Committing to Take Action with Familia Adelante
Ana and Alejandro were struggling to raise their two sons, Diego and Mateo, in Brooklyn. Diagnosed with autism, Diego required specialized support to succeed in school. Pouring all of their resources and energy into caring for their son was taking a toll on Ana and Alejandro’s relationship.
Wondering who they could turn to for help, the family recalled hearing about an organization called Familia Adelante (Family Forward) in their previous neighborhood that offered classes and programs to help families build economic stability, improve education and wellness. One day, Ana decided to ask a woman exiting the Familia Adelante center how she could get involved. The woman kindly took Ana inside and showed her an array of family programs including tutoring, therapy and health education classes. Ana quickly recognized that this was the right place for her family.
Familia Adelante matched Ana and her family with a life coach to help them identify their goals for the future and create a plan to achieve them. Together, the family set out to improve family relationships, decrease stress, assist Ana with her immigration process and find additional support for Diego through the New York social services network.
Next, Ana and Alejandro were connected with Familia Adelante’s Couples Reflection workshop, where they could have a safe space to process and manage previous trauma. With help from these classes, Alejandro dealt with the stress of his mother’s recent death in Mexico and now feels more emotionally available to care for the rest of his family. For Ana, the classes taught her to manage her stress and practice self-care as she recovers from the trauma of losing her first child. Through the workshop, the couple has learned to work together.
“My husband is more involved with the kids and has learned how to communicate with the family a lot better,” Ana says. Both parents have decreased their anxiety and are able to spend more quality time together.
Ana and Alejandro have also secured assistance for their sons, enrolling them in therapeutic counseling which has helped them manage their stress too. With guidance from Familia Adelante, Ana enrolled David in the New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities so he can receive additional support.
Feeling more confident and secure, Ana is now working to update her immigration status through Familia Adelante’s immigration services department. “I previously was very confused by everything that the lawyer was telling me to do. The lawyer wouldn’t explain things to me,” Ana says. “With the help of Familia Adelante, I was able to read through and better understand my case. My lawyer has now submitted my immigration papers and I hope to become a U.S. resident soon.”
By identifying their family goals and committing to take action, Ana and Alejandro were able to focus on their priorities. Together, they made progress towards goals that had long felt out of reach and too stressful to manage, such as navigating complex health and citizenship systems and managing family challenges. The family attended a recent outdoor weekend camp activity organized by Familia Adelante to further reach their goal of improving family relationships.
“We were able to realize as a family that we needed to improve our communication. During that weekend, we were able to receive family counseling while the kids were out playing,” Ana says. “It was a weekend that changed our life as a family.”
Today, Ana and her husband send many other families to Familia Adelante. Ana recognizes it as a safe place for families new to the U.S. — a place where they can find the tools and social support they need to build the futures they dream of as a family.
“People who aren’t from the U.S. are very skeptical about programs that offer to help them. I reassure them that this program does help a lot,” Ana shares.
Ana and Alejandro now have the confidence and tools to plan ahead, set life priorities and thrive together as a family. They are excited for what is to come.
