Stories of Impact
When Mayra and her eldest daughter Mariel moved to Napa six years ago, they were going through some growing pains. With a new baby on the way, the two moved to a bigger place to make room for their growing family, but they lacked some essentials to make their house a home. Plus, with so much of Mayra’s focus on the baby-on-the-way, Mariel was missing her mom’s undivided attention.
Patricia moved to Napa in December of 2019, just months before the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered the world, forcing everyone to bunker down at home. It was an isolating time, and just a year into the pandemic, Patricia welcomed her first child, Paula. Due to the COVID shutdowns and living in a new city, Patricia found herself struggling as a new mom with few social connections and little support.
As a mother of five children under the age of fourteen, Iris’s peaceful manner is notable. When we meet with Iris and Anahi, her former Family Support Specialist, Iris is composed and put together. Small silver earrings dangle from her ears, and she wears a swath of berry lipstick. Her composure exudes self-confidence and self-knowledge.
But before Iris came to Cope, her confidence was on shakier ground. Iris first learned of Cope through a flyer at a health fair when she was a young mother caring for her children while their father worked to provide for the family. Iris had three daughters at the time, and although she was managing, she knew she needed support. It was with her youngest, at one years old, that Iris entered Cope’s Parents as Teachers Home Visiting Program.
When Guadalupe first came to Cope Family Center, she was newly single and consumed with anxiety about being a first-time mom. At the time, Guadalupe was being treated by a counselor for anxiety and depression, but her counselor felt she could use additional support. Guadalupe was referred to Cope Family Center, where she enrolled in the Home Visiting Program.
Working with her Home Visitor, Anahi, Guadalupe learned about her daughter’s development, built positive parenting skills, and became more confident in herself as a parent.
Now, seven months after graduating from the program, we caught up with Guadalupe and her daughter, Brisa, to see how they are doing. At almost six years old, Brisa is now in kindergarten, and according to Guadalupe, she is thriving.
