50th Family Stories

Gael and Cristina Rodriguez married in 2014, and that same year, Cristina enrolled in the AVANCE Early Head Start (EHS) program while pregnant. That would be the start of the Rodriguez family’s journey with AVANCE.

In 2022, Thelma Garza was picking up her children from school when an AVANCE teacher approached her with information about PCEP. Her youngest child was only three then, so she decided to try the program.

In 2009, Leticia Garibay attended a Women’s Day event to hear a well-known author speak. At the event, an AVANCE representative said something that resonated so strongly that Leticia immediately registered for PCEP.

Irene Garza began her journey with AVANCE in 2022 when she was 37 and her youngest son was two. She enrolled in PCEP expecting to improve her parenting skills but found so much more.

At 19, Jacquelyn Perez became a mother after dropping out of high school and leaving home. A friend invited her to attend PCEP, and Jacquelyn, already familiar with AVANCE, didn’t hesitate.

As a first-time mother with a young daughter, Gudelia felt disoriented and doubted her parenting skills. Then, AVANCE representatives knocked on her door with information about PCEP.

When Janet and Herbert Cortez’s young son Emanuel was diagnosed with a speech delay, his speech therapist suggested PCEP and referred the family to AVANCE. Janet called immediately.

In 2016, Azalia Escobar attended a class she found online, but she could tell immediately that it wasn’t what she was looking for. She spoke with the teacher, who directed her to AVANCE and PCEP.

In 2016, Edna Alfaro was waiting for her daughter Megan at her elementary school when she was approached by AVANCE teachers with information about PCEP.

In 1990, Georgette Chapa was a 20-year-old stay-at-home mom with a young son when her sister-in-law, an AVANCE Home Visitor, invited her to attend PCEP.