Our Work: Navigation Support for First‑Generation and Immigrant Families
Anchored Pathways walks with first‑generation and immigrant families as you make decisions about school, training, and work. Our Navigation Course and 1:1 support slow the process down so you can compare options, ask questions in plain language, and leave with a realistic plan you feel good about.
What we focus on
- FAFSA & financial aid (FAFSA/TASFA, FSA IDs, deadlines, and common mistakes).
- Education & career pathways (workforce training, community college, and university options).
- Starting again as an adult learner (GED/ESL, returning to school, or changing careers).
- Workforce training & microcredentials (short programs that lead to better jobs and higher wages).
Course Details: The Navigation Course Journey
Anchored Pathways offers one primary Navigation Course designed to help individuals and families build confidence in education and career decision-making.
The course focuses on navigation skills: learning how to compare options, understand tradeoffs, and make realistic plans using plain language and practical tools.
Participants move through a 4-week Core Series, with the option to continue into a 4-week Lab for deeper practice and support.
01. 4-Week Core Navigation Series (Weeks 1–4)
The Core Series is designed to normalize confusion and reduce overwhelm.
Together, participants:
• Make sense of complex options in plain language
• Compare costs, time, and energy realistically
• Map one viable pathway forward
By the end of four weeks, participants leave with:
• One realistic pathway mapped
• A 30-day plan they can actually follow
There is no expectation of perfection or certainty — only progress that fits real life.
02. Optional 4-Week Navigation Lab (Weeks 5–8)
The optional Navigation Lab is for participants who want more time to practice decisions with support.
In the Lab, participants:
• Rehearse real-world decisions
• Work through time and money tradeoffs
• Learn how to use digital tools wisely, as support rather than requirements
Participants leave with:
• A 90-day plan
• A clear “permission to pivot” strategy if plans need to change
Low-Tech, Bilingual, and Built for Real Life
The Navigation Course is designed to work with the tools families already have.
• Materials work on paper or basic smartphones
• Available in English and Spanish
• Missing a session is normal — one-page recaps and optional check-ins support continuity without pressure
Nothing is tracked.
Nothing is graded.
Support is available without creating more work.
Tools for Decision-Making
Printable guides and simple digital tools support each stage of the Navigation Course.
These tools are optional and designed to:
• Clarify thinking
• Support reflection
• Help participants explain decisions to family or employers
They are meant to serve participants — not evaluate them.
Extra Layers of Support
Our personalized 1:1 sessions provide an extra layer of support for your navigation journey. Sessions use the same phone‑friendly tools and guides as the course to help you finalize your own clear, realistic plan.
Nuestras sesiones personalizadas individuales brindan una capa adicional de apoyo para su proceso de navegación. Las sesiones utilizan las mismas herramientas y guías aptas para teléfonos que el curso para ayudarlo a finalizar su propio plan claro y realista.
Missing a session is normal. You can always get a one-page recap handout or a quick catch-up by text.