Access our student homelessness trainings.

In 2025, Building Changes is pleased to offer virtual trainings for homeless student liaisons, school building staff, and community-based organizations in Washington State to help them better support students and families experiencing homelessness.

Upcoming Trainings in 2025:

• Know Your Rights: Student Discipline
  Monday, September 15 | 12:00-2:00pm Pacific Time
  With our partners at the South King County Discipline Coalition, we will cover how school discipline works, including suspensions, expulsions, and in-school removals. This training breaks down student rights during the discipline process and what schools are legally required to do before removing a child from class. Families leave knowing how to ask the right questions, document what’s happening, and hold schools accountable to ensure discipline is fair and not discriminatory.
  Register here
• Motivational Interviewing
  Wednesday, September 17 | 12:30pm Pacific Time
  With our partners at the Institute for Individual and Organizational Change, we will cover the fundamentals of motivational interviewing and behavior change. This approach helps professionals learn how to build sustainable and long-term behavior change through effective communication.
  Register here
• Know Your Rights: Discipline Appeals
  Monday, October 27 | 10:00-11:30am Pacific Time
  With our partners at TeamChild, we will provide step-by-step guidance on how to appeal disciplinary decisions such as suspensions or expulsions. Covers timelines, how to submit appeals, and what families should expect in a hearing. Families gain confidence to challenge unfair decisions, protect their child’s education, and use the appeals process as a tool for advocacy. 
  Register here
• Tenant Rights Training
  Wednesday, October 29 | 10:00am-12:00pm Pacific Time
  With our partners at Solid Ground’s Tenant Services department, we will cover the basics of tenant’s rights. There will be time for Q & A with tenant rights experts.
  Register here
• IEP/504 Advocate Training
  Tuesday, December 2 | 11:00am-1:00pm Pacific Time
  With our partners TeamChild, we will break down the difference between an Individualized Education Program (IEP) and a 504 Plan. This training teaches families how to request evaluations, secure accommodations, and work effectively with school staff. Families leave with practical tools to advocate for services that help their child succeed and with knowledge of how to enforce their child’s special education rights.
  Register here

To find recordings of our past trainings, see 2021-2023 Response to Student Homelessness Training Series