Juntos Aprendemos builds upon the already substantial strengths of our Latino/a/x community by ensuring that the culture of family support is integrated into school settings early. We do this by holding our Juntos Aprendemos programs in schools so families can meet the front office staff, principal, teachers, liaisons etc. We want children and parents to feel comfortable in the building and classroom settings. We also teach parents why it is crucial for them to become advocates for their children and work side by side with the school. Through family engagement we support families as a whole and create a bridge between our Latino/a/x families and the school community before the child enters Kindergarten. Juntos Aprendemos is a critical bridge between families and the K12 education system to empower, instill confidence, provide engagement, partnerships, and a sense of belonging. Juntos Aprendemos is not only delivered in Spanish with curriculum and instruction that venerates the multifaceted Latino/a/x cultures and histories that exist for families in Central Oregon, but also elevates and recognizes Latino/a/x parents as leaders within education. After parents participate in the program for a minimum of one year they can come into our spaces as volunteers or paid positions into leadership roles where they are supporting the classrooms as teachers. Children get to see representation in the classroom by having their teachers who look like their mothers, who come from the same background, who speak their language and who understand the unspoken cultural norms. This is powerful beyond measure making Juntos Aprendemos a truly community-family based program. We believe that families are inherently the best, most able first teacher to their children. Juntos Aprendemos amplifies that truth and places parents in the role of experts.
2020-2024 Regional Health Improvement Plan Priority Area
Upstream Prevention: The Promotion of Individual Well-Being
Future State Measures
1) Increase letter name recognition at kindergarten readiness
2) Increase third-grade reading proficiency
Establish community based partnerships, including school district partnerships, in Jefferson County to support Latino/a/x families.
Successfully outreach & launch an in person, 10-week pilot program in Jefferson County.
Successfully launch a full-scale, in person 30-week Juntos Aprendemos program in Jefferson County.
Increase early literacy and kindergarten readiness skills in children participating in the Juntos Aprendemos program.
A Year One Report for this project will be available in September 2022.
A Year Two Report for this project will be available in September 2023.
A Final Report is due August 2024 and final outcomes will be shared under “What We’re Learning.”