Beyond youth programs, parent and whole family engagement and education are becoming more recognized as a critical part of helping children and youth succeed. Research from the National Forum for Family, School, & Community Engagement indicates that family engagement is a more accurate predictor of student achievement than family income or socioeconomic status. That same report concludes that when schools, families and community groups work together to support learning, children do better in school, stay in school longer and enjoy their educational experiences. While there are many parent education classes in Orange County, some are limited to awareness-building, and others may not be accessible to families with low incomes, lack of transportation, or language or cultural barriers. For example, 79.6% of Santa Ana’s population is Latino, many of whom are new to the United States or first-generation Americans. Linguistically, the city has the highest concentration of Spanish-speaking residents in the nation, with 83% of individuals speaking a language other than English at home and 15% of adults speaking no little to no English.
In response, Padres Unidos provides accessible family engagement workshops and connections to resources, not only for parents and grandparents, but also for children and teens. This comprehensive approach helps build families’ knowledge of healthy habits and constructive communication across multiple generations, improving health, resilience, and family stability while preventing violence and family crises.
Our Strong Families Program
- Based on our unique and holistic approach designed to help parents engage in their child’s education, development, and community.
- At weekly sessions available in English and Spanish, facilitators guide parents in discussing an issue from a menu of 120+ class topics such My Kitchen My Choice, Fun and Exercise, Family Parenting, Culture and Mental Health in our Families and Home: A Safe Place to Grow. The topic is chosen by the participants, based on what will serve them.
- Concurrent with parent sessions, adults with babies in arms, children, and teenagers participate in their own sessions in different rooms, coming back together for a joint session at the end.
- A Community Worker visits each site weekly to provide support, assessments, referrals, and community resources to families that are in crisis or need guidance in accessing other services.
Outcomes
- 80% of families learn to identify early signs of dangerous behaviors in their children
- 95% of families graduate from the program with a self-made list of internal and external resources that they can utilize as they confront different life situations.
- Parents not only improve their knowledge; they apply new skills in daily life!
How You Can Help
We partner with many organizations throughout Orange County including The Orange County Department of Probation, Santa Ana Unified School District, Department of Children and Family Services, Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange, St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church, and El Centro Comunitario de Chapman. Padres Unidos is primed to expand our Strong Families Program to other communities in need. On average, it costs $30,000 annually to run our program at one site. To secure the staff and supplies necessary to open new sites, Padres Unidos is seeking:
- Individual Donations
- Business Sponsorships
- Private Foundation Grants
With your support, we can reach even more children and parents with early education, parent training, and community support, leading to healthier, happier families and bright futures for children.