NAYA Family Center
NAYA Family Center
April 2014 Board Report
Youth & Education Services Department:
Cori Matthew, Director of Youth & Education Services
Success Story: Gang Outreach Worker – Tiffany Morris
After working with a young girl, that is gang affiliated and being trafficked, and her mother for a couple of months I was able to gain the youths trust enough to have her speak to a detective at East Precinct as well as a detective from Seattle. The youth gave as much information she had on her traffickers to the detectives. She also was willing to go back a second time with me to answer a few more questions the detectives had. The youth is also in school with 90% attendance and is doing on site job training; she had not been in school since last November. She is also back at home and doing well and getting along better with her Mom. I will continue to support the youth and her mother.
Program Updates
Learning Center
This April 2014 the Learning Center served 70 youth ranging from Kindergarten – 9th grades. Self-identified Native American Youth made up 88.5 % of the Learning Center students. Overall, 80 % of the after-school program students qualify for free and reduced lunch. Nearly 50 % of these students are from single parent homes.
Students logged 799 hours at the Native American Youth and Family Center participating in the Learning Center, Recreation and Exercise activities, organized Youth and Education department Sports Program, and the after-school meal program. We provided 57 youth with after-school transportation services totaling in 219 hours.
During April we had many youth attending the after-school program for homework assistance, supplemental learning opportunities, and advocacy. Students continue to have access to web-based math and language arts resources. Many students are spending more and more time reading after finishing their homework. Our youth participated in sports during the after-school hours through recreational activities and in the case of some, participation on NAYA’s volley ball team. We’re continuing to build on a multi-faceted after-school experience for each student that focuses on academic learning, but also social development and wellness as well. During May we’ll be participating in the N7 Move Moments event aimed at getting NAYA youth involved in a collective sports and exercise activity.
We had 15 volunteers helping students and supporting staff in the Learning Center program. Many of our volunteers are from our current spring term partnership with the Portland State University Capstone Volunteer program. We also had two former PSU Capstone Volunteers returning to help tutor and mentor youth based on the relationships they had developed with the students and staff during the winter. In connection with the overall after-school program we had the amazing opportunity to take six of our Elders to meet with the PSU Capstone class during April. This is part of an effort to connect the PSU volunteers with Elders who’ve experienced the Native American Boarding schools. As part of their course curriculum the volunteer class learns about the Native American experiences and perspectives of the United States education system. These readings combined with meeting Native American Elders creates more cultural competency for their work with our students.
Gang Intervention/Outreach
For the month of April, 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. The month of April has seen yet another spike in gang related activity and GVRT’s which has put PPB and community volunteers on high alert. There was a total of 14 GVRT for the month of April which is higher than last year during this time and higher than last month which was at 11. The majority of GVRT have been shootings which have resulted in multiple people getting shot. No one has died but this has sparked and heavy increase in shooting in residential areas into houses. Over 85% of the GVRT’s and contacts for the month happened in the south east area of Portland. This is due to the large amount of gang members moving out to the east county for various reasons. Gang Outreach made a total of 406 contacts. Within the 406 contacts a total of 289 referrals were made. Despite the 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 in the greater Portland area. 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
All of the classes Theresa is instructing in the academy are learning color theory. They are enjoying being creative and painting. The Academy Luncheon was also this month and she helped mentor one of our students who had the video created about her experience at NAYA as well as speaking on behalf of the students to request donations. The art classes and the yearbook club and Native club created items for the silent auction in the Cultural Arts room. It was a great event, all students were involved and we surpassed our goal on fundraising in the auction.
The Native Club went on an overnight trip to the Umatilla Reservation as a culture share with the Nixyaawii School. It was the most fun and educational experiences of the year. We met tribal leaders at their Science Research lab and learned about how and why they have a research lab at the reservation. They discussed soil, food and water testing and had a science experiment for us. We mixed cream, sugar, vanilla and huckleberries with liquid nitrogen to make ice cream. It usually takes about an hour to make ice cream in the traditional way, but using liquid nitrogen cut down the time to a minute and a half. We met with a few of the tribal council members and talked about our hopes and dreams for the future and learned about issues in Indian Country. We later met with their youth group and had a potluck dinner; our contribution was the ice cream. We visited, learned about the activities of the youth group and played an ice-breaker to learn each other’s names. The students all decided to go swimming and then we went to a movie and had the youth group students join us.
The next day we got up bright and early to play lacrosse. We went to the tribal museum and had guided tours by the students and adults from the youth group. It was a very enlightening trip and a good opportunity for students and staff to create that stronger connection.
During Culture Night in April we introduced and practiced our Side step for jingle dress style and the sneak-up for traditional style of dancing and singing. The K-8 went on a nature walk around Whitaker ponds and then created some wood projects using paints and traditional designs. The adult classes are continuing work on contemporary fancy dance shawls.
