technical assistance

We provide guidance in strengthening and building postsecondary navigation programs.

Since 2020, Northwest Education Access has been equipping service providers with best practices, tools, and resources to help students transition to and persist in postsecondary education. We provide consulting, training, and resources to support organizations and educational institutions in developing and strengthening programs that open pathways to higher education and career success. Every student deserves this support, and we believe it becomes widely accessible only through collaboration. That’s why we remain committed to providing ongoing partnership and guidance to the organizations we work with.

training topics

Our trainings are customized to meet the specific needs of participants and can be delivered virtually or in person, for both large and small groups. Each session is accompanied by a toolkit of resources and best practices.

    • Understand the common themes behind what causes youth disengagement from education 

    • Define white supremacy culture norms and understand the negative impacts they can have on youth

    • Critically examine ways that white supremacy culture norms can show up in working with youth

    • Learn antidotes to white supremacy culture norms and investigate how to apply them in your work to build supportive and youth-centered relationships 

    • Learn what students say about reengaging with education and how to help them succeed

    • Become knowledgeable of the various higher education pathways available (apprenticeships, degrees, certifications, etc) 

    • Learn multiple ways that youth can explore their career interests and program options

    • Become familiar with online career exploration tools

    • Learn what youth should know in order to make a fully informed decision on which education and career pathway is best for them

    • Identify how to apply an antiracist and youth-centered approach in assisting youth through the exploration process

    • Become familiar with all steps of the college admissions and enrollment process

    • Understand how to use NWEdA’s precollege timeline as a tool for supporting students and ensuring transparency and clarity on the enrollment process

    • Learn tips and best practices for supporting students through each step of the admissions and enrollment process 

  • Applying for Financial Aid (Part 1)

    • Understand what the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA) are and what funding is available through each application

    • Learn how to assist youth in determining which application to fill out

    • Understand the process for completing the FAFSA and WASFA from start to finish

    • Learn tips and best practices for filling out the FAFSA and WASFA

    Securing Financial Aid (Part 2)

    • Dispel common myths and misconceptions about financial aid

    • Learn what the WASFA and FAFSA are and who is eligible to apply

    • Understand who qualifies as an independent or dependent student and what this means for their financial aid 

    • Become familiar with financial aid estimation tools

    • Learn about different types of financial aid including grants, scholarships, and loans 

    • Know how to prepare and respond to financial aid verification requests

    • Understand how to interpret a financial aid award and accept or reject aid offered

    • Know how the process for securing financial aid fits within the the larger college enrollment process and NWEdA’s precollege timeline

    Maintaining and Reinstating Financial Aid (PART 3)

    • Understand what Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is and how it relates to maintaining financial aid

    • Learn what could cause a student to lose their financial aid or owe money

    • Learn interventions and best practices for helping students maintain their aid

    • Understand the financial aid reinstatement appeal process and how to support a student through it

    • Learn tips and best practices for maintaining communication 

    • Learn how to be a resource for students facing academic or life challenges 

    • Learn how to support students with navigating academic disruptions 

    • Learn how to assist students with reenrollment 

    • Explore opportunities to leverage relationships in your community to support students in making strong transitions to and persisting through postsecondary

    • Utilize NWEdA’s Student Support Inventory to assess for assets and gaps in current support provided

    • Investigate what resources and services offered in your community could help address program gaps

    • Discover the many ways community partners can collaborate to help students succeed 

Consultation services

Direct Service

We assist in troubleshooting student scenarios, bridging connections to on-campus and community resources, facilitating collaborative learning sessions, and offering follow-up guidance on implementing the best practices and tools from our trainings.

Program Design & Implementation

We serve as thought partners in refining existing service models and developing new programs. Through our technical assistance, we aim to strengthen and expand the support available to young people as they pursue their education and career goals.

Interested in learning more?

Take a look at our Resource Guide, The Power of Supportive Relationships: A Student-Centered Approach to Postsecondary Success, to learn more about our organization, our approach, and our technical assistance offerings.

Contact us at community@nweducationaccess.org!

Our Partners

partner testimonials

  • “Bringing in the experiences from specific students was very interested! Seeing how we use our language to support a student in a way that makes the most to them as an individual”

  • “The student experiences [shared] were great! It gave my team and I something tangible to build off of.”

  • “I really appreciate this training and conversation. It is so valuable. Access to higher education is really a “whole campus” commitment and responsibility. "

  • “Excellent workshop, perfectly paced and good balance between interactivity vs. conveying information.”

  • “This was informative and engaging."

  • "Very informative, gave some interactive breaks, answered questions thoroughly, topics were relevant."