Doris
From the priority area Thriving Children

“The more educated I become the better off I will be,” Doris gently explains. It’s difficult to believe that eight years ago when Doris and her two children moved to New London she spoke limited English. As her two young children began attending school, Doris realized she wanted to help them with their educational pursuits and to do that, she had to improve her English and parenting skills. Doris has a tremendous desire to improve her education and instill that quality in her children.

Doris’ determination led her to Child & Family Agency’s Even Start Family Literacy program which provides integrated family literacy services through a collaboration established by the agency with New London Adult Education, TVCCA Head Start and LEARN. Doris immediately joined the weekly Parent Group and proved to be “a reliable attendee as well as contributor and occasional translator” according to Maggie Stokes of Child & Family Agency.

Of the Parent Group Doris says “It’s not just about getting together each week and sharing information, it’s about raising better children.”

Child & Family Agency’s Community Worker began child development Home Visits supplementing those provided by Head Start and soon after, Doris started attending work-oriented classes at Opportunities Industrialization Center (OIC). She now has a full-time job but her education, she says, continues. “I must keep learning so that I can help my children learn,” Doris explains. “Literacy and learning are my life. In order to put that value into my little one’s hearts I need to be prepared and well-educated.”

Child & Family Agency, LEARN and OIC are all United Way funded agencies.