Family Focus

A 2011 grant from Nuestro Futuro has helped to expand Nuestros Niños/Our Children early education programming to Melrose Park.

Family Focus knows that the best way to promote children’s well-being is to support and strengthen whole families, giving parents and caregivers confidence as the primary educators of their children. One-year-old Narsaly may not understand their mission statement yet, but she is feeling the benefits in so many ways.

Narsaly's mother Viviana first brought her to the Nuestros Niños program in August 2010. Viviana was reserved at first, keeping apart from other parents and focusing solely on her daughter, who was deeply attached and would not leave her mother's side.

Viviana's patience and consistency helped Narsaly feel more secure and begin to take steps on her own, confident that mom would always be safely nearby. She began to join the children's activities and soon blossomed into a happy, independent child—with a passion for dancing.

Since those difficult early days, Viviana has had a transformation of her own. She now speaks more openly about her family, and about the isolation that being away from extended family and outside the professional workforce can bring. Attending Nuestra Familia Center activities has provided support and solidarity, even inspiring Viviana to lead group activities and share experiences from her native country.

More recently, Narsaly's father has made his own connection to Family Focus. Noting the positive changes in his wife and daughter, he first attended a few family sessions, then helped celebrate Thanksgiving and December Holiday Festivals. Today, Dad comes to Family Focus for computer classes while Mom studies English—and both support their daughter as she becomes ready for school.

Learn more about Nuestro Futuro, the Trust's affiliate that supports programs improving the quality of life of Latinos in metropolitan Chicago.