Our Programs

Padres Unidos

Fosters self-sufficiency and educational responsibility among families through specialized programs designed to address the unique needs of the communities we serve.

Padres Unidos all-inclusive service approach:

Our collaborative approach recognizes that everyone has strengths to contribute and benefits from the support of others, resulting in stronger families and more resilient communities. 

First, the Padres Unidos Outreach Framework serves as a bridge that connects families to opportunities for engagement, leadership, and support. Our inclusive and strengths-based approach recognizes the value each family brings and seeks to remove barriers to participation. Through intentional outreach, we expand our reach to families who may not typically engage with schools or community programs, ensuring their voices are heard and valued. Activities such as Coffee with Parents, the VOICE Campaign, door-to-door visits, phone outreach, and digital and printed communications help strengthen connections and promote student and family success. 

Second, the Support Framework  is a key component of the Padres Unidos model, providing ongoing connections and resources that sustain children’s growth thru and beyond program participation. Our combination of individualized support, relationship-building, and community engagement helps families implement positive changes and strengthen their capacity to support their children’s development. This approach creates a connected network of students, parents, and schools that work together as partners in personal, academic, and family success.

Thirdly, the Padres Unidos  Educational Framework , is where learning, growth, and transformation come together. Built upon three decades of experience and strengthened through partnerships with educational and community leaders, the platform equips families with the tools they need to thrive. Through 20 core classes and a broad range of specialized topics, participants gain practical knowledge while building confidence and leadership skills. 

We believe that learning is most powerful when it is collaborative. Rather than positioning participants as passive recipients of information, we create opportunities for them to share their experiences, learn from one another, and become active contributors to their own growth and the growth of their communities. 

• See what parents and educators have to say about us:

  “It is highly effective and the best alternative approach that links the parent, the school, the higher education institutions, and the private sector by providing early education opportunities to all children.”

  – Paulita Martinez, Principal, Remington Elementary School, Santa Ana

• “As someone in the field of education for more than 30 years, I have yet to see a program as well designed as this one.”- Dr. Anaida Colón-Muñiz, Associate Professor, Chapman University

• Jose and Maria’s Story:

  After immigrating from Mexico in the late 1990s, Jose and Maria worked tirelessly to build a better life for their four children by starting and operating their own business. During those demanding years, their oldest son became involved in a gang, and the family experienced one of the most difficult chapters of their lives. Heartbroken but determined to break the cycle, Jose and Maria turned to Padres Unidos for support. Through parenting education, encouragement, and a caring community, they strengthened their parenting skills, rebuilt family relationships, and renewed their hope for the future. They discovered that lasting change is possible when families are surrounded by support, opportunity, and a sense of belonging. Their perseverance paid off. Today, Jose and Maria are active Padres Unidos Community Worker at Chapman award volunteers who continue to give back to their community, and all of their children have attended college and pursued their own paths in life. Their family’s journey is a testament to the transformative power of community, education, resilience, and the belief that families thrive through support and belonging.

• “When a mother enrolled her three-year-old son in our School Readiness/Parents as Teachers program, she arrived discouraged and in tears. She explained that she had previously enrolled him in three different programs, but each time he was dismissed within a week because of his special needs. At the conclusion of the program, she shared an emotional reflection with the class:
  “The teachers at Padres Unidos never gave up on my son. They believed in him, included him, and treated him with dignity and respect. Today, he is sitting alongside the other children, doing things I never thought possible.” “- Rosa – Parent Participant”

Our portfolio of programs is organized around four core categories:

• Parents as Teachers/Early Education Programs

  Through concurrent school readiness and parent education classes, we prepare young children for academic success while empowering parents to be their child’s first teacher throughout life’s learning journey.

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• Strong Families

  Because strong families build strong communities. Together with caring community partners, we support parents and family members of all ages through programs that foster learning, health, faith, personal growth, and lasting family connections.
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• Community Engagement

  At Padres Unidos, community engagement is guided by the voices, strengths, and aspirations of those we serve. Through inclusive collaboration, active listening, and authentic partnerships, we ensure our programs remain responsive, relevant, and aligned with evolving community needs and priorities.
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• Services for Families of Incarcerated Youth

  You can find the description and the outcomes of this program in the Click Here button. We are currently not offering any of our services for families of incarcerated youth.

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