Angelica first came to APM when her anxiety was at an all-time high, and her depression kept her feeling very low. Her issues with trust impacted her interactions with others.

She struggled to find a therapist who fit her needs, but that changed when she became a client of Mr. Luis Lara.

Through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and with the correct prescriptions, Angelica was able to develop confidence in her own independence, change her outlook on how to tackle challenges and improve her overall quality of life. She was thankful that Mr. Lara took a genuine interest in her interests.

“Mr. Lara helped me put things into perspective and uncover my dream to become an entrepreneur,” said Angelica. “The team at APM works together to ensure that clients succeed. I always knew they were there for me.”

Following her treatment plan, Angelica was able to buy her own home and founded her own cleaning company, which she runs to this day.

When Thomas first came to us, he never smiled. He had limited small motor development, to the point where he could not put on his own jacket.

He echoed speech instead of answering questions with his own words. An APM special needs coordinator evaluated him for learning delays, occupational therapy and speech therapy. Thomas is receiving special supports while continuing in early childhood education classes.

By being surrounded by his peers and teachers, Thomas is able to learn from others. At APM, we care about each child and meet them where they are. He is becoming more comfortable in his own skin and improving his coordination.

Marie Johnson and Jerome McNeil have been foster parents for years, and APM is the only foster agency they’ve relied on. They are patient and loving parents.

When their own children grew up and left the house, they considered fostering children and knew they needed to reach out to APM.

After APM placed Javier with them, they received a call asking if they would accept his younger brother, Genaro, as well. With no hesitation, they said yes. It was even more of a blessing to receive another call about the boys’ sister, Dynasti, whom APM also  placed with them.

“We knew the importance of keeping siblings together,” said Mr. McNeil. “We thank APM for allowing us to give them a loving home.”

Sofia Vasquez was an active mom in her child’s classroom at APM. During one of her many conversations with APM staff, she mentioned that she longed to give a better life to her daughter.

Ms. Vasquez was unemployed and not attending school at the time. APM directed Ms. Vasquez to the Department of Public Welfare to learn more about programs she was eligible to receive assistance from. APM helped her get accepted into a certificate program to receive credentials that would one day allow her to work as a teacher’s assistant in classrooms like APM’s Head Start.

Sofia recently completed child development associate classes and is just weeks away from taking her certification exam and beginning her new career.

People become foster parents for many reasons. When a young woman learned that she could not have children herself, she decided to learn more about foster parenting.

She became certified by APM-CUA and soon after, an infant in need of a home was placed in her care. The child came to fill her life with joy, and she adopted her. A second baby girl – who she also adopted – was placed in her home less than a year later.

APM’s Pradera Resource Home program visits the homes to assess their safety and make certain that they are suitable, clean, safe and loving. A mother wanted children, and these children needed a mother. APM is proud to have played a part in writing a happy ending to this story.

At APM, we encourage children to explore their feelings to learn and grow. Roberto, an early childhood education student, used to cry, kick and ignore his fellow classmates when his parents dropped him off to school.

Teachers removed him from hostile situations and would discuss why he felt the need to lash out. He would then talk through his feelings to find healthier ways to interact with his classmates. Quickly, Roberto began to use his words to resolve issues, knowing that he would make his teachers proud by looking inward instead of using his fists.