WSU Tri-Cities Opens Doors for Parent Educational Training

RICHLAND, Wash. — Parents will receive special training next week on how to help their children go to college.
 
The Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors parent outreach program is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, April 30 through May 2, at Washington State University Tri-Cities in the Consolidated Information Center, Room 120, at 2770 University Drive, Richland. 
 
To help parents understand the value of higher education, Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors uses trained “volunteer” parent-to-parent communication in small group settings. The curriculum is prepared in a bilingual, simple, concise, and culturally-relevant manner.
 
Parents will be taught to:
• Understand child and adolescent growth and development and help promote self-esteem and a love for learning in their children.
• Understand the high school graduation options and requirements in the state of Washington.
• Understand the process of applying to and getting accepted into an institution of higher education; including taking a campus tour; understanding financial aid, and the rigors of college life.
 
The WSU Tri-Cities session will have about 40 attendees. The audience includes the GEAR UP site directors from throughout the region — from Moses Lake to Paterson — plus at least two parents from each GEAR UP school.
 
Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors developers Dr. Ida H. Acuna-Garza and Dr. Hector Aldape from Texas A&M University will be at the WSU Tri-Cities training. The program is based on research and is acknowledged by the U.S. Department of Education.