CFNC’s Family Services Helps Families Make Gains

When people think of The Child and Family Network Centers, preschool is typically the word that comes to mind, for good reason. Each year, CFNC provides nationally accredited preschool, free of charge, to nearly 200 children living in poverty, preparing them for success in school and in life. Yet CFNC also provides an array of family support services, including ESL classes, job placement services, and health services that give children what they need most: strong, healthy, stable families to nurture and support them in their journey through school and life.

The situations of the parents CFNC served this year were generally similar to years past, including poverty, limited English proficiency, lack of knowledge about how to access services, and lack of confidence in partnering in their child's education. However, this year also yielded a significant increase in the number of unemployed parents, likely due to the current recession. CFNC’s social workers, each with an average case load of 60 families, spent more time helping parents secure jobs, gain training to be more competitive in the job marketplace, and/or avoid or overcome foreclosure on their homes.

The results from these initiatives indicate a successful approach. Forty-one parents gained employment (compared to 14 one year earlier, an increase of nearly 200%); 20 parents enrolled in educational or job training programs (compared to 13 one year earlier, an increase of 54%); and 21 parents obtained appropriate housing (compared to 9 one year earlier, an increase of 133%). Additionally, 13 families in crisis situations who were unable to meet their basic needs from outside agencies received the support they needed from CFNC’s Family Services to maintain stable households for their children. By the end of year, 157 parents set and achieved at least one goal that led to improved parenting skills, a more stable home environment, gains in English literacy, and/or employment (61 of these parents achieved two goals and 63 achieved three or more goals).

To give CFNC’s social workers more time to focus on non-employment-related family needs, The Herb Block Foundation has provided a grant to fund a part-time, on-site job placement coach. The position, beginning this fall, will enable CFNC to provide more employment-related services, including workshops that promote soft (interviewing, timeliness, work ethic, etc.) and hard (resume writing and computer literacy) skills critical to securing and keeping a job.

The Gift of Gratitude

We recently received a thank you note from one of our parents, and we wanted to share it with you. Enjoy, and know that as our supporter and friend, you are part of an organization that truly makes a difference in the lives of families in need.

from December 18, 2008

"Hi,I'm a parent of Gian Carlo Daproza,one of the students that your organization is helping. He's currently attending at Cora Kelly Recreational Center.
My name is Rosita-Nitz Daproza. I'm emailing just to show how our family and I are so very grateful for what your organization have done for us.. From having us celebrate the Thanksgiving Holidays with peace with the help of the food you've provided our family,I personally is very thankful. Now, for having to provide my children gifts to open for Christmas and for our gift also. Our family is really going through one of the toughest time right now...my husband is trying his hardest to make ends meet but since our economy got hit really hard the company he is now working for decided to cut their hours and its been really hard for us. While fulfilling his duty to his ill mother who is diagnosed with kidney failure and going through her weekly dialysis...
So,every blessing that my family and I are receiving is very much appreciated...

Again, Thank You so very much for all the help that your organization have done for my family and I...

Sincerely,

Rosita- Nitz P. Daproza"

Helping Parents Connect to Their Children

Every semester bilingual Program Officer Corrin Chambers from the Reading Connections comes to the Family Literacy classroom to teach parents how to read with their children. Every time she covers a different aspect of reading and shows the parents how to do it. The first session in October she talked about bilingual books and during the second session she talked about wordless books where parent and child can make up their own stories.

The parents love coming to these classes because they not only learn new reading techniques but receive free books for their children as well. This way they can immediately apply what they have learned in class.

I follow up on these classes by talking about what was taught and by having the parents read the books out loud in class. I make sure that everything is understood and that the parents are reading the books using the new techniques at home.

by Eugenie Ballering, M.Ed.
Family Literacy Instructor

Reason for Thanksgiving

Recent media coverage in the Washington Post and USA Today have highlighted that this has been a particularly difficult year for CFNC. Despite the hardships that we, like many other non-profits, are facing this year, it is good to pause and recognize the numerous reasons we have for thanksgiving. I would like to share with you three recent acts of good will and generosity for which we at CFNC give thanks this holiday season.

A Call From New York

On the same day the first article highlighting the impact of the economic crisis on our organization appeared in the USA Today, Barbara received a phone call from a man in New York City. He had read the article in the USA Today and wanted to help us continue our programs that benefit young children living in poverty. He told Barbara, after what felt like a very long game of phone tag, that he would like to donate $20,000 to our programs to help out in this difficult time! Many things are remarkable about this gift, and the one that strikes me most is the distance between where this man was calling from, and where the children lived who he was reaching out to help.

