Juntos and Open Campus were established in response to low high school graduation rates, focusing on significant disparities for Latinx, rural, and low-income students. Our programs and evaluation frameworks address high school completion in the context of the Social Determinants of Health. The conditions of where people live, learn, work, and play are established predictors of many health outcomes, with education access being a key component. This relationship is bi-directional, since research shows a strong connection between healthy behaviors and academic achievement (e.g., grades, standardized tests, graduation rates, attendance). Healthy students are better learners, and academic achievement bears a lifetime of health benefits.
Juntos and Open Campus programming shows data and evidence to support that our efforts directly impact the future state metric of improving graduation rates among economically disadvantaged students. In the past decade, the high school graduation rate has steadily grown, with some of the most dramatic improvements seen in Latinx students. School partners attribute a significant portion of this success to Open Campus’ work developing resources and equitable education pathways for families in the region. Data from the Juntos evaluation surveys supports the relationship between the program and academic outcomes. Students report increased academic motivation and planning for college. Parents report a better understanding of the school system and more confidence at making postsecondary education options. As we further grow and expand our outreach, these metrics will continue to increase graduation rates.
2020-2024 Regional Health Improvement Plan Priority Area
Address Poverty and Enhance
Self-Sufficiency
Future State Measure
Increase graduation rates among youth experiencing economic disadvantage.
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- This project is funded through the 2020-2024 Regional Health Improvement Plan's Address Poverty and Enhance Self-Sufficiency workgroup.
- The project received $99,680 in funding and is implemented by OSU Open Campus.
- Learn more about the importance of the measures from the Address Poverty and Enhance Self-Sufficiency priority area.
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Research shows a strong connection between healthy behaviors and academic achievement (e.g., grades, standardized tests, graduation rates, attendance). Healthy students are better learners, and academic achievement bears a lifetime of benefits for health.As noted by the Central Oregon Health Council, a high school diploma is a foundation for economic prosperity and access to college. However, the negative consequences of not completing a diploma span far beyond a monetary value including increased negative health outcomes. While there are many factors to why students drop out, the Open Campus and Juntos programs believe that by engaging the entire family around the nuts and bolts of the complex educational system in the United States, families will be more empowered to help their students navigate the system. We understand the importance of collaboration for the greatest impact. For this reason, we partner with local school districts, ESDs, Gear Up, Aspire, migrant education programs, other OSU units, community colleges, and OSU Cascades to support students as they work towards their diplomas and pursue post-secondary education.Based on numbers regarding graduation rates, we have room for growth and improvement by connecting with families that have not yet had the opportunity to join the Juntos and other Open Campus programs.
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This project will focus on increasing high school graduation rates for historically marginalized populations and economically disadvantaged students in middle and high school. The projects and programs will include culturally relevant programming to help students and families navigate school systems and ultimately graduate from high school.Building on the successes of the Juntos program, this funding will reduce barriers for students of color and economically disadvantaged students by providing funding for pre-college programs, access to STEM camps, career exploration opportunities, mentoring by current college students, and financial aid assistance.Examples of programs and projects targeted with funding support include Juntos, Future Pathways, Student Mentoring Program, OSU Hangouts, Family Workshops, and Extracurricular Experiences. -
Increase participation in Juntos, and reach students who have not opted into the program in prior years. Recognizing we still have a large number of economically disadvantaged students that our programs have not yet reached, we will broaden our outreach to engage these youth.ing individualized support and monitoring student progress throughout their Freshmen and Sophomore year.
Develop a mentoring program to include past Juntos participants as mentors so we may increase the number of students being served.
Provide scholarships to help disadvantaged students attend events, conferences, and camps that support academic growth and encourage graduation from high school and exposure to new career paths.
Expand student Juntos Clubs to all Central Oregon high schools.
A year one report for this project will be available in June 2022.
A year two report for this project will available in June 2023.
Please check back under "What We're Learning" to see the outcomes of this project after the final report is submitted in June 2024.