Our dancers in the community and local drum Bulls and Bears participated in the opening of the Vine Deloria Jr. Lecture series at Reed College. The theme was the mascot issue and I was happy to hear one of the panelists thank our dancers for representing what is real about Native Americans as opposed to the stereotypes of the mascots.
Our dance instructors and drummers also went to Morrison Family Center to give them an introductory lesson on powwow style of drumming and dancing. They have a large Native population there and some of the students are able to come to Culture Night. For those that are not able to, they wanted to have us come to Morrison to do a Native night. We also had a craft activity for them and made 4 directions bracelets with teachings on what the four colors of the medicine wheel represent
Recreation
Volleyball started during the month of April. We currently have a high school team, an 8th grade team, and a 6th grade team. Alex Jefferson, Kayla Grady, Theresa Smith, and Allen Jamerson are helping with the teams. The teams practice on Monday and Thursday from 430-6pm with games on Saturday. There are currently 22 girls participating on the three teams. The 6th grade team has a record of 3-1, the 8th grade team has a record of 3-0, and the high school has a record of 0-3. At this time there is no spring soccer offered to NAYA youth. We are working on securing a place in a league for fall time.
Also during the month of April the circus project continued to train students in tumbling/acrobatics, and juggling on Wednesdays between 3 and 4 pm with the learning center students.
NAYA Early College Academy
We currently have 99 students enrolled with a monthly attendance rate of 98%.
Calendar updates for the YES Department
• Youth and Elder’s Honoring Wednesday, 5-28
• ECA Nike Field Day Friday, 5-30
• ECA Senior/Elder/Board Breakfast & picture’s Thursday, 6/5
• Graduation Friday, 6/6
Community Development Department Board Report
Rey España, Director of Community Development
Success Story
Career Skills Development--Youth
Last year NAYA’s Family Services department referred a Foster Care youth to the Sunrise EAST Program. The client graduated from school last June from the NAYA ECA, and enrolled at PCC. Thanks to the ILP Program, the client is living independently in her very own apartment.
During intensive case management with the youth, the Sunrise EAST Program was able to develop a Career Plan that fit her needs; the client completed career aptitude testing and found that her aptitude and interests were in the health field, we created a career plan that would assist the youth in targeting goals centered around education and career. The client is currently attending PCC and doing quite well; she made the honors list with a GPA of 3.8.
Additionally, the Sunrise EAST Program referred the client to the Youth IDA program, allowing the client to save for college related expenses.
The client is currently participating in a paid work experience as an Instructional Assistant for PPS. Her performance evaluations have been outstanding. She will also have an additional placement this summer in the Summerworks Program. Sunrise EAST will continue to provide career coaching, supportive services and mentoring to ensure the success of this NAYA Youth.
Homeownership
The Homeownership Program success story is a single mom of a six year old daughter who started working with NAYA in 2012. She was referred to us by another participant who had just completed their purchase. The homebuyer works for Portland Public Schools in a part-time capacity. She was concerned that her income of about 48% Median Family Income for a household of 2 would not be enough to purchase a home. She believed that her job could go to full-time in the 2012-13 school year and was eager to start preparing for homeownership. We enrolled her in the IDA program to maximize the savings she would be able to create for herself.
When her job did not transition to full-time with the new school year, staff encouraged her to attend an orientation at Proud Ground. She completed their application process and waited for a home to come available that fit her needs and affordability. As she approached the end of her IDA savings period she began to look at homes. Her income still made most homes in Portland unaffordable to her. Then in late-2013, NAYA marketed a Proud Ground home through a partnership agreement. This home was exactly what this buyer had been looking for – across the street from a park, completely remodeled (by NAYA Construction), around the corner from some friends, and very affordable.
The funding that made this home affordable required that the buyer of this home earn no more than 50% MFI. This meant the home was priced perfectly for this buyer. Priced a $98,000 the buyer ended up with a mortgage payment of less than $800/month. The IDA funds covered the down payment (just $500 with Proud Ground), home inspection and closing costs.
