Parents as Teachers:
A Family Story
During a recent interview with Grandmother Alejandra Colmenares, she was honored to share how the Parents as Teachers program has profoundly impacted both her life and the life of her grandson, Eric. Here is their story:
Alejandra Colmenares’ journey with Parents as Teachers began when her grandson, Eric, was just two years old. One of their first encounters with the program involved the ASQ-3 assessment, which was used to evaluate
Eric’s development. The results indicated that Eric might experience delays, particularly in speech and social skills. Alejandra also shared that Eric was facing challenges with eating. She recalls this as a particularly difficult time for their family.
Eric is Alejandra’s biological grandson, and she has cared for him since the day he was born. She has been his permanent guardian since he was one. Alejandra’s daughter, Eric’s biological mother, also needed support in developing parenting skills, so she participated in most of the Parents as Teachers visits alongside Alejandra.
Once they joined the Parents as Teachers program, their experience became truly transformative. Within a few months, Eric began speaking more confidently, and her daughter took on a more active role in his care. Alejandra recalls that when Eric turned three, their parent educator introduced them to the PEEPS program and encouraged them to enroll him in preschool. With the help of tuition scholarships and the guidance of their Parent Educator, Eric was enrolled at Holloway Elementary Preschool within a week. Today, Eric is thriving in kindergarten at the same school, and the growth he has shown is remarkable.
Alejandra also shared that the support from Parents as Teachers extended beyond Eric’s development. Having him in preschool allowed her to focus on her own health needs and rekindle her professional ambitions. Encouraged by their parent educator, Alejandra began working with Danville Services of Arizona in August 2023.
The Danville Services program has enriched their lives with beautiful experiences through Group Connections activities. They’ve had the opportunity to explore the Valley of the Moon, visit the Children’s Museum, tour Reid Park Zoo, and attend community festivals. Alejandra described these moments as priceless for their family.
One particularly proud moment that Alejandra shared was when Eric performed in his first piano recital.
Today, Alejandra’s daughter has gained stability, living in her own apartment and sharing in the responsibility of raising Eric. Alejandra remains deeply grateful for their parent educator, who continues to inspire and support them with valuable resources to help their family thrive.
The Parents as Teachers program has not only helped Eric and Alejandra overcome challenges but has also opened doors to new opportunities, creating a brighter future for their family.
Parents as Teachers: A Family Story
During a recent interview with Grandmother Alejandra Colmenares, she was honored to share how the Parents as Teachers program has profoundly impacted both her life and the life of her grandson, Eric. Here is their story:
Alejandra Colmenares’ journey with Parents as Teachers began when her grandson, Eric, was just two years old. One of their first encounters with the program involved the ASQ-3 assessment, which was used to evaluate
Eric’s development. The results indicated that Eric might experience delays, particularly in speech and social skills. Alejandra also shared that Eric was facing challenges with eating. She recalls this as a particularly difficult time for their family.
Eric is Alejandra’s biological grandson, and she has cared for him since the day he was born. She has been his permanent guardian since he was one. Alejandra’s daughter, Eric’s biological mother, also needed support in developing parenting skills, so she participated in most of the Parents as Teachers visits alongside Alejandra.
Once they joined the Parents as Teachers program, their experience became truly transformative. Within a few months, Eric began speaking more confidently, and her daughter took on a more active role in his care. Alejandra recalls that when Eric turned three, their parent educator introduced them to the PEEPS program and encouraged them to enroll him in preschool. With the help of tuition scholarships and the guidance of their Parent Educator, Eric was enrolled at Holloway Elementary Preschool within a week. Today, Eric is thriving in kindergarten at the same school, and the growth he has shown is remarkable.
Alejandra also shared that the support from Parents as Teachers extended beyond Eric’s development. Having him in preschool allowed her to focus on her own health needs and rekindle her professional ambitions. Encouraged by their parent educator, Alejandra began working with Danville Services of Arizona in August 2023.
The Danville Services program has enriched their lives with beautiful experiences through Group Connections activities. They’ve had the opportunity to explore the Valley of the Moon, visit the Children’s Museum, tour Reid Park Zoo, and attend community festivals. Alejandra described these moments as priceless for their family.
One particularly proud moment that Alejandra shared was when Eric performed in his first piano recital.
Today, Alejandra’s daughter has gained stability, living in her own apartment and sharing in the responsibility of raising Eric. Alejandra remains deeply grateful for their parent educator, who continues to inspire and support them with valuable resources to help their family thrive.
The Parents as Teachers program has not only helped Eric and Alejandra overcome challenges but has also opened doors to new opportunities, creating a brighter future for their family.
