Project connects local parents to community resources
Ligia Reis with husband Wesley, and sons Felipe and Tiago DANBURY, 06/03/09 - Dozens of community members, local organizations and dignitaries attended the presentation of the results of The Parent Resource Initiative held at Broadview Middle School.
A group of parent leaders worked side by side with Danbury Children First and community partners to create a plan to improve family access to the community services and supports needed to provide children a healthy and quality life. The goal of the initiative is to connect Danbury parents to resources and each other. To make that possible, a Parent Advisory Board was formed to make recommendations on the direction of the project. "We helped build the project's vision and act as the ambassadors of the initiative in the community," explained Leticia Rocha- Mier, Parent Co-chair.The information was gathered through parent surveys, community conversations on the quality of life for young children and families, community engagement interviews, social networking strategy sessions and focus groups.
Osiris Rosales, Daniel Fadul, Camilo Fadul, Pedro Nieto-Rocha, and Leticia Rocha-Mier According to Linda Kosko, Children's First Executive Director, 12 parents participated in the Social Networking Strategy Sessions. "The diverse thought and ideas of many parents were captured in a very informal setting," she said.A total of 80 participants partook in the community conversation; 24 members of the Danbury community were interviewed; 65 parents of diverse ethnicities participated in the focus groups, and 486 surveys were completed. The results from all sources were divided into four categories: access to family information, services and supports; quality of life issues; health, and education.
What they learned: "Parents get most of their information through the 'word of mouth'," said Leticia. Also that the knowledge of services was cited as a major barrier to access, and the service providers do find difficult to get the information to parents, along other discoveries."I think the survey was really helpful because it will show what people need in the community, and help develop a good resource center," said Osiris Rosales, 34, who completed the survey. Rosales idea was actually included on the next steps of the project where they plan to prioritize immediate actions to provide support to all Danbury parents. But this is not all. The Parent Resource Initiative will explore the possibility of a Parent Center, which was identified during the process as a means of connecting parents with resources and each other.
Parent Advisory Board: Mari Grajales, Adriana Mendoza, Darla Shaw, Tom Thomassen, Co-Chair Patti Keckeisen, Angelina Hernandez, Regina Lima, Marilia Chagas, Co-Chair Leticia Rocha-Mier, and Milagros Perez For more information about the Parent Resource Initiative, how to volunteer, or how to access the resources available in the community, please contact Danbury Children First at 203- 797-8088.
 Dignitaries Joe Arconti, Danbury Common Council members Paul Rotello, and Duane Perkins, Former Common Councilwoman Lynn Taborsak, and Board of Education member Robert Taborsak |