Coming to the Rescue...with Turkeys

Each year, CFNC receives turkey dinners from McLean Bible Church and Westminster Presbyterian to distribute to our families the weekend before Thanksgiving. However, this year, due to the difficult economic times, there were not enough turkeys for all of the families we serve. John Herrity at Alexandria Chevrolet found out about this need and brought it to the attention of the owner Steve Niswander. They decided to buy the 60 turkeys we needed to make sure every family this Thanksgiving received one! When asked why they decided to buy the turkeys, Mr. Herrity replied, "We are very big on supporting children in this city, and we have been for the last 3 years, aggressively. Things are tight for everybody but when it comes to something like this, it is hard to say no."

Every Little Bit Helps

This last story is a reminder that the size of the gift is not what matters most--it is the spirit in which it is given. Following our most recent media coverage in The Washington Post, we received a letter in the mail from a woman who read the story, and was moved out of compassion for the children we serve to give what she could. In the letter she wrote, "I hope the enclosed small amount can be used toward your shortfall. I have a daughter who teaches 2nd grade in a Title 1 school in North Carolina and through her, know the importance of a good start for at-risk children. I hope other read the article and make a donation--every little bit helps!"

And every bit--every donation, every in-kind donatin, every hour a person volunteers--every act of love and generosity helps us provide high-quality, free preschool and family support services to children and their families living in poverty. So to all of you who have supported our programs this year and in years past, thank you! The children we serve depend upon your generosity, and for nearly 25 years now generous people have ensured that young, at-risk children have the support they need to succeed in school and life.

Volunteer Spotlight: Katherine Milliner

We are finding that one of the main reasons why parents stop attending our ESL program is because they find the class too challenging or not advanced enough to meet their needs. To deal address this issue we have changed the structure of our ESL program from 4 days of classes per week (with 2 beginner classes and 1 intermediate class per day) to 3 days of classes and 2 days of small group tutoring per week. This allows us not only to offer 5 full days of literacy programming as opposed to 4, but also to meet our parents where they are at in terms of their literacy level. We are hopeful that these changes will help us increase our retention rate with parents by up to 50% so that more parents improve their literacy levels by year’s end than anticipated. We currently have 105 parents participating in our classes!

This change in the structure of our ESL/Family Literacy program depends upon talented volunteers to lead our small group tutoring sessions on Tuesday and Thursday. One woman who has been giving her time and talents each week to help us better serve our families literacy needs is Katherine Milliner (pictured above).

What brought you to volunteer at CFNC?

Katherine: I came here from Idaho. My husband is working with the President's Malaria Initiative for a couple of years. So here I was with time on my hands and looking for something useful to do. I went on the Internet, found your organization, and you welcomed me with open arms. I called and was invited to come in.

Education is my background, so this was a good fit for me. It was an amazing thing because I was able to step right in. In terms of you being open to receiving me into the fold and letting me help in a way that I could was lovely.

Tell me about your experience so far volunteering with our ESL program.

Katherine: It has been delightful...I was also taking Spanish classes, which was a really humbling experience, and that was one of the reasons I felt I need to do something to help those on the other side of this because I know how much I am struggling. I have support, and I have books, and I have everything at my disposal...I have also lived over seas so I know what it is like not to be able to communicate.

My experience has been I come here for an hour and a half on Thursdays to a room full of eager, enthusiastic, happy women, whose needs are met. They have deposited their children with you, and they are anxious to learn. Their camaraderie is great. Their reception of me has been phenomenal...We just have a good time.

Has there been any one moment so far that stands out in your mind?

Katherine: I think for me the most touching thing is if I am asking a woman to speak who doesn't even have a strong voice for herself in her native language, and she is brave enough to try and say the words in a foreign language. If we can create an atmosphere where she is willing to try it, it is a beautiful moment. And there are lots of those little beautiful moments.

Moms with Cancer

We currently serve two children whose mothers have recently been diagnosed with cancer. Both mothers are single parents and are currently hospitalized. Neither woman has health insurance. One of women was informed at hospital that had she waited much longer she would have died. The other woman was told that following her treatments she would need to take a medication that costs $2,000 for one prescription. Joint efforts have found funds for one prescription, but the woman worries what will happen if she needs additional prescriptions. Both will unlikely be able to return to work anytime in the near future.

