July 27, 2025 • 35 mins
New episode of the El Paso Public Forum now live on the free iHeart app!
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Segment 1: Amber Banda interviews Nicole Schiff, Executive Director for the Paso del Norte Center of Hope. The Center of Hope provides services for victims and survivors of human trafficking. Many people don't want to think of this happening in their own backyard, but it is. As of this interview, the average age of victims getting services is 14 years old.
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Help support their mission with monetary donations or purchase items on their Walmart registry at https://www.pdncoh.org/donate
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You can also help support the Center of Hope by attending the Days of Remembrance Bridal & Quince Expo Sunday August 3rd from 11-4pm at the El Paso Convention Center. 100% of the door proceeds go towards the Center of Hope, thanks to the Elegant Penguin tuxedo rentals.
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If you or anyone you know has been a victim of human and/or sex trafficking, please contact the National Human Trafficking hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or the PDN Center of Hope at 915-307-2175
Find them on social media or visit https://www.pdncoh.org/
_______________________________________________________________________________
Segment 2: FAYS Program, (Famiy and Youth Success)
Amber Banda interviews Angelica Delhoyo, Lead Family Support Specialist for FAYS, and Alberto Fuentes, Family Support Specialist at Bright Futures Family Resource Center.
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They talk about the FREE services that FAYS offers for families with kids ages 6-17, the importance of good family communication, why taking advantage of these services isn't only for "when you have problems," and how it's important for parents and caretakers to be "selfish" sometimes.
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The Bright Futures Family Resource Center has a ton of free fun and therapuetic events coming up, including a free Family Dance Club with Zumba July 30th from 5-7pm (2120 N Stevens), monthly parent cafes, movie nights, parenting workshops, and much much more. Follow them on Instagram @epccinc or on Facebook @EPCCINC El Paso for more information. You can also call or text Alberto at 915-279-2523 or the Center for Children at 915-565-5021. Visit them at https://epccinc.org/
.
Segment 1: Amber Banda interviews Nicole Schiff, Executive Director for the Paso del Norte Center of Hope. The Center of Hope provides services for victims and survivors of human trafficking. Many people don't want to think of this happening in their own backyard, but it is. As of this interview, the average age of victims getting services is 14 years old.
.
Help support their mission with monetary donations or purchase items on their Walmart registry at https://www.pdncoh.org/donate
.
You can also help support the Center of Hope by attending the Days of Remembrance Bridal & Quince Expo Sunday August 3rd from 11-4pm at the El Paso Convention Center. 100% of the door proceeds go towards the Center of Hope, thanks to the Elegant Penguin tuxedo rentals.
.
If you or anyone you know has been a victim of human and/or sex trafficking, please contact the National Human Trafficking hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or the PDN Center of Hope at 915-307-2175
Find them on social media or visit https://www.pdncoh.org/
_______________________________________________________________________________
Segment 2: FAYS Program, (Famiy and Youth Success)
Amber Banda interviews Angelica Delhoyo, Lead Family Support Specialist for FAYS, and Alberto Fuentes, Family Support Specialist at Bright Futures Family Resource Center.
.
They talk about the FREE services that FAYS offers for families with kids ages 6-17, the importance of good family communication, why taking advantage of these services isn't only for "when you have problems," and how it's important for parents and caretakers to be "selfish" sometimes.
.
The Bright Futures Family Resource Center has a ton of free fun and therapuetic events coming up, including a free Family Dance Club with Zumba July 30th from 5-7pm (2120 N Stevens), monthly parent cafes, movie nights, parenting workshops, and much much more. Follow them on Instagram @epccinc or on Facebook @EPCCINC El Paso for more information. You can also call or text Alberto at 915-279-2523 or the Center for Children at 915-565-5021. Visit them at https://epccinc.org/
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to El Paso Public Forum, a weekly half hour
public affairs presentation of iHeartRadio El Paso for over twenty years,
featuring local news and interviews of interest to our listeners
in West Texas and southern New Mexica. All views and
opinions expressed on this program are those of the host
and guest, and not necessarily those of iHeartRadio Management and
now El Paso Public Forum.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Welcome back to the El Paso Public Forum. I'm your host,
Amber Banda, and today we have back in the station,
Nicole Schiff. She's the executive director for the Paso del
Norte Center of Hope. Nicole, thank you for being here
with me today.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
Thank you Amber for having me back on the show again.
I appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Of course. I mean I love having you here because
of what you do. And it is going to be
a very sensitive topic that we're talking about today, especially
because it is about human and sexual exploitation and you
just having mentioned the average age, so I'm just giving
the listeners a fair warning. But it is something that
needs attention and it is something that the community can
(00:59):
help with and you are giving a voice to those people.
So thank you for coming back into the station. So
Nicole the Center of Hope serving victims and survivors of
human trafficking, you know, according to online person Center Trauma
Informed Services. So what exactly does the Center of Hope
do for the community?
