La Puerta Abierta is a new endeavor for the Teton Literacy Program, but we already have many successes to celebrate! Please contact Melissa Turley, Project Coordinator, for more information.

• 100% of La Puerta Abierta enrolled students have increased participation in out-of-school enrichment activities.
• Increased parent participation at Parent-Teacher Conferences.
• Twenty three Latino families attended an orientation to Teton County School District #1 report cards and parent-teacher conferences presented in 2004, and 34 parents attended a similar orientation in 2005.
• One student of an enrolled family began attending Girls Actively Participating (G.A.P.!) at Jackson Hole Middle School, and several other Latina girls are also participating in G.A.P.! for the first time.
• Students participated in special workshops with the Art Association of Jackson Hole, to create ceramic tiles, paper mache masks, and random weave baskets.
• La Puerta Abierta has opened an outreach office in the new Center for the Arts to provide drop-in office hours.
• Teachers of students whose families are enrolled in La Puerta Abierta commented that their parents were more knowledgeable and involved than parents of other Latino students in their classes.
• One La Puerta Abierta participant who was previously unemployed has begun working. Another participant improved her employment status.
• Visit to and presentations by Grand Teton National Park: July 22 field trip to Jenny Lake; two presentations in Amistades by Becky Wiles, interpretor; presentation of Jr. Ranger badges to Amistades graduates on August 29, 2005.
• Graduates of the pilot program talked about how empowered they felt after this program, saying they value themselves, and they aren’t afraid to talk in front of others or ask for the help they need.
• One graduate said she is so grateful for the help and information she has received through this program, she wants to share it with others. She recognized the importance of support groups, and said she would like to start a support group for new immigrant parents.
• La Puerta Abierta staff worked with Teton County School District #1 to open a Bilingual Parent Resource Center in October 2005. The Parent Resource Center will assist parents in enrolling new students, answering general school-related concerns, and provide referrals to available services.

We have successfully collaborated with many other local agencies including the Teton County Library, Community Children’s Project, The Learning Center, Jackson Hole Community Counseling Center, Latino Resource Center, Teton County School District #1, Teton County Parks and Recreation, and Public Health Nursing. In 2006, Teton Literacy Program will begin collaborating with Casey Family Programs to offer two cycles of Powerful Families courses in Spanish.