Parent Empowerment Services (PES) include all of the programs that Edu-Futuro provides for free to help parents address issues that may be hindering positive family functioning, financial stability, and adaptation to life in the United States. Edu-Futuro offers evidence-based curriculums, workshops, and individual case management services that empower immigrant parents to become more involved in their children’s lives and education, help improve financial security, and strengthen interfamily cohesiveness.
FAQ's
How much do the programs cost?
All of our parent empowerment programs are free.
I do not understand the school system here in the US.
We have two different programs that can teach you how to navigate the school systems. Participa... en mi educación is for parents of elementary and middle school students, Padres Comprometidos is for parents of high school students who are considering applying and attending college. These programs are just for parents but Padres Comprometidos has the component of teaching parents strategies to have a healthy and positive communication with their adolescents.
Will my student/students participate in the programs?
We offer two programs where your student/students will participate. Strengthening Families, which is for students between the ages of 10 and 14, consists of 7 sessions for parents and youth. Also, Families Reunite, which is a three-day program: the two first sessions are just for parents and the third one is for parents with the student/students who were reunified.
What languages are the programs offered in?
Primarily Spanish, but we also provide classes in English.
How long are the programs?
Our programs vary from 3 to 7 sessions, 3 to 7 weeks. Depending on the program each session lasts from 90 minutes to 2 hours.
What should I do if I cannot attend a session or I am late?
You can contact us through the Whatsapp Groups that will be created once you join the program, and let us know if you cannot make it on a specific day or anything related to the program. Also if you have connection problems, just let us know, we will be able to assist you.
How do I sign up for the programs?
You can sign up through our website. The links can be found under the Programs tab on the Parent Empowerment Services page.
What information do I need to provide to sign up for a program?
You will be contacted by a member of our staff who will need to collect some personal information that will not be shared outside of Edu-Futuro.
When are the programs held?
Our programs are usually held on weekday evenings, between 5:30 and 8:00 pm.
I need help to pay for my rent and/or utility bills.
We have case management services that can assist you and connect you with resources.
I lost my job and I need help to find a new one.
Our workforce development service staff can work with you to help you find a new position.
Programs: Participa… en mi Educacion · Strengthening Families 10-14
Padres Comprometidos · Families Reunite
Services: Case Management
Case Management Services
Case Management Services: We revamped our individual case management to provide emergency assistance to the parents of the students we serve, and beyond. If you want to receive references to free financial assistance, free food, and more resources, please sign-up for our interest list by clicking here.
We're able to support families in Fairfax County, Prince William County, Arlington County, and the City of Alexandria, in Northern Virginia.
Programs: Participa… en mi Educacion · Strengthening Families 10-14
Padres Comprometidos · Families Reunite
Services: Case Management
PARTICIPA… en mi Educacion
PARTICIPA… en mi Educacion: (Arlington & Fairfax County): a course originally developed by APS and adopted by Edu-Futuro in 2010 that teaches immigrant parents how to navigate the school system in order to support and advocate more effectively for their children’s schooling. Parents who have gone through PARTICIPA consistently rate its workshops very highly, and many of the immigrant parents who are active in PTAs or countywide committees have gone through the program.
Programs: Participa… en mi Educacion · Strengthening Families 10-14
Padres Comprometidos · Families Reunite
Services: Case Management
Strengthening Families 10-14
Strengthening Families 10-14: (Arlington & Fairfax County) This program (SFP 10-14) was developed by the Iowa State University to reduce problematic behaviors in youth 10 to 14 years of age. The program helps parents and youth to develop strategies to resist peer pressure that leads to risky behaviors. Parents learn how to supervise their adolescents in a more active and pro-active way and to stimulate healthy and positive family reunions that according to research, decrease family conflicts and contribute to lower levels of substance use and abuse.
This is a wonderful program that has been offered in Fairfax County for several years and has had excellent outcomes in improving communication between parents and teenagers. This program consists in 7 sessions of two and a half hours each.
Topics covered:
- Love & Affection
- Peer pressure resistance
- Finding family values
- Better communication skills
- Problem solving
- Goal setting
- Understanding each other better
Programs: Participa… en mi Educacion · Strengthening Families 10-14
Padres Comprometidos · Families Reunite
Services: Case Management
Padres Comprometidos
The Padres Comprometidos Program has been offered by Edu-Futuro since 2015. Before the COVID–19 Pandemic, this program was delivered in person and to different High Schools in Fairfax county through and with the collaboration, coordination, and partnership of school staff and school parent liaisons.
This program helps immigrant parents of High School level youth, learn to navigate the United States public school system, develop goals for their children to ensure they attend college, understand the academic requirements for college readiness, and model behaviors at home that encourage and promote learning. Since last Spring, Edu-Futuro has been successfully providing this program and service virtually via Zoom to families in Fairfax county as well as other local areas.
The program requires a commitment from the family of one day a week, 1.5 hours per week for 7 weeks. The sessions are usually in the evening when it is typically more convenient for parents to participate.
During the program sessions, professionals such as parent liaisons, H. S. Principals and staff, and local colleges, are invited to join the families and share their knowledge and perspective about the youth’s journey of successfully navigating High School and getting to college, including information on how to apply for financial aid and other resources. After successful completion of the program, parents receive a certificate of completion and are invited to share a video of themselves and their family about how they will support their youth going forward based on the lessons learned.
This service and program is completely free to our beneficiaries and is made possible through a partnership with this Nationally known organization called: UnidosUS, formerly the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), which is the nation’s largest Latino civil rights and advocacy organization. Through their unique combination of research, advocacy, programs, and a national network of nearly 300 community-based Affiliate organizations like Edu-Futuro, across the country, UnidosUS simultaneously challenges the social, economic, and political barriers that affect Latinos in the United States.
Programs: Participa… en mi Educacion · Strengthening Families 10-14
Padres Comprometidos · Families Reunite
Services: Case Management
Families Reunite
Immigrant Family Reunification Program (“Families Reunite”): (Fairfax County Only). This program was designed to help rebuild relationships between parents and children who were separated during the immigration process and have recently or in previous years been reunited.
The curriculum, that was developed by Fairfax County Public Schools, helps parents develop strategies to resolve conflicts that impact their children’s well-being and internal family function, while alleviating the effects of trauma that may have occurred during the separation and reunification process.
This program is delivered in Spanish and consists in two 3-hour sessions for parents and one 3-hour session for parents with their children. Two facilitators follow a curriculum that will help the parents understand and identify their children’s behavior and learn strategies to deal with them. They learn about the importance of love and affection and communication skills.
Edu-Futuro
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