Association For The Advancement Of Mexican Americans

Causes: Adult Education, Ambulatory & Primary Health Care, Education, Ethnic & Immigrant Centers, Health, Human Services, Immigration, Secondary & High Schools

Mission: Aamas mission is to inspire and empower latinos to pursue and achieve their potential and be amazing. Aama's ultimate goal is that all latinos will be able to participate fully in the economic and civic success of our community. The organizations programs are designed to create the conditions that will make that vision possible.

Programs: Aama's education programs include the george i. Sanchez charter school, which served 823 students at two campuses in houston. The houston school includes pre-kindergarten for ages 3 and 4, middle school for youth in grades 6-8, and high school for students in grades 9-12. Sanchez focuses on highly at-risk latino students and helps them overcome academic and social barriers through small classes, rigorous instruction, one-on-one attention, intensive support services and a personalized learning environment. The school offers on-campus childcare for enrolled teen parents; dual credit courses so students can get a head start on college credits at no cost; and a variety of student clubs and sports programs to help keep students fit, active and motivated to succeed. (see schedule o) approximately 90% of the students who graduate from sanchez enroll in college. Aama's adelante program also provided education for 1,269 adults at five locations in houston, offering a comprehensive curriculum to give adults the basic skills and education necessary to enter and advance in the workplace. Aama offers classes in basic math, reading, writing, and english as a second language (esl) in five levels; and preparatory classes for general education diploma (ged) testing. During the current fiscal year, 410 students received their ged certificates through aama.

aama's prevention and treatment program ("hhs") provides a network of prevention, education and treatment services for children, teens and adults focusing on substance abuse and communicable diseases. The organization's residential and outpatient substance abuse treatment programs provided comprehensive chemical dependency treatment for 661 youth, adults and their families in houston, laredo, and san antonio, texas. The prevention/intervention programs served 7,947 youth and adults through activities that included a school-based prevention program for elementary students in houston, and an outreach program that provided testing, counseling, education and referrals for adults who are at risk for substance abuse, hiv and hepatitis in harris county, texas.