LAYC Staff Share Expertise in Annual Conference

Staff members from the Latin American Youth Center’s Family-to-Family Mentoring program were invited to share their expertise on Latino family issues amongst scores of community activists from across Washington, DC working with TANF and low-income families.

As panelists at the “Family Matters-An Essential Connection” workshop held in mid August as part of a training organized by the Income Maintenance Administration, Division of Program Development and Training, Maria Inma Iglesias, Coordinator, and Alezandra Russell, Parent Educator, discussed best practices from LAYC’s successful Family-to-Family Mentoring program, which has served more than 130 participants since its launch in November 2006.

LAYC’s Family-to-Family, funded by DC’s Department of Human Services, offers TANF and low-income families essential parenting skills and support to strengthen family relationships and promote self-sufficiency.

Iglesias and Russell described challenges low-income Latino families face that can prevent them from achieving success in their households and elsewhere. Some of those challenges include lack of English as second language skills, inadequate housing, lack of communication, teen pregnancy, immigration worries, etc. If not dealt with, these challenges can lead to a set of consequences such as financial instability, unawareness about community resources, and inability to move beyond welfare dependency.

Rather than focusing on deficits, LAYC programming acknowledges, encourages, and builds upon family strengths.

Families in the program receive fourteen to sixteen weeks of training in the areas of parenting and life skills, including topics such as child development, child discipline, self-esteem, stress management, budget management, job interviewing skills, family planning, substance abuse, and domestic violence.  The trainings are based on the Strengthening Multi-Ethnic Families and Communities curriculum which has been adapted to better serve the participants’ needs.  English and computer classes are also provided to assist participants in increasing their life skills and becoming more self-sufficient.  Families also receive weekly case management services to help them achieve their personal and professional goals.  In addition to training and support, families in the program are paired with mentors who have successfully achieved self-sufficiency.

Throughout the duration of the program, participants also engage in a variety of activities organized by LAYC ranging from ice cream socials, tours, and health fairs, which enables them to interact with peers and family members.

Families who have participated credit their newfound independence and success to the program.

Participants have said:

“[The program] has helped me build my self-confidence.”

“What I enjoyed the most about the program was interacting with other people and the workshops.  I now feel more confident with my English language speaking abilities and I am more aware of community resources available to me.”

The panel was moderated by Dr. Janet Burton, Director of Social Work Program at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC), and it also featured Jacqui Hamilton, program director at Sasha Bruce Youthwork, Inc.

For more information about the program contact Maria Inma Iglesias at 202-319-1239; mariai@layc-dc.org.