Peninsula Family Connections

For more than 23 years, Family Connections has provided educational services to low-income families in San Mateo County, including tuition-free preschool, parent education, and links to community services.  Parents participate in preschool classes with their children, from newborn to five-years old, in a unique program that provides education for not only their children but also themselves. Parents get involved in their children’s education, and, as a result, their children are more prepared for kindergarten and beyond.

The impact we have on the entire family will last much longer than the classroom time they spend with us during a child’s formative years! 

Claudia and her son, Cristian, have been attending Family Connections since September.  Here is their experience:

“Since our first day I have been amazed by the way the children behave and participate in the program. They play, sing, and share!  Best of all, there is help for parents too.  We learn how to be leaders in the classroom and to guide our children for a positive future.

“My son Cristian is two years old and he has changed a lot since we started last fall. He is always excited to learn new things and make new friends. I am so happy to see him develop thanks to the support and care of teacher Angela. 

“There was a time when I felt frustrated because my family was going through a difficult period after my mother had a stroke. I felt sad all of the time.  During a Family Connections parent support group, we talked about ourselves as people and not just parents.  I finally felt comfortable enough to open up and share my feelings.  Afterwards, I asked the Program Director for help finding counseling.  Family Connections showed me how to contact my insurance and then was able to accelerate the process because I didn’t have an assigned primary care physician yet.  The help was so effective that I have already had three appointments with my counselor and feel much better.”

Claudia’s story is a familiar one at Family Connections.  We teach, guide and help 600 family members each year!  We are committed to providing tuition-free preschool in a co-op setting to low-income families in Redwood City, East Palo Alto, and East Menlo Park – while at the same time offering supportive services and parenting skills for the whole family.  Over the next six weeks:

• 100% of our preschoolers will graduate prepared for success in kindergarten next fall,

• Our parents will participate in two more workshops designed to strengthen their parenting skills and leadership abilities – bringing the total number of workshops that they have attended this academic year to eight,

• We will welcome our 3rd cohort of students into our Young Scholars Program where they will receive ongoing academic and social support from kindergarten through high school, and

• We will continue to provide wrap-around case-managed support to families who needed additional help overcoming the barriers they may face.

We need your help again today.  Please consider donating to Family Connections and help empower our community’s at-risk children and their parents to learn, grow, and dream.  Together, we can make a lasting difference for our families and for our community.  Thank you!