About Educational Advocates for Districts

The NWESD provides Educational Advocates who focus on student academic, social/emotional, and physical health in order to overcome barriers that prevent student success in school. Advocates serve students re-entering their community and school settings from the judicial system as well as students who have been identified by schools as potential dropouts.

The Heart of Our Work

Program Goal

Reduce the rate of recidivism or return to confinement.

Objectives

Expand support and coordination for youth transitioning out of the juvenile justice facilities and assist youth to overcome barriers to re-engaging in school and work.

Target Outcomes

High School Diploma, GED, return and engage in school, enroll in post-secondary education, or job training programs and employment.

Services

Meets with youth to screen for behavioral health, social, and environmental supports. Identifies youth strengths and educational or vocational goals.

Tiered case management services starting with intensive services (weekly), moderate-intensity (monthly), and low intensity (quarterly). Youth may move up and down the intensity tiers based on need.

Youth may continue to work with an Educational Advocate beyond high school until they are 21 years old.

Support overcoming barriers in re-entry such as enrolling in school or identifying alternative education programs. The Education Advocate does not judge youth for their circumstances—but works to support their needs and foster success.

The Education Advocate collaborates with youth to create success plans for re-entry into their school and community. They also assist with goal planning for school, college, or vocational goals.

The Education Advocate can coordinate care and goals with the youth, their family, their school, probation, counselors, or other professionals involved in supporting their goals.

The Education Advocate can facilitate referrals to community resources for basic needs, mental health, substance use treatment, housing, prosocial activities, etc.

The Educational Advocate can support individuals in developing interpersonal skills, technical skills, social supports, and environmental protective factors.

The Educational Advocate can utilize a strengths-based approach and recognize the progress youth make on their individual success plans. The Educational Advocate maintains regular contact with youth, enhances motivation, and, with consent, highlights progress to teachers, probation, and service providers

FAQs

The NWESD’s Educational Advocates are community-based. They will travel to meet with youth at school, juvenile detention, local agencies, and community spaces. Phone and video meetings are also available.

The Educational Advocates work with youth 5-21 years old. Youth my continue to work with their Educational Advocate beyond high school for support entering college or getting a job.

The Educational Advocate (EA) will contact the youth and/or family to introduce themselves, describe the services offered, and offer to begin services. Next, the EA will complete an intake questionnaire and strengths survey to learn what barriers the youth faces and what strengths they have that will help them achieve their goals. Together, the youth and EA create SMART goals for re-entry and success plans. The youth and EA will continue to meet weekly or monthly to work on these goals.

Referrals come from Educational Advocates in JRA facilities, transition facilitators, teachers, probation officers, community providers, or families and youth directly.

Complete the referral form or contact the Educational Advocate for more information at 360-298-0155 or eleblanc@nwesd.org.

Contact Us

Emily LeBlanc
Educational Advocate

LeTisha Spotted Eagle
Educational Advocate

Referrals

To request a referral email