Have you ever felt overwhelmed taking care of your young child? Have you ever been on the outs with your family? Did you ever need a place to turn to for advice? Have you ever been in love?
“It is unbelievable to me how much has happened in the past two years. I was pregnant, not married, and really scared about the future. Now I am a mother, married, and working. Thanks to UCM, my family and I are making it on our own, financially and emotionally. UCM has given me the strength to reach my goals to support our family and be the best parent I can be.” - Camila, UCM Healthy Families Fairfax client
Two-and-a-half year-old Isaac, Camila’s son, has finished his lunch and is almost ready for an afternoon nap. His mother brings over a board book, props him up on her lap, and points at the pictures. “See the dog? What does a doggie say?” she asks her young son. Eager for his mother’s attention, Isaac smiles and imitates the dog with a “woof.”
“He’s looking and enjoys what you are saying,” says Martha Becar, UCM’s Family Support Worker who visits Camila’s home every other week. “His eyes and body language are telling you he is ready to learn! Ask him what else he sees.”
Martha is just one of UCM’s trained staff who provide caring support to dozens of young parents like Camila and her husband Alex, guiding them to positive parenting skills so they can become better teachers for their children. “Camila immigrated to our community at age 14 with her mother and sisters, from the Dominican Republic, about 10 years ago,” explains Martha. “She did not finish high school, as she needed to work full-time to help her family survive. She was 7 months pregnant when she was referred by the Health Department to Healthy Families Fairfax and began working with me at home visits.”
Martha was able to guide Camila with information about her pregnancy, baby development, and parenting. She encouraged Camila to develop a Family Goal Plan which included working toward her GED: “My first goals were to be the best mother I could be and to save money to get a laptop, so I could get my GED online while I was working. Neither of us have had good role models for parents. Ms. Martha taught us both so much about what being a loving family really means.”
Martha referred both Camila and Alex to job coaches. Now working as a painter, Alex plans to enroll in English classes at the UCM Progeso Center, so he can move up for a better paying job. For now, Camila’s grandmother is caring for Isaac while she works full-time at a daycare center. “Our family goal is to get certified to operate a daycare in our home,” she says. “And we are well on the way to that!”
Camila’s story is proof of the changes you can make in real lives for neighbors who are struggling. With your donation to UCM, you enable people like Camila and Alex to build that better future for their family.
We offer help and hope to adults seeking to do better for their children. Our services inspire lifelong changes like Camila describes that break the cycle of generational poverty. You make a critical, direct impact to change lives with your gift to UCM. Together, we stabilize, empower, and engage people to inspire success.
We invite you to be part of the success of people like Camila and Alex. Make your donation today by mail or click here to donate online with credit card. Together, we change lives -- and lift up all our hearts. Thank you!
“It is unbelievable to me how much has happened in the past two years. I was pregnant, not married, and really scared about the future. Now I am a mother, married, and working. Thanks to UCM, my family and I are making it on our own, financially and emotionally. UCM has given me the strength to reach my goals to support our family and be the best parent I can be.” - Camila, UCM Healthy Families Fairfax client
Two-and-a-half year-old Isaac, Camila’s son, has finished his lunch and is almost ready for an afternoon nap. His mother brings over a board book, props him up on her lap, and points at the pictures. “See the dog? What does a doggie say?” she asks her young son. Eager for his mother’s attention, Isaac smiles and imitates the dog with a “woof.”
“He’s looking and enjoys what you are saying,” says Martha Becar, UCM’s Family Support Worker who visits Camila’s home every other week. “His eyes and body language are telling you he is ready to learn! Ask him what else he sees.”
Martha is just one of UCM’s trained staff who provide caring support to dozens of young parents like Camila and her husband Alex, guiding them to positive parenting skills so they can become better teachers for their children. “Camila immigrated to our community at age 14 with her mother and sisters, from the Dominican Republic, about 10 years ago,” explains Martha. “She did not finish high school, as she needed to work full-time to help her family survive. She was 7 months pregnant when she was referred by the Health Department to Healthy Families Fairfax and began working with me at home visits.”
Martha was able to guide Camila with information about her pregnancy, baby development, and parenting. She encouraged Camila to develop a Family Goal Plan which included working toward her GED: “My first goals were to be the best mother I could be and to save money to get a laptop, so I could get my GED online while I was working. Neither of us have had good role models for parents. Ms. Martha taught us both so much about what being a loving family really means.”
Martha referred both Camila and Alex to job coaches. Now working as a painter, Alex plans to enroll in English classes at the UCM Progeso Center, so he can move up for a better paying job. For now, Camila’s grandmother is caring for Isaac while she works full-time at a daycare center. “Our family goal is to get certified to operate a daycare in our home,” she says. “And we are well on the way to that!”
Camila’s story is proof of the changes you can make in real lives for neighbors who are struggling. With your donation to UCM, you enable people like Camila and Alex to build that better future for their family.
We offer help and hope to adults seeking to do better for their children. Our services inspire lifelong changes like Camila describes that break the cycle of generational poverty. You make a critical, direct impact to change lives with your gift to UCM. Together, we stabilize, empower, and engage people to inspire success.
We invite you to be part of the success of people like Camila and Alex. Make your donation today by mail or click here to donate online with credit card. Together, we change lives -- and lift up all our hearts. Thank you!
