Student and Family Support Resources

• Native Community-Based Organizations
• Attention Middle School Parents: Free Orca Cards! All SPS Middle Schoolers are eligible for a fully-subsidized ORCA card regardless of income. This year, you can use your Orca card, student ID, or let the bus driver know you’re a minor. This may change in 2023 to require identification.

• Right Now Needs Fund: Gift cards for food, clothing, gas, school supplies, reimbursement for bills, rental and utility assistance and more.
• Community Hub Resource Center: provides assistance with navigating housing, healthcare, transportation, child care, utilities and more. Call directly 206-789-7800, extension 4, email financialassistance@ballardfoodbank.org, or visit in person Mondays & Thursdays 10-6:45pm or Tuesdays & Wednesdays 10-3:45pm.
• Internet Support: Low cost internet for Seattle residents.  Let us know if you are in need of a hotspot (meaning no internet access at home).  We can also use our Right Now Needs Fund to help you pay your internet bill if you are having trouble covering this.
• Weekly Food Program: Ballard Food Bank provides food bags we distribute to students every Friday, which usually include snacks, meals, and some produce.  Please let me know if you’re interested (along with any dietary or cultural restrictions).
• FEEST Seattle Free Groceries for Families with Students at FEEST Schools Families with students at Chief Sealth, Evergreen, Rainier Beach, and Tyee High Schools can request FREE groceries delivered to their homes. All you have to do is fill out an online form with your shopping list, contact information, and when you would like your delivery.
• Fresh Bucks Food vouchers provide $40 a month for fresh produce at local farmers markets or Safeway stores
• Emergency Feeding Program drive-thru pre-packed bags, no sign up or identification required
• Eviction Prevention help from King County Boys and Girls Club. Contact your local King County Boys and Girls Club location for more information
• Housing, Immigration, and General Resources
• Emerald City Resource Guide type in what you’re looking for and be connected to services in Seattle

Academic Support

• Attention 4th Grade Families: Work with Rainier Scholars! Rainier Scholars is an amazing 12-year program that provides high support and structure for students starting in 4th grade through the beginning years of college
  • Applicants must: identify as a student of color, currently be enrolled in 4th grade, and attend a school in the Seattle, Renton, and Highline districts.
  •  Parent Info Session Calendar
  • Admissions and Applications
• Tutoring
  • Seattle Tutoring Coalition sponsors and organizes training for tutors and those helping students
  • Seattle Public Library offers on-site homework help and online tutoring for free
  • Tutor.com: K – 12 students in Seattle can get free virtual tutoring from Tutor.com with a Library card or Library Link number. Live English and Spanish tutors are available from 2 to 10 p.m. daily. Vietnamese tutors are available from 4 to 7 p.m.

Mental Health

• Supports
  • As of December 2022, Charlie Health is currently accepting new clients! Charlie Health works with teens and young adults. They accept major commercial insurance providers as well as Medicaid. Please email emgartner@seattleschools.org if you’d like me to send a referral.
  • Sound Mental Health makes on-site visits and still has a few openings available, contact emgartner@seattleschools.org if interested in a referral.
  • Lunch bunch social skills groups are underway and will rotate out each six weeks 
  • Our partnership with UW’s school psychology program has begun and includes on-site support
  • SPU graduate school counselor intern
  • Mental Health supports around King County
  • SPS Mental Health Services page provides a list of providers who work with us.
  • We use Second Step, RULER, and elements of Character Strong in Advisory, classroom social-emotional learning lessons, and ASB leadership