Our Programs

 At the present time, PAP operates eight distinct programs that implement the mission of the organization:

Community Outreach and Training Program: Funded by the State of Connecticut Office of Protection and Advocacy for People with Disabilities, the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, Connecticut Health Foundation, and the Department of Families with Children, the goal of this program is to provide monthly training workshops to parents and families from the community on a broad array of topics such as education, access to the mental health system, child development, child care, and support services. These trainings are generally conducted in collaboration with organizations such as the Center for Inclusive Education and are given as the need arises in Hartford, Willimantic, New Britain, New London, Torrington, New Haven Bridgeport, and Danbury.

Information, Referral and Support:  Members of the staff of PAP serve as resource to Spanish speaking parents by providing information pertaining to special education laws and offering advice on negotiation strategies. PAP disseminates bilingual information through the state on issues such as inclusive education, special education and disability laws, service providers, community service agencies, lawyers, and childcare providers. PAP has used the mass media as a vehicle to promote the needs and awareness of Latino children with disabilities and mental health issues as it pertains to the issue of inclusive education.  This program is funded by the State of Connecticut Office of Protection and Advocacy for People with Disabilities.

 Panita Program: This program identifies families who are confronting difficulties in accessing the educational system. It matches a parent or a family member with a “Panita” (a buddy) who already has had experiences dealing with the educational system. The “Panita” has been trained to provide the person in need with support through active listening, guidance, translation, and friendship. The “Panita” helps the family person who is in distress to understand special education laws and the structure of the school system. It empowers relatives to navigate the educational system and to be cognizant of the alternatives available to them.

 Forum: This program aims at creating systematic change in the Hartford Public Schools. Forum brings together parents, educators, and administrators from the school system to discuss issues related to inclusive education, share problems and concerns, resolve disagreements, and develop strategies to provide solutions with issues relevant to parents of children with disabilities. Forums are held throughout Hartford public schools on a monthly basis.

Parent Support Groups: The program identifies parents of children with disabilities that are in need of culturally specific information and support that would help them understand the disabilities faced by their children. At the same time, it also provides them with a supportive environment where they can voice their feelings, frustrations and emotions. These programs are generally offered during the academic year and the summer.

Inclusive After School Enrichment Program: The goal of this program is to develop seasonal and after-school leadership, recreation, educational, and entertainment programs to Latino youth who suffer from developmental disabilities. We currently operate a program at Weaver High School and another at the Hartford Transitional Learning Academy.

Access to the Mental Health System: A vast majority of the families served by Padres Abriendo Puertas, Inc. have children that suffer from significant disabilities that hinder their ability to function effectively within the school setting.  Through years of intensive case-work, outreach and training, we have learned that many of these children (as high as 66% of them) also suffer from mental health issues that are associated to their disability. Since 2000, Padres Abriendo Puertas has become a leader in the system of care movement that intends to create strong community service partnerships and support structures that would allow families to access the mental health system in a more efficient way. Grants from the Hartford Foundation from Public Giving, FAVOR, the Cleveland Foundation and the Department of Children and Families have allowed us to become leaders in this movement and forge a series of partnerships that would allow us advocate for systemic changes in the ways Latino families receive mental health services.

System of Care Fee for Service Initiative: This is the latest programmatic initiative undertaken by Parents Opening Doors, Inc. Understanding that a vast majority of children served by the organization have both learning disabilities and mental health diagnoses, Parents Opening Doors, Inc, with the support of the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, have teamed up with the Department of Children and Families to provide services to families who receive services from DCF.

Each one of these programs has demonstrated to be extremely relevant and successful in addressing the needs of our constituency.  In addition, PAP leads an active initiative for advocacy around issues of access to quality education for children with disabilities. PAP has had a solid track record in securing funding to defray the expenses associated with running these programs.