Highline Community College's Workforce Development Services is offering a new program that helps students in financial need go to college.
The Basic Food Employment & Training (BFET) program helps needy students with a variety of college-related expenses, including tuition and fees. The program does not train workers for the food industry.
"For many students, just getting their college career started can be an incredible challenge," said Erik Tingelstad, director of Highline's Workforce Development Services. "Basic Food Employment & Training helps qualified new and existing students eliminate those barriers.
"BFET can serve as a financial bridge until the student can return to work or make the transition to traditional financial aid."
BFET is open to students who receive benefits through the state Department of Social & Health Services' Basic Food program, a food and nutrition program for low-income individuals and families.
Income-eligible students can receive short-term assistance through BFET for tuition, books, fees, bus passes and child care assistance.
Students have to be enrolled in Adult Basic Education (ABE), English as a Second Language (ESL) or GED classes, or a Professional-Technical Education program.
Marybeth McCarthy, a funding adviser for BFET at Highline, creates an employment plan with each student that includes a career assessment and reviewing previous work experience and skills.
"We can create a plan looking at the assessments and the local labor market that should move them into an occupation that would support their household," McCarthy said.
Basic Food benefits are based on a family's size and income.
Eligibility rules changed on Oct. 1 and food benefits are now available to people with an income at or below 200 percent of the poverty level.
For a family a four, that means an income of $42,400 or less.
For more information or to apply for BFET funds, call 206-878-3710, extension 3804, or visit http://flightline.highline.edu/workforce/.
The BFET office is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays in Building 6, room 214.
For more information or to apply for Washington state's Basic Food program, call 877-514-FOOD or visit http://foodhelp.wa.gov/.
