Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Through Coaching and Navigation: Insights from Convening Panelists

Human Services programs across the country are using coaching and navigation to help participants seek upward mobility. Coaches and navigators partner with participants to increase their opportunities to thrive in education, work, and life, and achieve their personal and economic goals. In response to the need for advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the provision of coaching and navigation services, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation partnered with Mathematica to conduct two virtual convenings in July 2021. The first convening included perspectives from leaders of programs that offered coaching and navigation to people seeking upward economic mobility. The second convening included perspectives and experiences from coaches, navigators, and participants in these programs. Both convenings included panelists from three coaching and navigation programs serving adults receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), unemployed workers, and youth.

This brief presents insights shared by panelists during the convenings and our suggestions for how funders can advance DEI within these programs. These insights can inform other coaching and navigation programs on how they might consider advancing DEI in their own programs and how program funders might support their efforts.