UNITED WAY OF THURSTON COUNTY HAS SHIFTED ITS STRATEGIC PLAN TO IDENTIFYING FOCUS AREAS TO BRING LASTING CHANGE. UWTC FOCUS AREAS ARE HEALTH, EDUCATION, FINANCIAL STABILITY, AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE SUPPORT.NO SINGLE STRATEGY, PROGRAM OR ORGANIZATION CAN ACCOMPLISH THESE GOALS ALONE. UNITED WAY OF THURSTON COUNTY FORMED THE EDUCATION TO FINANCIAL STABILITY TASKFORCE IN 2019. VIA THE TASKFORCE, UWTC IS PARTNERED WITH SPSCC AND THE THURSTON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICTS. BORN FROM THE TASKFORCE: THE CAREER AND RESOURCE NAVIGATOR PROGRAM. NAVIGATORS ASSIST HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, AND THEIR FAMILIES TO NAVIGATE FAFSA/WAFSA TO COMPLETION. THE NAVIGATOR PROGRAM HAS HELPED NEARLY 500 STUDENTS ENROLL IN COLLEGE AND POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION. NAVIGATORS ASSIST STUDENTS AND FAMILIES TO QUALIFY FOR FINANCIAL AID AND CHOOSE THEIR NEXT STEP IN THE EDUCATION PROCESS.