Impact Stories

Once upon a time, a tale of pure delight, In our halls at Aprendamos, something wasn’t quite right. A furry friend had joined our crew, always ready to play, But finding the perfect name? Now that was quite the way! The suggestions started flying day to day, “Excel!” called one voice, while “Gato!” made our pup look away. Names filled our halls bringing laughter and fun, But finding that perfect match had only just begun. Then one magical afternoon, the brightest bulb lit up bright, As someone remembered our purpose – everything felt right: “Igniting Hope to Build Brighter Futures Together” was our guide, And suddenly the perfect name was impossible to hide! “Luminoso!” The word rang out like a bell, Filling the room with light and stories to tell. But try yelling that name at the dog park! We chose “Lumi,” it’s more clever, Short and sweet, now that’s much better! Now Lumi bounces through our halls with joy and grace, Turning moments into memories in every single space. From morning meetings to afternoon fun, Our bright little star outshines the sun! Together we shine, together we grow, Spreading light and joy wherever we go! Aprendamos Family of Services (@aitkids) – Instagram Reel Aprendamos Family of Services – Facebook Reel  

Have you ever wondered how our Aprendamos Family of Services Family Service Coordinators (FSCs) play an essential role in the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) for children and families? Our Family Service Coordinators actually serve as an important cornerstone of the Early Intervention system! Their primary responsibility is to coordinate services and ensure that families receive the comprehensive support they need, creating a seamless and positive experience for both the child and their family. Bridging the Gap Between Families and IFSP Teams One of the most crucial aspects of an FSC’s role is to act as the main point of contact between the family and the IFSP team, which may include therapists, developmental specialists, and other service providers. This important role ensures that all members of the team are on the same page, facilitating a collaborative approach that prioritizes the child’s needs and supports family involvement. By keeping the lines of communication open, FSCs help families feel confident and informed throughout the process. They educate families on their rights, the scope of services available, and the steps involved in the IFSP process. This helps families better understand the support they are receiving and empowers them to be proactive participants in their child’s development journey. Connecting Families with Essential Community Resources The role of an FSC extends beyond coordinating IFSP services. They are also a vital resource for connecting families with additional community resources that may support the child’s growth and the family’s well-being. These resources can range from parent support groups and educational workshops to healthcare and recreational programs. By facilitating these connections, FSCs help families access services that reinforce the goals outlined in the IFSP and contribute to an enriched, well-rounded development environment for the child, helping them thrive and setting them up on a path to help reach their milestones. Empowering Families Through Active Participation At the heart of the Family Service Coordinator’s role is the commitment to empowering families. FSCs encourage parents and caretakers to be active contributors in the IFSP process, fostering a sense of ownership and engagement. This collaborative approach helps families feel more confident in their ability to advocate for their child and make informed decisions about the services their child receives. Our Aprendamos Early Intervention Family Service Coordinators are pivotal in the Early Intervention process, ensuring that services are well-coordinated, accessible, and effective. Their dedication to open communication, connecting families to resources, and adapting the IFSP as needed creates an environment where children and their families can thrive. With an FSC’s guidance, families are empowered to take an active role in their child’s development and confidently navigate the early intervention journey. Are you looking to be a superhero in a child’s life and make a meaningful difference in your career?  Put on your cape and send your resume to HR@aitkids.com or visit www.aitkids.com/join-our-team to learn more! 

