Padres Unidos, in collaboration with the Juvenile Justice System and the Office of Restorative Justice, offers five different programs to strengthen families of youth at different levels of the adjudication process. These programs’ overarching goals are to improve communication and cooperation between families, the Probation Department, the larger juvenile justice system, and their communities.
These programs increase family resilience and promote the reintegration of incarcerated youth into their family and society, while promoting a culture of shared responsibility and education.
Programs
- Family Support and Information Program – Supply Community Workers to families of incarcerated youth; 1) providing information and support, 2) helping to build family resilience, 3) Increasing communication within families and the Juvenile Justice Systems
- Parent Outreach and Education Program – 1) Provide parents, through education, and support, the opportunity to demystify the negative myths and hopelessness generated by the incarceration of youth 2) Build safer and stronger families and communities for youth to return to after incarceration by strengthening parenting knowledge and abilities.
- Parent and Teen Conjoint Program – 1) Provide a dual program for incarcerated teens and parents to integrate and strengthen the family’s coexistence structure and increase parents’ response to youth’s destructive behaviors. 2) Create a space where dialogue patterns and plans are established.
- Parent Mentor and Ongoing Support Program – 1) Provide ongoing guidance, training and support to parents who have completed the Parent Outreach and Education component and are able to help other parents through the Juvenile Court Process, 2) Participate in the development of a safety net system between the different stakeholders, 3) Provide mentors the opportunity to apply for a scholarship to Chapman University’s Paraprofessional Community Worker program
Outcomes
- Over 400 parents and youths participated in all four program modules
- 140 parents graduated from our Outreach and Education module
- An increase of over 800% in participation in our Outreach and Education program from previous program providers
- Doug Sanger, Division Director of Juvenile Hall, stated, “Padres Unidos understands the culture so well – the community. They are non-judgmental and meet parents where they are.”
How You Can Help
Padres Unidos strives to provide outreach, support, and education to all families who have incarcerated youth. Your support is critical to continue providing quality programs that meet these families’ specific needs.
- Individual Donations
- Business Sponsorships
- Private Foundation Grants
- For more information, please contact:
- Dr. Patricia Huerta-Meza, JH Program Director
- P.O. Box 1258
- Santa Ana, CA 92702
- patty.meza@ocpu.org
- (949) 690-7802