Food stamp partner program arrives at EvCC
Jamei June
Issue date: 1/29/10 Section: Features
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BFET stands for: basic food, employment and training. Ronda Hansen, EvCC's program support supervisor and BFET coordinator, sums up it up as a "food stamp program."
If a student is on food stamps, BFET can assist with a variety of needs. For example, students on food stamps through DSHS are required to work 20 hours a week if they are attending school.
"The big thing is (students) have to work 20 hours, unless they're in this program," Hansen said. "It waves the working requirement for single people that want to go to school and waves the requirement for parents who have children and want to go back to school."
Students are able to focus more on attendance and schoolwork than required work. It also helps students with families be able to focus on their dependents while going to college.
Another big thing that BFET assists with is childcare referrals. Students may be able to get assistance with childcare, not just from EvCC's childcare service but also throughout Everett.
Potentially, it can help students on food stamps with books, tuition, childcare referrals, transportation and other support services, such as emergency utility bills.
140 students are enrolled in the program as of winter quarter, but there is still capacity for more to apply.
BFET was granted to EvCC on Oct. 1, 2009.
The Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Services funds BFET.
By helping students with several services they need, the program hopes to help them with later employment. The allowable costs include GED testing, job search, support service and administrative costs. At the end of the program, students can even receive an outfit for their interviews.
Last year was the first time Everett Community College had applied for the grant due to limited staffing. EvCC plans to continue applying for the federal program. Other colleges around the area, such as Shoreline and Edmonds Community College, already have been accessing the program. "DSHS refers students here as do other colleges," Hansen said. In the past, some students had to transfer to those colleges for the help BFET provides, but now are able to re-enroll at EvCC since it's received the program.
The main services that are available now are transportation help, such as possible buss passes, and childcare referrals. In the fall, tuition and book support services will be available.
There is no minimum credit requirement and students do not have to attend full-time to receive assistance. They just have to be on food stamps.
For more information contact Ronda Hansen directly at rhansen@everettcc.edu or visit her office in the Parks Student Union, room 341.
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