November Prematurity Awareness Month Partner Spotlight: The Wee Warriors Project  Did you know 1 in 10 babies is born prematurely? Given how common prematurity is, it is critical that babies and their families have access to resources to help them thrive. While we help children acquire essential skills to grow and develop to their greatest potential through our Aprendamos Early Intervention, Cariño Home Visiting, and Esperanza Children’s Therapy programs, there are other organizations in our community making a meaningful difference specifically for premature infants and their families.  With November recognized as Prematurity Awareness Month, we would like to shine a spotlight on a community partner making an impact in our community, The Wee Warriors Project. The organization was created to support New Mexico families with medically fragile babies and children. Since the journey for families of premature babies often begins in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit), The Wee Warriors Project made it their mission to begin helping families during one of the most overwhelming and difficult times, while also supporting hospitals with the resources necessary to care for premature infants. Services they provide are: NICU Support Boxes: These boxes are packed with items to help families cope with the difficult transition into the NICU.  Diaper Bags: The Wee Warriors Project has donated 200 diaper bags to families at Lovelace Regional Hospital in Roswell, NM. These bags help families manage the day-to-day challenges of caring for a newborn, especially one facing medical issues. Hospital Equipment: They have donated high-quality hospital-grade reclining chairs to the NICU at Memorial Medical Center (MMC) and Lovelace Regional in Roswell, ensuring parents have a comfortable place to sit while staying by their baby’s side. NICU Incubator Blankets: The Wee Warriors Project has provided NICU incubator blankets to hospitals across the state, ensuring that every baby has access to the comfort and warmth they need in their first days of life. Training and Certification for Birth Staff: They also recently provided funding to the Three Suns Birthing Center in Roswell, NM to ensure their staff received STABLE certification—a specialized training program that focuses on six assessment and care modules in the program (sugar, temperature, airway, blood pressure, lab work, and emotional support.) The program emphasizes stabilizing and caring for newborns, particularly those born prematurely. The Wee Warriors Project is also working to establish a statewide program to offer STABLE certification to healthcare providers, improving the quality of care for preterm infants across New Mexico. When we asked The Wee Warriors Project Founder and CEO, Camille Hines Plante, what she would recommend to new parents who have given birth to a premature infant, she said,  “Become your baby’s advocate by learning and asking all questions in the NICU and of the healthcare team. Also, communicate your needs to family and partner to establish a realistic plan to spend as much time as possible with your baby.” Thank you, Camille and The Wee Warriors Project, for all you do to make a meaningful difference for babies, children, and families in the Land of Enchantment! For more information on The Wee Warriors Project, please visit www.weewarriorsproject.org.       

Did you know the important role our Aprendamos Family of Services Developmental Specialists play in early childhood intervention? Our Developmental Specialists, or DS for short, are vital members of a child’s Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) team. Their expertise in early childhood development is essential for helping children reach their full potential.   Let’s take a look at why their role matters and how they make a meaningful difference for children and families in our program. Assessing a Child’s Needs Developmental Specialists truly understand a child’s needs and have the ability to assess what a child will require to be successful, including their cognitive, physical, social, emotional, and language skills. Their assessment and comprehensive evaluation helps our team pinpoint where the child may need additional help and support. Using this insight, the DS crafts individualized strategies that help put children on a path to success. Putting the Fun Into Development After a child’s needs are assessed, our Developmental Specialists begin the process of making learning fun! Developmental Specialists plan engaging activities that are customized for each child and promote growth in various developmental areas. By using these strategies, they can help children meet their milestones and help them reach their goals.  Teamwork Makes the Dream Work We believe in teamwork, and our Developmental Specialists are master collaborators. They work hand-in-hand with other professionals—like speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, and family service coordinators—on the IFSP team. This team approach ensures that attention is given to each aspect of a child’s development, creating a well-rounded support system. Educate and Support Families As we know, it’s not just about the children—it’s about the entire family. Developmental Specialists believe in empowering families and providing parents and caregivers with realistic techniques to support their child’s growth and development. Their guidance builds confidence in parents, giving them the tools to advocate for their child’s needs and helping them succeed at home. Making a Lasting Impact Developmental Specialists truly are superheroes, helping children reach important developmental milestones by creating supportive, individualized learning experiences. The work they do early in a child’s life not only boosts their overall well-being but also leads to better outcomes down the line.  Are you interested in putting on your cape and starting your journey as a Developmental Specialist superhero with the Aprendamos Family of Services team? Visit www.aitkids.com/careers or send your resume to HR@aitkids.com today!      

