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High School
NAYA Family Center has provided community leadership and advocacy concerning student education since 1996. The local AI/AN community is well aware of the crisis our community faces from falling behind educationally. AI/AN youth are over-represented in the juvenile justice system, are at high-risk for substance abuse, live in poverty, are transient, drop out of school in increasing numbers and continue to fall behind in math and science benchmarks.
In response, NAYA Family Center has developed and offers a program to help AI/AN high school students succeed in school, successfully complete high school, and transition into post-secondary education such as community college, university and trade schools.
NAYA Family Center is committed to raising graduation rates and academic performance of Native American students through academic support, advocacy and strong cultural identity and to improve and foster student educational success and achievement through cultural understanding and reinforcement and teach life skills needed for a healthy adulthood. NAYA Family Center wants students to develop into self-sufficient individuals by providing educational and life skills support.
High School Program Services: The high school program provides a variety of academic, artistic, social and recreational opportunities for students throughout the year to help them reach their full potential. A "hands on" approach is used as much as possible, as research has shown that Native American children learn best when educational activities have direct relevance to their day- to-day lives. Activities also incorporate Native American history and culture into activities to strengthen the self-esteem of youth. Program services and activities include:
* Individual case management and advocacy in order to decrease barriers and increase access for the youth to attend community, state and national post-secondary educational programs.
* Educational support to students is given in the form of an on site NAYA Family Center tutoring center, use of a computer lab and supplemental academic programming with the aim of improved learning skill and closing the achievement gap of Native students.
* The students and parents receive services including education assessment, transcript evaluation, high school credit planning, tutoring, school advocacy and teacher-parent conferences.
* The program identifies appropriate opportunities, possible barriers, and then assists the student and family to develop an Individual Education Plan (IEP) which directs the student to programs, services or educational opportunities to improve.
* College Visits are planned and scheduled throughout the year to provide students with opportunities to become familiar with local colleges and universities and campus life in general.
* Parents and families receive services such as parent advocacy classes and emergency family support.
* Special programming includes: Summer Institute at Portland Community College (PCC): A special educational summer break program to keep youth actively engaged in learning between school sessions. The program emphasizes math, science, and reading along with a strong cultural component.
Program Staff
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