Unforeseen financial emergencies are reported as one of the top reasons community college students drop out of school. Whether it is tending to a medical bill, car repairs, or a reduction in work hours, these financial emergencies contribute to high attrition rates and affect college persistence rates. In this session, participants will learn about Dreamkeepers, a replicable model program currently at 31 colleges, that uses emergency assistance grants, financial literacy education, and institutional capacity-building strategies to help colleges develop sustainable financial emergency assistance programs that enhance student persistence.