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 In 2000 Hispanas Unidas established the Escuelitas Program where a staff of trained Program Specialists implement a serious and viable teen pregnancy and teenage delinquency prevention programs by utilizing a culturally sensitive curriculum, a mentoring program with college students from various local colleges and universities, a prestigious array of guest speakers for our leadership series and educational field trips. The program focuses on young girls at very early impressionable ages (8 to 14 years) in some of San Antonio’s most impoverished neighborhoods where we know teen pregnancy, drug abuse, truancy is prevalent.
Program Strategies
Escuelitas provides weekly sessions of 2.0 hours and partners with individuals, community organizations, and colleges/universities to augment its service capacity. Parent sessions, field trips, mentors and guest speakers enrich and support the 12 month curriculum and reinforce Hispanic values and traditions.
The Escuelitas program targets girls from age 8 to 14 years and engages them in structured activities which strive to increase their self-esteem and foster healthy decision-making at an early age to significantly decrease their chances of becoming teen mothers and/or engaging in risky behaviors uring their teenage years. The Escuelitas Program is lead by trained Program Specialist at after-school sessions for 2 hours once a week during the school year.
Sessions are aimed at improving the personal, academic and leadership skills as well as increase the overall developmental assets and life skills of our participants. The program follows a cultural and age-appropriate curriculum that emphasizes the academic, personal, cultural achievements of the participants and promotes critical thinking and personal growth. Mentoring, field trips, distinguished guest speakers series are also a very important component of the program. Our guest speakers enhance the curriculum by making on-site visits at the schools and talking on topics such as, information about career choices, arts and cultural awareness as well as information about the risks of gang involvement and substance abuse. We also have been successful in inviting individuals who grew up in similar environments as our participants, overcoming very similar obstacles and these types of role models are rarely seen by our participants.
Hispanas Unidas plans to continue the Escuelitas Program in 2009-2010 in the following schools:
Monday:
New Frontiers Elementary
New Frontiers Middle School
Tuesday:
Loma Park Elementary
Wednesday:
Tafolla Middle School
Connell Middle School
Thursday:
CC Ball Elementary
Crockett Elementary
Lessons:
# 1 Culture: Children of the World, Family, Traditions, etc.
# 2 Language: Language & Culture, Language attitudes, Linguistic borders, Language & Literature, Language & the media
#3 My Body: Stress, Exercise, Relaxation, Diet, Snacks, etc.
#4 Family Values: Family history, traditions, roles & responsibilities, life skills, voices of our elders, self-esteem
# 5 Creativity and Spirituality: Painting, Mayan glyphs, mosaics, fabric assemblage, masks and wind socks
#6 Leadership: Be a Leader, Civic involvement
#7 Relationships: Ground rules, Acceptance, Sharing, Facing difficulties and challenges, friendships
#8 Working Women: Women Leaders, Heroes, Women in Law & politics, Careers, Dress for success
#9 Women of Strength: Girls Leading the way, Inner Strength, Personal Strength, Character & Identity
# 10 Women of Integrity: Respect, Friendship, Doing the right thing, Saying No, Cultural pride
#11 Stereotypes: Recognizing Stereotypes, Sharing images and feelings, Learning from history, Understanding diversity
We will collaborate with the school administration, community centers, community leaders, and other service organizations to recruit students.
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