NAYA Family Center
February 2014 Board Report
Youth & Education Services Department:
Cori Matthew, Director of Youth & Education Services
Success Stories: Youth Advocate – Valerie Nelson
Have been working with youth and family for over 4 years while student has been concentrating on education and sports, family has struggled paying sports fees. Youth has worked very hard to achieve a 3.5 GPA needed for admissions into St Mary’s Academy. Upon entering into high school we sat down to create a plan to increase study habits to assist with grades which will allow her to play sports, she is involved in track and field-shot put and discus. Youth is awesome! Coach will be awarding her with a three year scholarship which will pay for education; however there are still plenty of fees still involved. She is not yet in competition but needs a personal trainer during the summer. We will be searching for any sport grants that may be offered or any free training during the off season as well. Looking for any suggestions or ideas to further support youth for this awesome support!
Program updates
Youth Advocates:
Youth Advocates have a total caseload of 193, 20 more than last month for the month of February. There were 13 referrals received and 54 Schools receiving services and outreach. The Youth Advocates have been providing services and or outreach to youth in schools where services were either provided in the school for Tutoring, Mentoring, Native Games, and Case Management based on the youth’s overall needs.
Ø Advocacy Needs/Communication with Directors and Board of Directors:
Alex: Early College Academy needs a contract with Reynolds District to reach out to more native youth and youth that need the extra support.
Lee-Ann: More resources are needed for our Native American/Alaskan Native clients in need of energy and housing assistance to create stability for our youth and families.
Learning Center:
This month, 66 youth logged a total of 489.25 hours in the Learning Center for tutoring/education services over twelve days of operation. We’ve currently served 95 students this school year. Over 90% of these students are self-identified Native American youth. Over 80% of the Learning Center youth are on the free and reduced lunch program. Over 10% of the Learning Center youth are in the foster care system.
Through February the Learning Center students are comprised of 50 students from the K through 5th grades, 35 from the 6th through 8th grades, and 10 from the 9th-12th grades. These students in total represent 27 elementary schools, 16 middle schools, and 8 high schools in the greater Portland area.
We served students throughout the Portland Metropolitan area. The majority of our students came from Northeast, Southeast, and North Portland. We also served youth from east Multnomah County. The majority of our students come from households below the poverty line.
This month we scheduled over 72 students for after-school transportation to receive Learning Center services and additional wrap-around services. Our transportation program is currently serving twenty-seven schools in the Portland Public, Gresham, and David Douglas. We logged 108 hours transporting students to NAYA for wrap around services. These students logged 483.75 hours, primarily in the Learning Center. Our Efforts to Outcomes database systems calculated a 448% return on investment from our transportation services from NAYA wrap around services.
During February we had 14 volunteers working with our youth. We have on average three volunteers each day helping youth with homework and sharing in reading and art activities. This month we saw an increase in art projects amongst youth as we’ve made more resources and space available for students to create. Students continue to be very active during our gym time and in addition to the exercise they’re getting we’ve also seen improvements in specific athletic skills. Our staff and volunteers have done a great job playing sports with students each day.