If you are interested in learning more about how you can help these mothers in their battle against cancer, please contact our Director of Family Support Services, Blanca Leyva at 703-836-0214.

Reports from the Field

The following reports come from CFNC's Family Support Services team that includes three social workers, an ESL instructor, and a Nurse Practitioner:

I recently visited a family of recent immigrants whose child is enrolled in one of our preschool programs. The parents have two young girls, both of whom were born in the US. During my visit, the father expressed concern about the feasibility of remaining in Virginia given the current anti-immigrant climate. After expressing interest in participating in one of our immigration information workshops, and while talking about ways to support their children’s education, I asked them what they saw in their daughters’ futures; what did they see their girls’ doing 15 years from now? Both parents looked at me dumbfounded. They had not thought that many years ahead. After thinking hard, the father sadly stated that they had been so concerned with their everyday struggles that they had not taken the time to consider their daughters’ futures. With tears in his eyes he said he wanted to see them with a career, living a better life. I pointed out to him that his daughters could achieve that because as American citizens they could attend college through scholarships. Neither parent thought that could be a possibility for their children. I encouraged them that it was not too early to begin speaking with their daughters about the importance of education, so that they could begin fostering a belief and expectation in their daughters that college was a part of their future. I also encouraged them to attend our immigration workshops in order to keep informed on what they could do to resolve their immigration status.

A mother, whose daughter was enrolled in our program last year, came into the office to ask for assistance with her daughter’s Kindergarten homework assignment. As we provided her with assistance, she informed us that her daughter’s Kindergarten teacher was very pleased with her daughter’s performance in school. The teacher asked her about her childcare prior to entering Kindergarten. The mother informed the teacher that her daughter had been attending CFNC. The teacher went on to tell the mother that she was very impressed with her daughter and that she was very impressed with CFNC and how well they prepared children for Kindergarten.

When I met recently with a single mother of one of our students, she expressed excitement about her son’s opportunity to attend preschool. As a low-income, single mother who receives no assistance from her son’s father, high-quality preschool would have been impossible for her son without CFNC. During my visit, she said she was concerned about her son’s speech development, and that he was supposed to have been evaluated but she had never been able to set up the appointment for him. She was also concerned about not working enough hours to support her son and wanted to find a full-time job that would allow her to drop off and pick up her son from school. Based on her two major concerns, we set two goals: one, to get her son the help he needed regarding speech development, and two, to find a full-time job. Together we listed ideas of where she could look for a job, and how best to seek employment. Following my visit, she met me at my office and filled out the required forms for her son to be evaluated for developmental delays. She also brought job applications in and we filled them out together. Now, just three weeks into the school year, she has completed her first two goals: Her son has been referred to a speech therapist and she has a new, full-time job that is very close to her home and allows her to drop off and pick up her son each day.

18-year-old A. came to CFNC’s Family Literacy class in the fall of 2005 and stayed for one year. She was an eager student and loved communicating with others. She found a job in the summer of 2006 at a Travel Agency and a catering service and wasn't able to attend classes the next fall. This past week, two years after I had last seen her, she came in to register herself and her sister-in-law for our ESL classes. She told me that she really wants to improve her English and that this was a good time to do it. She is four months pregnant and she quit her two jobs. I tested her and found that she had maintained most of the gain she made two years ago as a participant in our program. In fact, I noticed that she was using the present tense correctly when I asked her about her daily schedule. I was thrilled to hear that because teaching the different verb tenses is a continuous challenge in my classes. Most of my students typically use only one verb tense when they describe their actions in the past, future and present. She had remembered my lessons on daily schedules and other present tense applications.
She also told me that she had tutored her sister-in-law, and now wants to learn English so she can get a better job. Her goal is to get her GED in English and go to a community college to learn a profession. I am sure she'll learn a lot in the coming four months before her baby arrives. She might even come back after the delivery. Maria Lara, the CFNC babysitter, is fantastic and A. should have no problem leaving her little one with her. I feel confident that she will be ready to raise her child in America and will find a good job to support her family. -

Steps for Life

This past Spring CFNC experimented with a 6-week pilot pedometer walking program for parents called, Steps For Life, or Pasos Para Vivir. Eugenie Ballering, the Family Literacy Instructor, and I decided to offer the program first to those parents who were enrolled in our English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) classes. I received a mini-grant from a professional organization I belong to, the Northern Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners, to purchase anything needed to implement the program. Fortunately, Pfizer, Inc. donated pedometers, and the mini-grant funds were then able to be used for wonderful incentives. At the suggestion of a volunteer who was originally from a Latin American country, Eugenie and I chose incentives that would be culturally acceptable, and also would encourage the parents to be active with their families, such as kits containing outdoor games such as badminton, tether-ball and volleyball, DVD’s teaching dance as exercise, jump ropes, chalk for sidewalk games such as hopscotch, and more…

