Melissa Sanchez is a Family Advocate in our Early Head Start Child Care Partnership Program. The role of a Family Advocate is critical to family and child success. It’s what sets Early Head Start and Head Start apart from other early learning programs.
Every family enrolled in our Early Head Start and Head Start programs is paired with a Family Advocate, whose focus is on improving family well-being and child outcomes. The family advocate works in partnership with the parents or guardians to establish goals, provide support, and assist with community referrals.
When Melissa reflects on her caseload, she says it can be overwhelming at times. It’s hard to believe the occurrence and intensity of poverty and violence that is reality for too many families in our community. She navigates this by focusing on the individual family and the actions they can take to improve their lives for the benefit of their children.
“Families need different things from us. They are all at different stages when they come through our doors,” said Melissa. “Our job is to meet them where they are and empower them to make the changes they are capable of making to support their child.”
The work she does is life-changing.
Melissa sees clients who go back to school when their child comes to Children’s Friend, and by the
time the child heads to kindergarten, the parent is graduating with their master’s degree. She’s helped
parents navigate custody battles, domestic violence, housing insecurity, health challenges, and major life circumstances, all while keeping their child safe and connected to stability through their Head Start community.
“What sets Children’s Friend apart is our ability to walk with families. They trust us, and in turn, they are supported and can make incremental changes to better their lives,” said Melissa. “There is a reason we’ve existed for over 190 years. There are a lot of nonprofits, but none like this, none with the level of experience, community connections, and commitment.”
Melissa says parents often express disbelief at the amount of support Children’s Friend can offer, stating, “I have gone to so many organizations, and nobody has actually helped me, but you did.”
Family advocates, like Melissa, work behind the scenes to ensure that children and families in Early Head Start and Head Start can have better opportunities and outcomes that last for generations.