The following table presents typical statistics that reflect Community Development program outcomes.
|Community Development |Program Outcome |April 2013 |April 2014 |July 1, 2013 -April 30, |
|Department | | | |2014 |
| |Total hours received |584.32 |335.83 |4,450.28 |
| |% identifying as Native |47.88% |50.24% |33.47% |
| |% receiving wraparound |20.42% |15.49% |16.63% |
|Career Skills Development|Total number served |64 |22 |144 |
| |% receiving wraparound |62.50% |59.09% |70.83% |
| |% identifying as Native |56.05% |38.46% |46.33% |
| |Internships |0 |0 |11 |
| |% identifying as Native |23.81% |45.00% |19.75% |
| |Amount dispersed |$56,039.00 |$20,035.00 |$296,905.00 |
| |Number of families with children assisted |62 |29 |333 |
|Financial Wellness |Total number served |4 |N/A |38 |
| |% receiving wraparound |50.00% |N/A |84.21% |
| |% identifying as Native |50.00% |N/A |60.53% |
| |Number of class graduates |0 |N/A |24 |
|Homeownership |Total number served |8 |5 |77 |
| |% receiving wraparound |0% |60% |27.27% |
| |% identifying as Native |87.50% |20% |42.86% |
| |Number of homes purchased |0 |1 |23 |
| |% receiving wraparound |20.00% |14.81% |40.00% |
| |% identifying as Native |43.48% |35.63% |32.65% |
| |Amount dispersed |$36,838.65 |$40,268.22 |$36,838.65 |
| |Number of families with children served |55 |53 |140 |
|Individual Development |Total number served |N/A |67 |76 |
|Accounts | | | | |
|(IDA) | | | | |
| |% receiving wraparound |N/A |35.82% |68.42% |
| |% identifying as Native |N/A |53.73% |53.95% |
| |Homeownership IDA savers |N/A |13 |20 |
| |Education IDA savers |N/A |32 |34 |
| |Youth IDA savers |N/A |N/A |N/A |
| |Microenterprise IDA savers |N/A |16 |16 |
|Micro Enterprise |Total number served |47 |32 |53 |
| |% receiving wraparound |N/A |N/A |N/A |
| |% identifying as Native |55.32% |53.13% |56.60% |
| |Number of business plans completed |4 |1 |3 |
| |Number of businesses started |2 |0 |16 |
Glossary of terms
Wraparound = A number calculating the percentage of a particular program’s participants served, which also participated in other NAYA services during the same time period.
Reporting Period = The first day to the last day of the month of this board report
Children = Dependents under the age of 18.
Family Services
Tawna Sanchez Director of Family Services
Success Stories
I have often told you success it not easy to come by given the struggles of many or our participants. Many of them have experienced some of the hardest struggles in life and often at a very young age. Recently, however, Foster Care was able to facilitate two amazing success’ for two amazing young women who have aged out of foster care.
Both of these young women struggled with difficult family issues which led them to the child welfare system and left them without support when the time came to grow up and become adults. It is hard to know how to be an adult when you move from foster home to foster home and no one sits down with you to show you how to budget money, pay bills, or balance a checking account. It’s even more difficult when the trauma that you have experienced throughout your life sets you up to believe that no one will be there to support your decisions, or help you plan for your future.
In the Foster Care program and in NAYA as a whole, we have come to realize that in some sense we become the parents of these youth, we are the ones who show them how to fill out their FAFSA forms, their, college applications, and their rental applications. NAYA staff is often the ones who take a youth to go see the apartment that they will hopefully rent and help them shop for the things they will need, like a broom and a mop.
This past month we were fortunate to be able to do this for two youth who have aged out of foster care and became young adults with homes of their own. Just like many of our own children, however, I expect that we will still have to pay a phone bill once in a while or even part of the rent when they can’t quite make it happen. In this instance we will be just like any other parent who would do anything for their children.
Program updates
Family Services has recently had the honor of being poached for two of our most valuable staff. It is an honor to know that we have trained our staff to be amazing, talented, and ethical people that will now staff the new Indian Child Welfare Unit (ICWA Unit) of the Department of Human Services (DHS) and that DHS staff asked them to apply.
While it is difficult to go through change we recognize that we will now have an opportunity to build a better relationship with DHS and that will be beneficial to the youth and families that we serve. I believe DHS will also have the opportunity to experience NAYA’s ten core values and how Practice Based Evidence works first hand with people who have practiced it firsthand.
With the departure of Nicomi Levine, Independent Living Program Specialist, and Eva Williams, In-Home Safety and Reunification Specialist, we have chosen to hire from our internal pool of talented staff and interns. Concordia Bachelor of Social Work Intern Elisha Big Back, Northern Cheyenne will take Eva’s place in In-Home Safety and Reunification and Crystal Cox, Interior Salish – Secwepemc Nation, who is currently a Career Skills Development Coach will take Nicomi’s position in the Independent Living Program (ILP).
We are very excited to make these changes and hope to transition them both very quickly.
Family Services submitted a grant application for the State of Oregon for the continuation of the ILP program and to the Department of Human Services for the SB964 Relative Support funds that supports relatives to care for children of family members who have entered the child welfare system.
The Red Shawl Project has completed the designs for the Silent Witnesses that will be displayed at Delta Park Powwow this June 13, 14, and 15. The Silent Witnesses will tell the stories of Native American’s who have lost their lives to domestic violence in the tribal populations of the State of Oregon.
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