Cocoon House sets up support program for Spanish-speaking parents

Published 11:42 pm Monday, September 27, 2010

MONROE — Raising a teenager is not an easy thing to do. Things get more complicated if you add in language and culture barriers, and there is no one you can ask for help.

That’s where Cocoon House is trying to help.

The nonprofit group has started a community support group for Hispanic parents that meets twice a month in the Monroe library.

It’s a place where Spanish-speaking parents can discuss the challenges they face, share advice and learn how to help their children succeed in school.

“They want to vent and talk with somebody who has been through this before,” said Ivonne Heber, a bilingual counselor for Cocoon House who moderates the group.

The parents who have attended are generally immigrants who do not have family or friends in the region. The goal is to help them be better parents and to keep their kids away from gangs and criminal activities, she said.

“If they can communicate with their teenagers, it will help create better citizens,” Heber said.

The support group is sponsored entirely by a grant by United Way.

Cocoon House, which operates a shelter for homeless youth, is running similar groups in Everett. One is for parents who speak English and another is for those who speak Spanish.

Heber wanted to expand to Monroe and selected the library as a meeting place after giving a parenting class there in June.

Having a support group only for Hispanics is important because they have a different set of values, she said.

For instance, she said, Hispanic families tend to be more close-knit and are reluctant to talk with their teenagers about sex and drugs.

“It’s hard for them to understand the American teenage culture,” she said.

Hispanics often deal with issues differently than English-speaking families. Hispanic families do everything together, but they need guidance in how teenagers behave, she said.

The program had been a good addition to the library, Managing Librarian Betsy Lewis said.

The group has meet three times. Cocoon House aims to help from five to 12 families each session, director of prevention services Nancy Fairbanks said.

“They deal with unique stressors by being immigrants and dealing with two cultures,” she said.

Cocoon House next month plans to hold a two-part seminar aimed to improve the relationship between Spanish-speaking parents and their teenagers. The event is planned for Oct. 9 and Oct. 16 at the Everett/Mukilteo Boys &Girls Club.

People interested in the Monroe support group can call 425-339-4179. The group meets at 5 p.m. every other Monday in the Monroe library, 1070 Village Way.

The next meeting is set for Oct. 4.

Alejandro Dominguez: 425-339-3422; adominguez@ heraldnet.com.