Hlub Zoo is a culturally focused school-based support program for elementary-aged Hmong girls. Offered by the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation’s Children and Family Services, this program is hosted at Jackson Elementary School in Saint Paul. Hlub Zoo means “grow well, love well.” The intent of the program is to foster positive cultural and individual identity, address acculturation issues, provide mentorship and nurture connectedness between youth, their family, school and community.

As a result, Hmong girls will grow in their self-esteem and cultural pride that then supports their developing life skills. From a young age, these girls will learn that they have options and safe places to be loved and supported as they pursue their goals for successful futures.

Statistics from the report, Teenage Marriage and the Socioeconomic Health of Hmong Women, completed by Hnub Tshiab, support the following:

• Teenage marriage has a significant impact on the socioeconomic status of Hmong women in later life.
• On average, 50% of women who married as teenagers reported obtaining only a high school education or less, while 80% of women who married in their twenties had completed higher than a high school degree.
• The association between age at first marriage and spousal abuse was statistically significant. While 42.5% of respondents in the overall sample reported being abused by their partner, only 29.5% of women who married after age 20 reported abuse, compared to over half (56.4%) of women married as teenagers reporting abuse.

The continual participation of Hmong girls and women is key in the development and success of Hlub Zoo. The goals of Hlub Zoo are to support:

• School success
• Cultural identity and positive self-image
• Positive behavior in the classroom, at home and in the community
• Hope for the future
• Parental involvement in school
• Healthy relationships with peers, family members and the community

Utilizing a holistic approach, Hlub Zoo’s program and school personnel will work together with parents to identify students who may benefit from the following components:

• Support services
• Individual, family and group counseling
• Skills training
• Connecting students and their families to community resources
• Crisis assistance

For more information about Hlub Zoo, contact Mary Her at 651-325-2769,
mary.her@wilder.org or visit our website at www.wilder.org.