CHILDREN'S TRUST FOUNDATION GRANTS SUPPORT:

• New parents

• People who want to learn how to better communicate with, discipline, nurture, and bond with the children in their lives

• People who are coping with the challenges of parenthood, along with the stresses of economic hardship, job loss, language barriers, recent immigration, etc.

• People who simply want to strengthen their parenting skills and build positive family relationships that last a lifetime

HERE ARE A FEW OF THEIR STORIES:

Mallory's Story

Mallory Wilton’s life changed fast when she turned 21—but not in the same way as her college-age peers. Her transition into adulthood included marriage and instantly becoming a step-mother to a five-year-old. Soon Mallory also unexpectedly became pregnant with Amelia. With no health insurance, a crippling debt, and an estranged family, Mallory was scared. “I needed someone to walk me through this,” she shares.

Laura's Story

We work for parents like Laura. When Laura joined the Childbirth and Parenting Alone (CAPA) program in Spokane, she was just that—alone and isolated. Now Laura is a member of CAPA’s Leadership Team, a committee that plans and implements CAPA activities.

Maricela's Story

Maricela Sanchez is not a mother—yet. She and her husband, Alfonso, plan to start a family soon and toget ready she sought parent education by joining a Community Café. As a recent immigrant, Maricela faced special stresses.

Fortunately, a friend invited Maricela to join Familias Latinas, a Spanish-speaking Community Café hosted at the Family Support Center of South Sound.

Imelda's Story

Even though Imelda shared a home with her husband and five children when she first reached out to Angle Lake Family Resource Center two years ago, she still felt isolated. After all, she had left most of her family behind in Guanajuato, Mexico when she immigrated to the United States. Imelda knew that she needed a support system in order to tackle both the daily stresses of parenting and the challenge of living in a foreign culture with her limited English.

Imelda’s search for help brought her to Angle Lake, where nearly 40% of Angle Lake’s 1,500 participants are Spanish-speaking parents. 

Soriya & Aun's Story

Soriya Ton and her mother, Aun Neov, consider NewHolly Youth & Family Center Program Manager Sue Siegenthaler a member of their family. The Cambodian family of seven was dealing with the challenges of recent immigration when they first reached out to the Family Support Center twelve years ago and have been actively involved ever since.  

Elizabeth's Story

Elizabeth Bernal is no stranger to the rewards of parenting classes. Experience has taught her that the more resources a parent taps into the better. “I love continually coming to parenting classes,” the mother of two shares. "It gives you a reminder all the time and it takes time to make skillful parenting a habit.”

The Renton Area Youth and Family Services West Hill Family Center’s Strengthening Multi-Ethnic Families and Communities class is a family affair for Elizabeth, her husband Jose Antonio Garcia, and sons Emmanuel, age 4, and Matthew, 5 months.

Heather's Story
Heather Burrell had always had patience to spare with her young daughter. But the sudden death of her husband left her reeling with grief and the stress of single-parenthood in a city where she had no family and few friends.

“I started really losing my patience with her and I didn’t like it,” Heather says as she plays with Ivy, age 2½. “There were times when I just didn’t know what to do.”   

Anna's Story
After her English lesson, Anna Rosales rejoins her two-year-old son Manuel in a cheerful South Everett classroom. He raises his arms wide as the young mother reunites with the bright toddler with an engaging smile.

Anna has learned all her English over the past year from Edmonds Community College instructor Diane Riegner, an early childhood education specialist and family literacy coordinator. Diane’s classes fuse teaching English as a Second Language with parenting skills for Spanish-speaking moms and dads.  

Anh's Story
In an activity room decorated with paper lanterns, origami cranes and other kid art, the Friday morning Play and Learn group is drawing fish. Parents and grandparents bend over the children to help little hands hold big crayons or get the caps off the markers.

The project is the culmination of a busy morning at the International Family Center in Seattle’s International District. From the time they arrive at 9:30 a.m. to the time they leave at 11, the kids are occupied—first with puzzles and stacking toys, then with story time, music and movement, and finally arts and crafts.