Our Impact

Uplifting the Moments and Movements That Strengthen Our Community

The Impact of Care

Every year, Parenting Connection of Monterey County walks alongside thousands of families as they navigate pregnancy, postpartum, and early parenthood. Our work is rooted in compassion, cultural humility, and the belief that every parent deserves to feel supported, seen, and connected.

Through community programs, family circles, warmline support, peer-to-peer connections, and the Doula Hub, we continue to expand access to maternal mental health services and create safe spaces where parents can share, learn, heal, and grow.

Parent, Salinas, CA

My name is Esperanza Ayala and I give my testimony about how much this circle of parents has served me. As far as I’m concerned, it has helped me a lot because there are many things and feelings saved from when we gave birth to our babies and we have not had the opportunity to process the feelings that happen in our lives. For me I thought it was something normal and it is not. It is something important that we should talk about to get it out and be able to vent, but I had not had the opportunity to attend a program like this parent connection. I thank Maria for giving me the opportunity to be part of this circle of parents, thank you.

Mother, Salinas, CA

I live in Salinas, CA.  I have four adult children. When I was pregnant with my first child I always felt very sad and cried constantly. When my son was born I felt a great physical and emotional change that drastically affected my life. Every day I felt without energy and it was very difficult to get out of bed. After the birth of my son I continued to cry and felt very sad. After my second, third and fourth child arrived, those feelings of sadness and abandonment did not disappear. At that time in Mexico they did not give you information that addressed the issue of postpartum depression nor did we have the opportunity to receive help from qualified people who provided emotional support. Currently living in this country I have the opportunity to participate in these groups that help me understand that there are programs such as family connection that help through family groups where we feel welcomed and listened to. They also have a text message help line that offers support, community resources and information. Thank you

Maria Chavarria, Facilitator, Salinas, CA

Hello, my name is Maria Chavarria. I am happy to belong to this circle of parent connection. For me it is a very nice experience because it is something new.  It is nice to share with different families and be able to listen to them and share different opinions and for them to know that they are not alone and that someone can listen to their concerns and burdens that they have been carrying for a long time and be able to take them out and that someone listens to them and they feel safe to be able to express themselves. The word that we find as ours is that they are not problems, they are challenges that life gives us. For now that’s all thanks.

Juanita Ramos, Facilitator, Soledad, CA

For me, as a facilitator of talks between families at Parenting Connection, it has given me great satisfaction to be able to connect with people who need emotional support since they have been carrying all that for a long time without being able to have access to a therapist or psychologist due to lack of income and sometimes out of fear and insecurity due to their immigration status. In these groups we see the need for people to be heard and feel safe to be able to talk, heal and help each other with ideas and some advice that we have in our guide and manual. Thank you for this opportunity to help moms who need support in the community.

OUR 2025 Community Impact:

Strengthening Families, Building Community

Every number tells a story of connection, healing, and support. In 2025, Parenting Connection of Monterey County reached thousands of families through programs designed to strengthen emotional wellbeing, reduce isolation, and build community. From outreach and education to warmline support and doula services, each interaction reflects our commitment to maternal mental health and to ensuring that no parent walks their journey alone.

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