With the help of a bilingual English-Spanish volunteer interpreter, I was able to cover many more sophisticated concepts during class time than I could have if I had to do it all only in English. Many of our ESL students are at the beginner’s level in English. We covered such concepts as “SMART” (specific, measurable, action-oriented, realistic and time-bound) goals and goal setting, activity level (sedentary vs. various levels of activity), motivation, incentives (personal/internal vs. tangible/external), self-confidence, determination, and readiness to change. We spent a lot of time understanding the connections between personal behaviors, such as being more active, and health status, such as blood pressure level, weight, chronic illness, etc.

During our pedometer program, 24 parents used a pedometer as a wellness tool; 16 parents consistently kept track of their steps per day, formulated personal and/or family fitness and wellness goals, and began making progress toward those goals over the course of the 6 weeks. All received incentives and rewards throughout the program to help keep them motivated and active.

Some amazing outcomes resulted from this pilot program. One parent, who’d been experiencing daily headaches, was found to have very high blood pressure, and I referred her to a local clinic for further evaluation and treatment. She was immediately given medication to treat high blood pressure, and I counseled her about healthy lifestyle choices that would further help her to decrease her blood pressure, and might reduce her dependence on medication over time. Her involvement in Steps for Life directly resulted in this positive change for her life. Other parents began to lose weight, changed their eating habits to match their more healthy activity level, increased the amount of time they stretch and/or the number of steps they walk each day and drank more water. All participants set new fitness and wellness goals for themselves and/or their children. It was very exciting to see these healthy changes and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to be a part of this with them. Our parents are very inspiring!

by Donna Bain, Manager of Health Services

ESL Student's Leadership Makes A Difference

On Monday, April 14th at 6:00 pm a contingent of CFNC children, parents, ESL students and staff, converged on City Hall to ask the City Council to allocate surplus money to the Children’s Fund so that CFNC could continue to provide much needed services to Alexandria's low-income residents.

Approximately 25 children and parents met at our main office to show their support of CFNC's commitment to children and families. CFNC staff planned to use taxicabs to transport everyone; however, Andrea Sierra Aguilar rallied everyone to carpool so that CFNC would not have to incur any expenses. Her leadership was a success, and parents who had cars transported others to and from the event.

Andrea Sierra Aguilar is one of my oldest continuing clients. I first met her in 2001 when I started working here. She had started ESL classes at the old Presidential Greens site. Through the years, she attended English classes, as she was able per her work schedule. At present, she has gained enough command of the English language to get a better position in her job, and to be able to volunteer at our Birchmere center in our preschool classes. Andrea is so proud of being able to give back that she even designed and wears a CFNC volunteer badge. Andrea is a perfect example of an immigrant woman’s desire to better herself and attain the American Dream.

by Blanca Leyva, Director of Family Support Services

Mom's Learning Too!

Ana Paniagua from El Salvador joined our ESL classes in September 2007. She has one daughter, Yosselyn, who is in one of CFNC's preschool classes. Anna tested as a beginning ESL Literacy student when she started ESL. That means that she could only understand a few isolated words, and extremely simple learned phrases. Her vocabulary was limited to a few isolated words and she had no control of grammar.

Anna has been coming to the ESL classes regularly after she drops her daughter off in the morning. She has gradually become more comfortable in English. She has started helping other students in the class. She has told me how she uses learned vocabulary with her daughter. She reads the books she has read in class with her. She sings nursery rhymes with her and she volunteers in her daughter’s class.

She volunteered to read an English children’s book in her daughter’s class. She had received the book through the Reading Connection which had given a reading workshop in our ESL class. She had learned how to use rhyming words when reading to a child. She did exactly that when she read the book in her daughter’s class. She also acted the story out and she asked the preschoolers questions. The children loved it and her daughter was beaming with pride (they are both pictured above).

After 60 hours of ESL instruction she took a post ESL test. She became a High Intermediate ESL which means that she can now understand simple learned phrases easily, and can participate in basic conversations in a few very routine social situations. She has now some control of basic grammar.

By Eugenie Ballering, ESL Instructor