"I Could Tell There Was More"
Client Connection Starts at the Front Door
"When I was younger, I wanted to be a detective and investigate child abuse crimes. As I grew older I realized I didn't want to be on that end; I wanted to help prevent child abuse in the first place."
Working at our Family Resource Center (FRC) front desk, Magali is often the first person people meet when they come through Cope’s doors. As our Resource Specialist, she helps identify families’ needs and connect them with the appropriate resources. Sometimes it’s as simple as distributing diapers or a gift card. But often, parents don’t know what resources are available.
“A few months ago, a mom came in with her two-year old”, recalled Magali. “She had just moved to Napa County and came to us not knowing what sort of help she needed. I gave her diapers for her son and a gift card to buy some toiletries. But I could tell there was more that this mom needed. The more we talked, the more she told me about herself. She opened up and told me she had come to Napa to get away from an abusive partner. So we connected her with NEWS and other community resources. Over time, she started opening up more. She felt safe here and the more she talked to me, the more we were able to help her.”
Magali is proud of her work and knows she helps keep children safe. “When I was younger, I wanted to be a detective and investigate child abuse crimes. As I grew older, I realized I didn’t want to be on that end; I wanted to help prevent child abuse in the first place. That’s why I came to Cope.” By empowering parents with the resources they need to manage crises and challenging situations, Magali helps alleviate the stress that - without support - can potentially lead to neglect or abuse.
"Our support and guidance helped put her at ease and give her hope. She's now excited about becoming a mother."
Clients often come in feeling hopeless and overwhelmed. When they realize that Cope is here to support them, they start to feel more hopeful and confident. “Just last week, a woman came in. She had recently found out she was pregnant but she didn’t look happy. In speaking with her, I found out that she was very concerned about the family’s finances. Since the Napa fires, they hadn’t been able to catch up. So she was having a hard time mentally preparing for the baby because she was so overwhelmed with the financial stress. We gave her gift cards and referred her to our Healthy Families™ Home Visiting program. Our support and guidance helped put her at ease and give her hope. She’s now excited about becoming a mother. She knows Cope will be here for those bumps in the road.”
Even now, months after the fires, Magali continues to work with families like this, families struggling to recover from the disaster. “Many of the families impacted by the fires heard about us for the first time during the crisis. When they were referred to us for Emergency Financial Assistance, they learned about all the services we provide. And they’ve come back to Cope, for additional emergency support, to sign up for parenting classes and for assistance connecting with other community resources. We are proud to have this role in helping families through this challenging time.”
Domestic violence, natural disaster, job loss, unexpected pregnancy, poverty. These are just some of the challenges that can cause stress and turmoil in a family. We are grateful for Magali’s compassion and dedication to helping parents through whatever crises they face so their children can emerge happy and healthy.
• • •
This story is featured in our 2017 Impact Report. You can view the full digital report to learn more about Cope's impact and read more featured stories like Magali's.