BUENA PARK : District Program to Aid Latino Parents

Ron Cordova wants to be a more effective father by improving communication with his three children so that they will turn to him--not to gangs or drugs--for help.

Cordova, 41, who came to this country recently from Bolivia, also wants to help his family deal with the adjustments of living in another country. And while he wants his children to become part of the American culture, he does not want them to lose their own identity and heritage.

The parenting problems facing Cordova are not uncommon. And in hopes of creating better family lives as well as an improved learning environment in school, officials of Buena Park’s Centralia School District are offering a free program for Spanish-speaking parents.

“Los Ninos Bien Educados,” or “The Well-Educated Children’s Program,” is intended to address Latino parents’ concerns and help them deal more effectively with their children’s behavior, said Deborah King, project specialist for the district.

Cordova is not alone. Another parent attending the classes is Luz Gutierrez, a 26-year-old mother who said she wants to learn how to deal with her 4-year-old son’s aggressive behavior.

“Before the class, I didn’t know what to do,” said Gutierrez, who is from Mexico.

She explained that her son has outbursts of anger. “I feel I’m a better mother for my two sons because I understand so many things I didn’t know before this class.”

The 10-week program is being offered at Danbrook Elementary School in Anaheim because the school has the largest Latino population in the district. About 44% of the students are Latino, district officials said.

Cordova, who speaks limited English, said there is a need for such programs because he believes there is a “sincere desire” by Latinos to better themselves and their families. The program “makes us feel good, that we’re important,” Cordova said.

Held on Tuesday afternoons, the program is taught by parent volunteer Roxana Suarez, who is from Bolivia. Suarez was trained to teach the program by the Orange County Department of Education.

“We’re seeing kids at risk who are not getting the proper upbringing,” said Richard Martinez, the district’s social worker. “It could be because parents don’t have formal educations and don’t have effective parenting skills. Here, they can find a support group and help each other out.”

Suarez teaches the class in Spanish, which is attended by about 18 parents.

She said she offered her assistance because the Latino community needs help in dealing with parental concerns.

“They have a lot of problems,” she said. “And I help them to learn different (parenting) ideas.”

Suarez said parents want information on how to keep their children off drugs and out of gangs.

They also want help in learning English so they can assist their children with homework. And they have to face behavioral problems at home, such as children who will not listen, are disrespectful, have negative attitudes or do not help with family chores.

But for parents, a top goal is to improve their child’s behavior in school so he or she can graduate.

“One of the things we want to get across is that attendance is important,” King said. “A child needs to be in school to be successful.”