As a consulting service, 4DECS is dedicated to assisting counselors and educators with integrating culturally responsive tools and practices into the college planning process. Our lead consultant, Kerrie Troseth, has been a licensed school counselor since 1999 and now has focused her work exclusively on Native American youth.

Kerrie recognized that many popular college search tools and resources did not consider supportive cultural factors in the college planning process. This can make it difficult for Native American youth to identify supportive colleges and resources for their college journey.  Unable to find culturally relevant college tools for Native youth, Kerrie advocated for the development of an online college planning platform that acknowledged Native American culture and utilized cultural, protective factors.

Over the course of two years and through extensive research and networking, CollegeBound Journey™ was created to support our own clients; however, we quickly realized the broader impact the platform could have if provided to a wider audience. In 2022, CollegeBound Journey™  was made available to schools, Indian Education Programs, Tribal Education Departments, College Access Partners, and families.