Funded Education Projects
Education: Successful Kids Vision Council
United Way's education focus area funds a variety of projects that ensure that children are successful in school. Programs serve a range from pre-school children and their parents, to middle- and high-school-age youth, with an emphasis on improving high school completion rates.
The Community Investment Grants listend below are three-year grants ranging from $100,000 to $200,000 each year.
Adelante Chicas
| Collaborating Partners: | Adelante Mujeres, Bienestar, Forest Grove School District |
| Target Population: | Low-income Latina girls and their families |
| Counties: | Washington |
Provides girls age 9-18 with empowerment, academic engagement and community leadership training. Activities include afterschool academic support, volunteer and leadership opportunities, home visits, family events and parent involvement to support girls in their success.
Parents Receiving Intensive Developmental Education (PRIDE)
| Collaborating Partners: | The Arc of Southwest Washington, Clark County Parent Coalition, Southwest Washington Parent-to-Parent, Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation |
| Target Population: | Parents and children with developmental disabilities |
| Counties: | Clark |
Provides whole family support and peer-to-peer parent coaching to gain competence in navigating services, improve parents' advocacy in the school setting, address child care challenges, and provide access to therapeutic settings designed to improve child development.
Parent University
| Collaborating Partners: | Black Parent Initiative, Mercy Corps Northwest, Concordia University, Multnomah County Health Department, State Farm Insurance |
| Target Population: | African American parents and caregivers |
| Counties: | Multnomah |
Provides comprehensive parent-centered coaching and classes designed to promote family health and cultural identity and to increase financial literacy and opportunity to support children's development and school success.
Vamos & Expresiones: Latino & Somali
| Collaborating Partners: | Hacienda CDC, Boy Scouts, Portland Audubon Society, Verde, Northwest Family Services, IRCO/Africa House, OSU Extension Service |
| Target Population: | Latino and Somali youth and their parents or caregivers |
| Counties: | Multnomah and Clackamas |
Provides after school supports to Latino and Somali youth currently living in Hacienda's low-income housing in Portland and Molalla. Activities include academic support, cultural activities, community engagement, parent involvement and personal outreach to families.
Resident Services Project
| Collaborating Partners: | Human Solutions, YWCA of Greater Portland, My Story Photography, David Douglas School District |
| Target Population: | Immigrant and refugee families living in affordable housing complexes (Somali and Russian) |
| Counties: | Multnomah |
Provides culturally specific services to immigrant and refugee families to enhance the success of their children through increased family stability and family connection to schools and community. Activities involve parents and youth in homework help, literacy, finance education, family events, LearnLinks and parent/teacher conferences.
Native Student Literacy Project
| Collaborating Partners: | Native American Youth & Family Center (NAYA), Paragon Educational Network, Native Wellness Institute |
| Target Population: | Native American middle and high school students |
| Counties: | Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas, Clark |
Provides culturally specific literacy and social skills to Native American middle/high school age youth to increase literacy, reduce disciplinary referrals and increase high school completion.
Community Approaches to Building School Success
| Collaborating Partners: | Neighborhood House, Inc., Somali Community Services |
| Target Population: | Refugee and immigrant families (Somali, Latino, Middle Eastern), as well as low-income cultural, ethnic and tribal groups (Native American, Alaska Native, African-American, etc.) |
| Counties: | Multnomah and Washington |
Provides kindergarten readiness and school transition services to young children, parent education and involvement, and cultural competency training for school personnel. Activities include parent-child interactions and reading groups, K-readiness workshops, family-school events, cultural competency conference, ESL classes for adults and Somali parent group.
Youth Potential Realized
| Collaborating Partners: | Self-Enhancement Inc. (SEI), Jefferson High School, Portland Community College Cascade Campus |
| Target Population: | Underserved inner-city youth and families, primarily African-American |
| Counties: | Multnomah |
Provides culturally specific academic support, college prep, career exploration, enrichment and mentoring in-school, after school and during the summer, with parent-involvement year round to promote school success and high school completion.