Family Center Quotes & Success Stories ~

“The Bayfield Family Center was able to help us out with a food box from the Bayfield Family Center Food Bank to hold over my family while I was between jobs. My children attend the Bayfield Family Center After School program which allows me to work a full 40 hour week and have my children in a quality educational program and receive tutoring help and have their homework done before I pick them up to head home.”

“Without the Family Center of Durango I would have gone crazy! They were able to offer me developmental information and support through the playgroups for my 3 month old. I was new to town and did not have a support system, I sure do now!”

A family of 5 moved from Phoenix to live in the woods of Hermosa Creek Trail. The father decided to leave the mother and 3 kids (ages 7, 4 and 2 years) with all the money and forms of identification. With no car and no where to go this family hitched a ride into Durango. The mother was transporting all of their belongings in the stroller and fortunately met someone who referred them to the Family Center. The Family Center coordinator was able to work out a plan of action as well as provide food and financial assistance, refer the family to a shelter, help find housing, and connect them to other services (ID).

A single, pregnant Spanish speaking woman was unable to receive pre-natal care. Despite her several attempts at receiving adequate care she was unable to get help due to language barriers, lack of financial resources, misinformation or by a gap in services. Fortunately she heard about the Family Center through word of mouth. She asks in a timid voice “Do you know how I could see a doctor?” The Family Center coordinator was able to refer this woman to San Juan Basin Health, provide her physical transportation, translate the doctor’s instructions, link her with other resources and a lift pass showing her where the important stops were. This individual was able to receive ongoing support (items such as car seats and clothes) and became empowered to live in her community.

One couple and their 4 year old son have had success using the Safe Exchange program for a year now. The parents share a great deal of conflict between the two of them and have joint custody of their son. Along with that, the mother often reports up to 5 restraining order violations to the Police Dept. every week against the father. Despite this high level of conflict, the child has remained sheltered from it through Safe Exchange. He is dropped off at our safe, calming and comfortable Family Center through a third party and is later picked up by the other parent. The parents are able to avoid conflict which reduces stress levels for everyone. But more importantly the child is able to go from one parent to the other without knowledge of the conflict between the parents or have a conflict of loyalty. In fact his experience has been so positive that he often doesn’t want to leave the Family Center site and will receive a prize sticker as encouragement to leave until the next Safe Exchange.