant is part of the WorkForce Development Department serving the needs of our technical vocational students in Snohomish County. BFET also serves student requiring the basic education credentials of GED, High School 21+ and ESL. BFET partners closely with our Community Based Organizations to train students that can then effectively seek employment with our partners. BFET at Edmonds Community College can provide tuition, books, EdPass and childcare.
Grays Harbor College
Grays Harbor College’s BFET program supports students who are receiving basic food assistance in Grays Harbor and Pacific Counties as they work to gain the education and skills that lead to good jobs. Grays Harbor College degrees and certificates are designed for students whose primary goal is to enter the job market after completion. High School Equivalency, GED, and classes for English as Second Language learners are also provided. BFET Program Services include education, skills training, case management, and support services to Basic Food recipients not participating in the states Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program.
Green River College
The Green River College BFET program assists qualifying students with tuition, fees and books for BFET approved career and technical (Non-Transfer) education programs, basic education (math, literacy, GED®, preparation) and/or vocational ESL(English as a Second Language) instruction and High School completion to increase their employment opportunities. In addition, BFET eligible students might be eligible for a childcare subsidy through the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS).
Highline College
Highline College offers training for career pathways in ART, DESIGN, and COMMUNICATION; BUSINESS; EDUCATION and LIBRARY SERVICES; HEALTH and WELLNESS; SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING & MATHEMATICS (STEM); SOCIAL SCIENCES, HUMAN SERVICES and LAW. Both Highline’s certificates and two-year Associates of Applied Sciences degrees are BFET eligible programs. Highline also offers ESL, ABE, and GED courses which are also supported by BFET. Located in Des Moines, WA, Highline’s BFET program provides limited resources towards tuition, books, parking/orca card and other services towards training for employment. Please visit our Workforce website https://workforce.highline.edu/index.php for orientation information for BFET.
Lake Washington Institute of Technology (LWTech)
LWTech is part of the Washington state community and technical colleges, located in Kirkland, WA. We offer 100 professional-technical degree and certificate programs, and more than 40 diverse programs ranging from engineering graphics, welding, and nursing to computer technology, culinary arts, and digital gaming and media. Click on the link for a complete list of our program options: https://www.lwtech.edu/explore_our_programs/
The BFET program at LWTech serves federal food assistance recipients who are students in either basic skills (ABE, ESL, GED, HS21+) courses or enrolled in professional-technical programs that prepare students for employment.
Services may include:
· book and supply assistance (up to $250/quarter)
· childcare assistances through Working Connections Childcare
· Individualized career and educational advising through an assigned advisor/case manager
· financial aid navigation for tuition and living expenses, which includes referring students to other funding sources and scholarship opportunities
· personal support, goal setting, barrier removal, and problem solving
· Referrals to free college resources, including counseling, disability support, tutoring, library services, veterans center, and employment services
· Referrals to community based resources
North Seattle College
The BFET program assists recipients of federal Basic Food Assistance by providing funding for career training, GED, high school completion, or English as a Second Language classes to increase their opportunities for employment.
If you qualify, you may receive funding for tuition, textbooks, and a parking permit or ORCA transit pass if funding is available. You may be eligible for the Basic Food Employment and Training program if you are receiving federal Basic Food Assistance from DSHS and not receiving TANF cash assistance. Workforce Education will need to obtain DSHS approval before funding can be awarded.
Take the Start Next Quarter survey to find out if you pre-qualify for the Basic Food Employment and Training program and the other Workforce Education tuition assistance programs.
Olympic College
Olympic College offers the Basic Food Employment and Training program as a resource to students receiving Basic Food Assistance. The program helps students maintain vital services such as food stamps and child care subsidy while pursuing a career-focused professional-technical degree or certificate. BFET participants may also qualify for assistance with tuition, books and other fees related to education and employment in their chosen field.
Peninsula College
The Peninsula College BFET program aims at providing services to individuals that meet the Washington State BFET requirements for participation. During a student’s time on the Peninsula College BFET program, we help guide them to an educational pathway, navigate the college system, assist in addressing barriers that hinder success, set goals for employment, and track progress towards those goals.
Pierce College
Students enrolled in the BFET program at Pierce College receive one-on-one academic, financial and college planning support from the Workforce Development team. This team is committed to assisting students from enrollment to graduation and provides funding and wrap-around support services including college navigation, career exploration, advising, resource connections and retention.
For a list of eligible Profession/Technical programs visit: https://www.pierce.ctc.edu/proftech. Pierce College BFET also serves students earning the basic education credentials of GED, High School 21+ and ESL.
Services may include:
- Childcare assistance through DSHS Working Connections Childcare
- Individualized career and educational advising through an assigned advisor
- Personal support, goal setting, barrier removal, and problem solving
- Labor market information and career strategies.