Gang Intervention/Outreach:
For the month of February, NAYA Family Center Gang Outreach (GO) program is continuing its focus and support at local hotspots and events that are geared towards gang affected youth and young adults. Traditionally February is usually a mild month month as for GVRT’s then it picks up as the weather becomes warmer. For the end of month of February 2013 the GVRT count was at 9. This year (2014) for February is at 10 (there were 2 this month and both were shootings in the east county past 122nd). Despite the short spike in GVRT for the month NAYA gang outreach has continued to retain the high amount of contacts to known gang members and their associates. For the month of February there have been a total of 404 contacts. Within the amount of contact there were a total of 179 youth referrals (some contacts received more than one referral). NAYA GO as well as other Gang Outreach workers from other agencies is still reporting a high level of hostile behavior and activity amongst younger gang members in the east county area mostly along the blue line max rail from Holladay Park/Lloyd center to 190th/Burnside. NAYA GO is still continuing to make referrals to SARC and CSEC because a strong increase in human trafficking victims who have ties to gang. Amongst the referrals several food and clothing boxes were made and delivered to gang impacted families as well as electricity assistance. NAYA GO is still continuing its strong focus in the surrounding neighborhoods surrounding NAYA Family Center which include The Cully and King neighborhoods. Much of what NAYA GO has accomplished is with the effort and collaboration of its other Gang Outreach partners POIC and the GIFT Program. Other partners include PPB, DCJ, and Portland Park Rangers. This type of collaboration has given NAYA GO a chance to also focus individually on some clients/families more intensely who have been affected by gang activity. Even though NAYA GO attention is consistently shifting, we have maintained efforts in the north and northeast Portland metro area around the St Johns Woods apartment complex and Montavilla neighborhoods where gang activity is still being reported. This month NAYA is still continuing groups with the NAYA ECA and Helensview students. This year marks the 5th straight year NAYA GO has been doing groups inside Helensview. Helensview Principle Kris Person has expressed her upmost appreciation. In addition to the two groups NAYA Gang Outreach is continuing to provide a cultural specific skill building group inside the Oregon State Penitentiary. This has been a great collaboration through the Department of Corrections and the Oregon State Penitentiary Chaplin department. The OSP group is the main reason why NAYA GO has seen a high increase in adult contacts. All Gang Outreach missions are still being coordinated by the Portland Police Department and the Office of Youth Violence Prevention. NAYA Gang Outreach has also provided “street level” outreach to other specific “hot spots” at all major trafficked Portland Parks, Portland Parks & Rec’s Teen Night events, major gang related concerts, and the majority of Tri-met Green Max Line.
Cultural Arts:
Our art classes in the academy are working on beadwork. Contemporary Art is focusing on making a beaded medallion. Native Art is working on loomwork bracelets and items for the Academy Luncheon. Our Storytelling class has been focusing on telling stories through photography. They are entering photos into a contest for Northwest Health Foundation titled “Health Belongs To Everyone”. We have gone over how the cameras operate, how to choose different angles for pictures and black and white vs. color photographs.
Our Native Club is working on creating pottery that has Native designs incorporated into them and will either sell or raffle them to fundraise for an end of the year field trip. Each student is encouraged to choose a design from their tribe to incorporate on the pottery. They are very excited to do the research using the art books and magazines we have the Cultural Arts classroom.
We only met on one evening in February for Culture Night. The weather was working against us so we did cancel one night. The youth had a lesson on Coyote Rock which is located near Siletz, OR. Our goal is to highlight different landmarks in Oregon with the Native legends that go with them so we pass on these stories from where we live. We have been connecting with Natives from the area to tell these stories from their tribal histories.
We did not have any performances this month but have some planned for March. I will be helping coordinate Native Heritage Night at the Moda Center for the Blazers game versus the Washington Wizards on March 20th. Some of the proceeds of ticket sales will be going to NAYA Family Center. We have another contest we are entering in April for Vans shoe company to design some of their blank sneakers. We have 20 students signed up to help design the shoes during their recess time and after school time. We were one of 200 schools in the nation to be selected to participate in the contest. The students are confident!
NAYA Early College Academy
We currently have 96 students enrolled with a monthly attendance rate of 92%.
Community Development Department
Rey España, Director of Community Development
Success Story
Career Skills Development.
Sunrise EAST strives to engage, educate, and empower Native youth to be successful in their career pathway; by completing individual career plans that emphasize education and employment, providing transition assistance into post-secondary education, providing internship opportunities.
