Parents Reaching Out is a statewide non-profit organization that works with parents, caregivers, educators and other professionals to promote healthy, positive and caring experiences for New Mexico families and children. Founded in 1981 by families who had children with special health and developmental needs, we expanded our scope to serve all families and children in 1998. Parents Reaching Out has served New Mexico families for over twenty five years.
Our wide and supportive circle of partners throughout New Mexico continues to enhance our outreach connections with families and the professionals who serve them. We have developed partnerships with state and community agencies including the New Mexico Public Education Department (PED), New Mexico Department of Health, Local Education Agencies (LEA), New Mexico PTA, hospitals, universities and family support agencies. Through these partnerships with funding from federal and state agencies, donations and the valuable time of our volunteers, we have been able to develop materials, programs, workshops to effect positive change for families in our state.
The mission of Parents Reaching Out is to enhance positive outcomes for families and children in New Mexico through informed decision making, advocacy, education, and resources. Parents Reaching Out provides the networking opportunities for families to connect with and support each other.
This mission supports all families including those who have children with disabilities, and others who are disenfranchised.
Parents Reaching Out achieves this by:
Parents Reaching Out is a network of programs woven together to meet the ever changing needs of families. We are a statewide non-profit organization that has been a resource connection for families in New Mexico for over twenty years. Our programs draw on the strength of continuity combined with our response to new ideas and challenges. We develop educational opportunities and materials that are practical and accessible for the diverse families we serve. We connect and build partnerships with those involved with systems to share family perspectives that will improve outcomes for our children.
We receive funding from Federal and State grants and partner with various agencies that support and guide our efforts to serve communities in New Mexico. Our goal is to enhance outcomes for children and families and to develop partnerships with systems. Parents Reaching Out is your one-stop resource for a stronger family.
Parent to Parent is the cornerstone of Parents Reaching Out. We believe that outcomes for children will be brighter when families are able to connect with one another to share experiences, information, new ideas and offer support.
We also believe that a network of knowledgeable and empowered families can move the education and healthcare systems toward a better understanding of, and value for the family perspective as they plan and develop programs and policies to serve children.
Through our Parent to Parent network, families are connected with others who have faced similar challenges. Matches are based on the age of the child, the community in which the family lives, issues and concerns, school or grade, diagnosis and disability or illness. Comprehensive training and mentoring is provided for those would like to become a part of this network.
Our Resource Center offers access to information on a wide variety of topics for families, educators and other professionals throughout the state. Our comprehensive collection of books, articles, and other materials cover disabilities, the law, child development, literacy and much more. Those wishing to check out materials from our free lending library may keep these materials for up to two weeks.
We provide access to local, state and national resources. Families relocating to New Mexico or other states are invited to contact us for connections to resources including our Parent to Parent network. Our Resource Center Coordinator is prepared to conduct a search and mail information within a week. We are also available to provide an information table for workshops and conferences.
We can help you find the information you need on:
Parents Reaching Out offers a variety of materials as outreach tools as we connect with communities across New Mexico. Our publications are designed to provide information and resources that build informed decisions as families work with systems to create successful opportunities for children and young adults. We invite you to browse through our Publications and Fact Sheets for resources about early intervention, early childhood, education, special education, health care access, family involvement and many more topics.
If you would like to request information, receive publications (or our PRO CD of all publications in English and Spanish) or use material from our free lending library, please drop by our office or give us a call!
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