Giving Books, Resources (and Paletas!) to San Antonio Families

In June, United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County gave back to families participating in our Dual Gen, HOPES and ReadyKidSA initiatives with two fun, free events! Dozens of families who benefit from Dual Gen, HOPES and ReadyKidSA attended the two events, held at Elmendorf and Lincoln Park. 

Each event featured fun activities for children, free paletas and several free children’s books. “Paletas in the Park” was a moment for United Way to give back to these families. Most of all, these events promoted family engagement.  

When parents are actively engaged in their child’s education and in their lives, everyone benefits. An important predictor of a child’s future success is the extent to which their parents are involved with learning at home and in school. Engaged and supportive parents lead to: 

• • Children having higher grades or test scores 
  • Higher rates of high-school graduation and post-secondary education 
  • Development of better social skills and classroom behavior 

Additionally, children with engaged parents are less likely to need redirection in the classroom, have low self-esteem or develop behavioral issues.  

The three United Way initiatives involved with these events all focus on supporting families and providing useful educational resources for parents.  

ReadyKidSA is a coalition of Bexar County organizations that aims to create a comprehensive early childhood system that promotes social, emotional and cognitive development for children ages 0 to 8. The Dual Generation initiative helps families disrupt the cycle of poverty by creating solutions in housing, education, child care and employment. Healthy Outcomes through Prevention and Early Support (HOPES) supports a variety of programs aimed at families with children ages 0 to 5 in San Antonio. HOPES services include home visiting services, parent support groups, early literacy promotion and other family services. 

Events like Paletas in the Park give families an opportunity to be engaged with their child’s learning even during the summer when the school year is over. United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County is committed to connecting families to resources that help them foster early childhood development and promote learning opportunities.