February 8, 2005: Headlines: COS - Guatemala: NGO's: Service: Children: East Valley Tribune: Guatemala RPCV Jeanie Olivares works at Kids! Bright and Healthy, a nonprofit program that helps uninsured, low-income families

Peace Corps Online: Directory: Guatemala: Peace Corps Guatemala: The Peace Corps in Guatemala: February 8, 2005: Headlines: COS - Guatemala: NGO's: Service: Children: East Valley Tribune: Guatemala RPCV Jeanie Olivares works at Kids! Bright and Healthy, a nonprofit program that helps uninsured, low-income families

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Guatemala RPCV Jeanie Olivares works at Kids! Bright and Healthy, a nonprofit program that helps uninsured, low-income families

Guatemala RPCV  Jeanie Olivares works at Kids! Bright and Healthy, a nonprofit program that helps uninsured, low-income families

Guatemala RPCV Jeanie Olivares works at Kids! Bright and Healthy, a nonprofit program that helps uninsured, low-income families

Program assists parents during their children’s early years
By Hayley Ringle, Tribune
February 8, 2005
David Colazo is a healthy 7-monthold with big brown eyes and brown hair. He sits quietly next to his mom, Ramona Colazo, playing with a teddy bear.
David is advanced and large for his age. He’s already eating different foods, starting to talk, wanting to walk and drinking out a cup.

Along with his 2-year-old brother, Henry, David’s good health is in part thanks to Kids! Bright and Healthy, a nonprofit program that helps uninsured, low-income families in the Queen Creek area with expecting moms.

It takes at least $500 to get a woman into the program. The nonprofit is funded through grants, and is under Chicanos Por La Causa.

Started as a United Way initiative, the program is in a crunch now. Unless it gets sustained funding soon, the program will close its doors, said Jeanie Olivares, the original coordinator hired to get the program started in 2001.

"That’s worrisome to clients," Olivares said. "They’re not dependent on us, but they just know we’re there for them. If we’re not there, they don’t have anyone professional to go to."

The program’s representatives stay with the families until the child is 3 years old — the age families can get help by other programs, Olivares said.

Colazo is a stay-at-home mom living with her sister-in-law in a mobile home. Colazo’s husband works with a painting company, prepping for paint jobs.

Colazo said it would have been harder for her family if the program hadn’t helped her.

"It’s very good help," said the 36-year-old.

They talked about a piñata party for Henry’s birthday, about David’s development and the help needed for tax preparations.

"She’s one of our clients that follow our advice," Olivares said. "She’s a smart woman."

Kids! Bright and Healthy helps the parents during the pregnancy and the first year of development. The program helps pay for doctor visits, finds furniture donations and assists with translations.

Olivares or Melisa Dauzat, a family service worker for the program, come every six weeks to talk with the families and give referrals.

They offer advice on prenatal care, pregnancy education and early childhood education. They also monitor the child’s development, making sure the kids are developing properly, Olivares said.

Kids! Bright and Healthy currently helps 55 families in the Queen Creek area.

Pat Moore of Queen Creek has helped the program through her Mormon Church. She was a part of the Relief Society Program, which is run by church women who choose an annual service project. The group helped Kids! Bright and Healthy by making sure families had the things they wanted based on a list of needs. The women helped the families with everything from baby clothes to food and appliances.

Last year the group held a book drive for the nonprofit and adopted families for Christmas. And last week, Moore donated diapers and baby clothes to Olivares.

"I think it’s a wonderful program," said Moore, while holding her 12-weekold, Emma. "Most of their clients are just trying to make ends meet. I try to put myself in their shoes."

Liliana Velazco, 32, has a 16-monthold helped through the program. Velazco has lived in Queen Creek for three and a half years and does parttime house cleaning when she can.

"They’ve helped a lot as much with moral support as financial support," Velazco said.

Kids! Bright and Healthy is in need of donations. People are needed to sponsor a pregnancy for $500, or donate any amount of money, diapers, everyday household items, working appliances, beds and sofas.

"It’s nice to work with the Hispanic community," said Olivares, a Mesa resident who learned Spanish while working for the Peace Corps in Guatemala. "It’s really a rewarding job and you can see the benefits."

Find out more
For information, call Kids! Bright and Healthy at (480) 986-4361.





When this story was posted in February 2005, this was on the front page of PCOL:

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Story Source: East Valley Tribune

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Guatemala; NGO's; Service; Children

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