Abel Covarrubias and family, along with the Aprendamos Family of Services shareholders and team, are proud to announce the creation of the Covarrubias-Aprendamos Foundation. Founded in 2023, the foundation’s goal is to act as a vehicle to ensure youth in our community thrive and have equitable access to opportunities to support their education, development, and success. With a mission to provide children with experiences that value and celebrate them as individuals and honor and foster their gifts and talents, the foundation team is eager to partner with individuals, nonprofit organizations, for-profit organizations, and businesses. Through community partnerships, the foundation aims to build collaborative opportunities and learning communities for children in Southern New Mexico.   Rooted in legacy, the Covarrubias-Aprendamos Foundation is an extension of the philanthropic efforts started by the family’s patriarch, Mr. Jose Covarrubias. Born in Mexico, Jose immigrated to the United States in 1960 through the Bracero program. After a 920-mile journey, he settled in Arrey, NM and began working as a farm laborer. Although he had many offers to leave the Rio Grande Valley to live what others felt was a more promising opportunity in California, Jose remained faithful to his boss and the land along the valley. His wife, Antonia, and three children, joined him and immigrated to the U.S. in 1965. After 10 years, Jose had an honest and open conversation with his boss, sharing his dreams of one day owning his own parcel of land. With his boss’s blessing, Jose purchased his family’s first parcel of land in 1972 and his second parcel in 1973, which he named “El Ranchito.” As the Covarrubias’ chile farming business grew, so did their family, with a total of nine children calling the Arrey Valley home. Growing up, Abel remembers his parents always looking for ways to give back to his friends, neighbors, and community. He and his siblings have clear memories of playing along the canal levies and running into the kitchen to tell their mother that they encountered young men asking for something to eat and drink. Knowing that these men made the same journey into the U.S. their family did in search of hope and opportunity, Antonia would pack bags of burritos made with homemade tortillas and drinks for the children to offer the travelers. Regularly, Jose could be found playing cards with the farm laborers and sharing dinner with them at the farmhouse. The generosity Jose and Antonia displayed shaped their family’s views and after Jose died in 2013, his family vowed to continue to make an impact in his honor.  With this legacy as a guide, the Covarrubias-Aprendamos Foundation is committed to investing in opportunities that will plant seeds for future generations. The Foundation’s leadership team aims to lead from the heart, have an impact within the state of New Mexico, share knowledge with our community, and celebrate the agricultural and immigrant workers who are the backbone of our region. “We believe in investing in our youth, and the foundation will give us a way to organize and direct investments that will not only make a difference in the long-term, but also have an immediate impact in the lives of children,” said foundation President, Abel Covarrubias. “We have heard stories detailing how children in the South Valley lacked the financial resources to do something as simple as participating in a baseball tournament. The foundation can be a resource for these kids so they can have the same opportunities as their peers.” The Covarrubias-Aprendamos Foundation will act as the philanthropic arm to the Aprendamos Family of Services organization. Grant and sponsorship opportunities will be available on a quarterly basis to nonprofit organizations, youth sports leagues, and other organizations with an emphasis on serving youth in our communities. Covarrubias family and Aprendamos Family of Services scholarship funds will continue to be housed and administered by our partners at the Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico, the New Mexico State University Foundation, and Doña Ana Community College. For more information on the Covarrubias-Aprendamos Foundation, click here to visit the Foundation’s website, email info@covarrubiasaitfoundation.org, or call (575) 526-6682 x 121.    

Sometimes all it takes is a parent wanting more for their child to create change for an entire community. In the Fall of 2009, Estee Hafassa embarked on a journey to find a way to give her son, who had been diagnosed with autism, the experience of attending camp. She began brainstorming and realized that in addition to developing a children’s camp, she also hoped to raise awareness for autism and provide additional resources for children and families in Southern New Mexico. In December 2009, Estee shared her vision with our CEO, Abel Covarrubias, and the Aprendamos team. Immediately, we knew that we needed to partner with Estee to find a way to turn her dream into reality.  We worked together to plan the inaugural Masquerade Ball, which brought together 200 compassionate, community supporters eager to support the endeavor and learn more about autism. Thanks to their generosity, we established the Hearts for Autism Fund at the Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico in 2010. The fund aims to increase awareness about autism while providing important resources to children and families, including the annual Camp New Amigos.  Since then, the Hearts for Autism has been a vital resource to children and families in our community. Camp New Amigos, hosted on the NMSU campus, provides a summer camp experience to 40 children ages 6-13 complete with horseback riding, kayaking, swimming, a climbing wall, and art projects. In collaboration with Las Cruces Public Schools, a Hearts for Autism Lending Library was also established to provide resources, books, and toys for families and community partners.  We realized we couldn’t do this alone, so we added a Board & Community Liaison to the team. Our current liaison, Ruth Ann Ortiz, MSW, brings 18 years of social work experience and a background in Infant Mental Health to Hearts for Autism. Ruth helps support families and children who have recently been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder by providing vital resources and assisting them as they navigate their journey.  When we asked Ruth how Camp New Amigos has made an impact for children, she said, “We have been able to support children, help them deal with their challenges, and work through these challenges as they arise at camp so they can continue to participate. Parents really appreciate that they can bring their children to a week-long camp and know they are safe and have a great opportunity.” An impact story Ruth shared involved a mother who moved to our community last year and was looking for resources for her child. Ruth invited her daughter to attend Camp New Amigos, and during the camp, her daughter met another child in the program. The two children formed a connection and continue to maintain a relationship outside of camp and have regular play dates. The mother was so appreciative of the opportunity that she attended the Hearts for Autism Gala to share her story with attendees.  We are fortunate that our community helps to fund these important initiatives. The annual Masquerade Ball, the Hearts for Autism 5K & half-marathon, and donations from generous individuals helps to raise additional funds for programming. Now an official nonprofit organization, Hearts for Autism continues to be supported and led by a diverse board of directors from Southern New Mexico.  We will always be grateful to the Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico for helping us realize our dream of increasing awareness about autism, providing the necessary support to families, and experiences to children with autism in our community.  We invite you to learn more about the organization, volunteer at next year’s camp, and attend the upcoming Hearts for Autism training in October. Together we can make an impact, celebrate the unique needs of autism, and educate the community to embrace us all!  