- Referrals to free college resources, including counseling, Access and Disability Services, tutoring, library services, the Veterans center, and employment services
- Referrals to community based resources
To find out if you pre-qualify for the BFET program, visit https://startnextquarter.org/ and select “Pierce College”.
Renton Technical College
See info at https://www.rtc.edu/BFET
Shoreline Community College
The BFET program provides assistance with training costs at Shoreline Community College to eligible individuals currently receiving DSHS Basic Food Assistance (Federal). The college's additional eligibility requires you to be enrolled in a Professional/Technical program or in an ESL, ABE or GED program (Transfer Degree programs are not eligible) and to be a resident of the state of Washington as determined by the college.
Types of Assistance
· Tuition and fees
· Textbooks and required class supplies
· Transportation (bus pass or parking permit)
· Testing fees
· Priority registration for classes
· Some students may qualify for childcare assistance from DSHS while enrolled as a student in the BFET program
Take the Start Next Quarter survey to find out if you pre-qualify for the Basic Food Employment and Training program and the other Workforce Education tuition assistance programs.
Skagit Valley College
Skagit Valley College’s BFET program provides educational training for low income students receiving federally-issued Basic Food Assistance. BFET students can receive funding to pursue professional/technical pathways, basic education and career exploration. BFET can assist eligible students with tuition, fees, books and other educational expenses. BFET students meet with a BFET coordinator for educational goal setting, educational financial planning and degree completion planning. Childcare referrals through Working Childcare Connections and Basic Food referrals are also available to BFET eligible students.
Spokane Community Colleges
Founded in 1963, Community Colleges of Spokane (CCS) is a dynamic community college district serving some 30,000 students a year, spread across a 12,300-square-mile service district in Eastern Washington. CCS is a community college district comprised of two accredited colleges, Spokane Community College and Spokane Falls Community College. In addition to serving a large urban and suburban population in greater Spokane, the district provides educational services to rural communities; including: Stevens, Whitman, Ferry, and Pend Oreille Counties, as well as portions of Lincoln County. Eleven percent of all CCS students are employed full-time.
CCS’s BFET program assists students in connecting Basic Food Assistant eligible individuals to basic education, vocational training, career services, job preparation, and support services through case management. Individualized plans are created for each student to ensure success. The CCS program also strongly partners with area Community-Based Organizations such as the Homeless Coalition, which is made up of a large network of non-profit organizations in the Spokane area, the YWCA, and Fulcrum Institute a Dispute Resolution Clinic.
Tacoma Community College
A part of the community for 50 years, Tacoma Community College works to provide the best education and opportunities to our students and is an open door to training for low income individuals needing employment. Workforce programs (including BFET) are designed to help connect individuals to the right career path. We provide funding and wrap around support services including college navigation, career exploration, advising, resource connections and retention - from entry through completion. Students can come to one workshop to connect to the program(s) best designed to provide the most support. We enroll individuals needing:
Professional Technical Training - TCC has more than 35 degrees and certificates in the fields of Accounting, Business, Early Childhood Education, Information Technology, Health Care, Human Services and Paralegal
Pre-college Skills to Prepare You for Career Training- High school completion options, basic skills or English as a Second Language
Job Skills Training - Specific skills needed to gain employment such as computer training
Whatcom Community College
Whatcom Community College is a regionally and nationally accredited two-year college with an accomplished faculty and staff who serve 11,000 students annually. On its 72-acre campus in Bellingham, WA, and through online courses, Whatcom offers transfer degrees, professional and technical training programs, as well as basic education, job skills, and Community & Continuing Education classes. According to the Aspen Institute (2012 and 2014), WCC is rated among the top six community and technical colleges in the state and recognized as one of the leading community colleges in the nation. Whatcom Community College provides BFET-eligible clients:
- Individual advising appointments to establish academic and career pathways, including skills & interest assessments, mentoring and assistance with resources to mitigate barriers.
- Collaboration with DSHS to support students with basic food and Working Connections Childcare eligibility.
- Labor market information, career strategies and program information sessions for WCC professional/technical programs.
- Provide case management including on-campus referrals, as appropriate, to accessibility support, workforce funding, technical support, tutoring, scholarships, and more.
- Provide referrals, as appropriate, to off-campus resources including housing, support funding, scholarships, social and mental health services.
- Assist with coordinating internships, work study positions, job search strategies, interviewing techniques, labor market research, online profiles, and more.
Yakima Valley Community College
Yakima Valley Community College works alongside DSHS to provide services for Basic Food (also known as food stamps) recipients in Washington State. Service may include tuition assistance, childcare subsidy, job search training, and assistance in meeting requirements to maintain eligibility as a basic food assistance.