Parenting is often a journey taken without a clear roadmap, especially for those without a strong support system. For Frida Kallan, this was particularly true. A Jamaican immigrant who moved to the United States and eventually gave birth to her son Gabe. Frida faced the overwhelming task of navigating parenthood in a new country, alone. Shortly after having Gabe, she had trouble keeping her son on track with his developmental milestones and decided to reach out for help. This is how she met Evita Cotta, Family Development Coordinator, whose knowledge of community resources became a lifeline for Frida and her family.
Since working with Tri County Community Action, Gabe has continued to make strides in the program. Gabe had trouble expressing himself, and it was frustrating for both him and Frida. Through consistent sessions, Evita introduced engaging, tailored activities that sparked Gabe's interest and improved his ability to communicate with his mom. Evita also referred the family to early intervention, where he is currently working on improving his speech. While he is still facing some challenges with his fine motor skills, he is on track with all of his other developmental milestones.
But the program’s impact didn’t stop with Gabe. Frida has also seen a lot of improvement in her life thanks to the resources and guidance from Tri County Community Action. Frida is humble and does not usually like to ask for help from others. However, Evita is still always providing resources and when she does, Frida always follows her recommendations. Evita’s knowledge even helped Frida get childcare for her son, as she did not have any when she started the program. Evita also taught her how to be more engaging with her son, when trying to spend time with him. Evita’s guidance has helped Frida keep her son’s attention when reading by being more expressive and engaging. By adopting a more engaging approach, Frida noticed a remarkable difference in Gabe’s interest and attention. She had learned how to keep her son captivated and involved, strengthening their bond and creating lasting memories through learning and play.
As she moves on, she wants to work on obtaining her citizenship so that she can get a license and go back to school. As she progresses towards these goals, Evita’s resources and guidance proven to be valuable thus far and will continue to be. The Kallan family’s journey is a powerful example of how the Parents as Teachers program not only helps children thrive but also equips parents with the tools, confidence, and resources they need to be their child’s first and most important teacher.