Currently Sunrise EAST has 9 clients participating in a Work Experience Contract in the Portland Metro area, and four participants are in the process of completing their hire paperwork. Participants are actively engaged in internships at the following businesses:
- West Coast Loaders – Warehouse worker
- NAYA Facilities Department – Facilities Assistant
- NAYA Community Development – Office Assistant
- Sabin Sun School – Instructional Assistant
- Lynchwood Sun School – Instructional Assistant
- SOLVE – Administrative Assistant
- Ben & Jerry’s – Retail (2)
- Oyster Bar – Server
Our program has helped place 21 participants in permanent employment. Participants have regular employment at the following businesses:
- PSU Student and Community Center– Administrative Assistant
- Parkrose Chateau – Kitchen Assistant
- The Courtyard at Mt. Tabor – Nursing Aide
- NAYA (3)– Administrative Assistant, Gang Outreach, and Construction
- Ross – Retail
- Best Buy – Retail
- Zumiez – Retail
- Justice for Girls – Retail
- Xerox - Retail
- Burgerville (2)– Food Service
- Carl’s Jr. – Food Service
- Dairy Queen – Food Service
- Sizzlers – Food Service
- Subway – Sandwich Artist
- New Seasons – Deli
- Karam – Server
- Shari’s – Server
- College Pro - Painter
We are also proud to mention that we have 18 Sunrise EAST participants attending the following post-secondary institutions:
PCC (7)
Mt. Hood (1)
CCC (1)
PSU (5)
OSU (1)
Concordia University (1)
Beaumont Beauty School (1)
Marinello Beauty School (1)
The following table presents typical statistics that reflect Community Development program outcomes.
Community Development Department / Program Outcome / February 2013 / February 2014 / Jul. 1, 2013 -Feb. 28, 2014 /Total number served / 256 / 262 / 800
Total hours received / 434.25 / 350 / 3,557.78
% identifying as Native / 50.00% / 35.88% / 34.38%
% receiving wraparound / 20.31% / 11.83% / 16.88%
Career Skills Development / Total number served / 51 / 106* / 139
% receiving wraparound / 56.86% / 52.17% / 70.50%
% identifying as Native / 57.97% / 36.20% / 45.97%
Internships / 1 / 3 / 10
Part-time/temporary employment / 2 / 0 / 7
Full-time employment / 0 / 23* / 42*
Achieved 18 credits of post-secondary / 0 / 0 / 9
Energy Assistance / Total number served / 76 / 117 / 433
% receiving wraparound / 15.79% / 11.11% / 15.01%
% identifying as Native / 23.68% / 16.23% / 18.93%
Amount dispersed / $41,664.00 / $55,820.00 / $219,155.00
Number of families with children assisted / 46 / 62 / 302
Number of children involved / 95 / 129 / 559
Total number of people impacted / 214 / 305 / 1,193
Financial Wellness / Total number served / 12 / 4 / 38
% receiving wraparound / 66.67% / 100.00% / 81.58%
% identifying as Native / 83.33% / 75.00% / 60.53%
Number of class graduates / 4 / 3 / 21 Adult, 6 Youth
Homeownership / Total number served / 17 / 5 / 64
% receiving wraparound / 0% / 20.00% / 21.88%
% identifying as Native / 70.59% / 40.00% / 39.06%
Number of homes purchased / 0 / 0 / 11
Housing Stability Assistance / Total number served / 82 / 42 / 123
% receiving wraparound / 42.68% / 30.95% / 43.90%
% identifying as Native / 46.39% / 30.61 / 30.99%
Amount dispersed / $55,399.02 / $30,774.12 / $255,210.57
Number of families with children served / 60 / 29 / 84
Number of children assisted / 147 / 61 / 194
Total number of people impacted / 271 / 125 / 376
Individual Development Accounts
(IDA) / Total number served / N/A / 62 / 67
% receiving wraparound / N/A / 17.74% / 59.70%
% identifying as Native / N/A / 51.61% / 50.75%
Homeownership IDA savers / N/A / 13 / 18
Education IDA savers / N/A / 33 / 33
Youth IDA savers / N/A / N/A / N/A
Microenterprise IDA savers / N/A / 16 / 16
Micro Enterprise / Total number served / 42 / 10 / 52
% receiving wraparound / N/A / N/A / N/A
% identifying as Native / 54.76% / 60.00% / 55.77%
Number of business plans completed / 22 / 0 / 3
Number of businesses started / 2 / 3 / 9
*CWNW numbers are included in this total.