About NAYA Family Center
Mission
Our mission: "to enhance the diverse strengths of our youth and families in partnership with the community through cultural identity and education."
Community need
- Portland, Oregon, is the 23rd largest city in the United States, but the Portland metro area represents the 9th largest Native American community in the United States.
- 38,000 Native American people live in Multnomah County. The 2000 U.S. census cites approximately 31,000 Native people living in the city of Portland.
- Out of every 100 Native students who begin as freshmen in high school, only 34 will graduate from Portland public high schools in their senior year. Of those 34, a mere 17 will receive a standard diploma.
- In Multnomah County, according to the 2000 census, 25 percent of the Native population earns less than $10,000 per year, and 25 percent earns less than $24,000 per year. This means that fully half of the Native population lives in deep poverty.
NAYA Family Center continues to seek solutions to community needs. Staff have consistently found that creating additional resources for culturally specific programming represents the best option for Multnomah County’s most vulnerable community.
Programs
NAYA Family Center draws on the strengths of its staff and volunteers to provide inclusive programming for Native American youth and their families. NAYA Family Center currently provides the following programs:
- Middle school advocacy services.
- High school advocacy services.
- Tutoring and after-school programs.
- Native community employment services.
- Middle school, grade 8/9 transition, high school math, and science summer programs.
- Healing circle domestic violence prevention program.
- Foster care and independent living programs.
- Recreation program.
- Cultural arts program.
- Financial education.
- Housing and rental assistance.
- Individual savings account and tax help.
For more information, please visit our Services page.
NAYA Family Center is guided by its core values, which were created by staff, students, elders, and other community members.
Annual Reports
| 2010-2011 | 2009-2010 | |
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