The Aprendamos Family of Services team understands that in order to help children reach their full potential, it is important to collaborate and partner with pediatric medical providers in our community. Meet Dr. Usha Phillips from PEDs: TEENs to TOTs. Dr. Phillips has been instrumental in helping to connect her pediatric patients who show signs of developmental delay to our early intervention team. Once an initial evaluation is conducted, our team of family service coordinators, speech-language therapists, occupational therapists, nutritionists, and physical therapists will jump into action to create a treatment plan for patients and coordinate care with her and her team. Dr. Phillips also is an advocate for children and encourages all parents to seek out speech therapy for their children. While most children will pass the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (a screening tool designed to assess the development and social-emotional progress of children from birth to age 6), Dr. Phillips notices that their speech still needs improvement. She uses this as an opportunity to reach out to parents to help give them tips and tricks and teach them how to model behavior for their children. While most visit her office for medical care, her artistic, creative side is also on full display. Dr. Phillips hand-painted all of the colorful murals throughout her office and exam rooms. Each mural creates a vibrant, inviting atmosphere for children and their families. We look forward to a continued partnership with Dr. Phillips and PEDs: TEENs to TOTs and collaborating to provide compassionate, caring, and quality services. Thank you for all you do to keep the youth in our community on a healthy path, Dr. Phillips! 

Norma wasn’t a stranger to Early Intervention. Two of her children had received services in the past, and she knew first-hand the difference access to these services could make in a child’s life. However when Elizabeth, her now six-month-old baby was born, it was a different set of circumstances.  “Our baby was not able to feed or latch and no one could help us or give me answers. She was rejecting breast feeding and the bottle wasn’t working,” Norma shared. Elizabeth’s parents were fearful because of Elizabeth’s lack of feeding, and while doctor’s told them things would soon improve, even the lactation consultants could not provide necessary solutions. After seeing five different doctors, one final visit to a different lactation consultant resulted in a referral for an early intervention evaluation through Aprendamos.  “They gave us an earlier appointment to accommodate us since we felt like it was an emergency,” Norma said. “The intake process was amazing. They checked all her milestones and referred me to a dentist because they identified intense lip ties on our baby.” With newfound hope, Norma began the process of finding solutions for Elizabeth. “We went to the dentist and my baby was able to have a surgery to help everything. Because of Aprendamos, we finally got the help we needed,” she shared.  Elizabeth continues to develop and strengthen her skills daily. When we asked Norma what the biggest impact of Early Intervention has been for her baby, she said, “It was knowing what was wrong and being able to feed our baby. The therapist provided exercises for us to help our baby and in a sense, the therapist saved our baby’s life!” Every day, babies like Elizabeth benefit from Aprendamos Early Intervention services. We can’t wait to see Elizabeth and all the other children we have the honor to serve reach their milestones!  

When Elizeo was just one year old, his mother, Eliza, noticed that he wasn’t speaking much. She became concerned that he may not be meeting his speech milestones and shared her thoughts with a family member who worked at Aprendamos. Together they referred Elizeo for a complimentary evaluation to see if he could benefit from Early Intervention services. Elizeo qualified for services and was soon surrounded by a team of speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, family therapists, service coordinators, and more. Eliza said, “In the beginning, it was frustrating because you want your child to succeed. I asked the team if they could increase the time spent with him because we weren’t noticing progress and didn’t meet our goal.” With time and patience, Elizeo began to show signs of improvement. Eliza said, “Once we increased our time together, it was like night and day. Elizeo made so much progress! The therapists were so great and they were patient and calm.” Elizeo received services for two years and showed incredible signs of success. His mother shared, “The biggest impact was Elizeo not only meeting his goals but exceeding his goals and milestones! He went from saying nothing to using big, descriptive words.” However, these aren’t the only areas where he has shown improvement. “He cuts with scissors really well and is stacking blocks and kids his age can’t do these things yet,” she added. Elizeo has now officially graduated from the Aprendamos Early Intervention program and is thriving and continuing to learn and grow. However, support for Elizeo did not stop once he stopped receiving services. “Graduation was bittersweet. The team helped with all the research for other programs after graduation. It’s a great foundation for learning,” Eliza shared. We look forward to witnessing Elizeo continue to develop to his greatest potential. Keep shining bright, Elizeo!