Speaker 3 (01:18):
Great questions. So we provide case management, which looks very
different for each victim or survivor, depending on what their
needs are. That can be providing basic needs housing, maybe
they have just the clothes they're wearing when they come
to us, and so helping them get food, clothing, shelter,
and then looking at longer term goals when they're ready.
(01:39):
But it's all about what the victim wants, what the
survivors looking for, and what their needs are. If it's
a youth, it might involve supporting also the family or
the parents or guardians that they're living with as well.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
And usually a lot of these victims are also looking
for safety, you know, they don't feel safe in their homes.
And so my question is a lot of time, you know,
maybe someone will have escaped this and come to you all,
but I imagined that that's not a majority of the people.
How does someone find or come to the Center of
Hope ever after having been victimized that way.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
A lot of times it's through referrals like law enforcement.
If they're already talking with law enforcement, then the law
enforcement knows locally to refer to us for victim services.
Sometimes it's thro duvena probation if it were talking about
a youth or even a school counselor maybe they've talked
with their teacher counselor at school, so they're going to
reach out. And then for adults, it's more it's been
(02:33):
like the National Human Trafficking Hotline. If they call for
victim services, then they're going to get us as local support.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
So a lot of times when I travel actually just
came back from traveling in the bathrooms, they're going to
have that phone number a lot. Is that similar, is
that where they would send them or is that different?
Speaker 3 (02:48):
Yeah, so the national phone number should pretty much be
everywhere now law it should be in hotels, it should
be in nail salons, and it should be in airports.
That's a federal mandate. And so yeah, that's the national number,
and we're associated with the National Human Trafficking Hotline. So
if any zip code, if they say they're in any
area near US, then the national hotline will actually get
(03:09):
us on the phone immediately for victim support.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
Oh wow, Okay, And I know a lot of people
don't want to believe it happens or don't think it
happens in our city, and especially to the age group
that you're going to be talking about. But you said
that you wanted to address a certain age group and
things that were happening right now at the center of Hope,
So please go ahead and educate the listening audience.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
Unfortunately, when people think of human trafficking a lot of
times they do confuse it with smuggling, especially because we're
close to the border, and so the majority of the
cases we're seeing locally are youth. They're involving online exploitations,
so social media apps, video games, anywhere where somebody can
receive a private message. That's where we're really seeing the increase.
(03:53):
And then what happens is these predators or traffickers are
building relationships with the youth, making them feel wanted or
care about, or providing for them in some way, whether
it's monetary or you know, maybe giving them shelter, a
couch to stay on, and then it turns into a
sexually exploitive situation, and so we're seeing teachers being arrested
(04:13):
for relationships with youth. Those all fall under the purview
of the services we provide. So our average clientage right
now is between about thirteen and seventeen. On average, fourteen
is like our unfortunate most common age where we're seeing
these crimes happening.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
I mean, I have a nineteen and a ten year old,
So you know, it's just difficult to digest that information.
And is there a difference between someone that has been
you know, sexually abused versus someone that has been trafficked?
Are both able to go to the center of hoper
or what is the difference?
Speaker 3 (04:47):
That's so hard because it is kind of like this
fine line between I guess you could say sexual abuse
in terms of rape and then exploitation. Typically there's something
involved with exploitation, whether they're offered in exchange or like
I said, shelter or maybe even mon items like Michael
Kor's bag or Jordan sneakers. They're giving them items in
(05:08):
exchange for the sex. And so that's the difference between
general sexual assault and like being assaulted or being raped
versus being exploited for something.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
And you had said that a lot of this happens online.
Can you give parents again, this is not too fear monger.
This is to educate and empower. I mean, my daughter,
she's on her iPad while I'm doing this interview, and
you know, I just want parents to have this in
their tool belt. What games or apps or things online
should parents look out for.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
So honestly, there's no one specific app. We've seen cases
locally that involve Instagram. Facebook Roadblocks unfortunately, is geared towards
very young children, and we've seen cases even involving roadblocks,
So it's hard to say anyone specific app. It's more
about social media safety in general. Talking with your kids
about if somebody were to reach out to you that
(06:00):
you don't know or that you don't trust, you know,
please come to me or you know, block that person,
and so having conversations. It's kind of like the idea
of stranger danger back in the day when we were younger.
You know, you don't talk to strangers. Well, it should
apply the same way to social media. If you don't
know that person, why should they be reaching out to
you or why would you be engaging with them. Kids
(06:20):
so often think, well, it's because they're my friend online
or they're my friend through the video game, and that's fine,
but if they're asking you like where you live, or
asking you, you know, what you do after school and
who's home with you. Just having those conversations with your
kids about what you should answer and what you shouldn't
and really treating it the same way like stranger danger. Yeah,
and some parents think, no, I'll just take social media
(06:41):
away from my children, but they have friends who have it,
they go to school, they share passwords, and so just
being mindful of not you know, it's not like the
anti drug campaign where it's just like don't do drugs. Well,
it's just not working. So let them have social media,
but have honest conversations with them about out what you're sharing,
(07:01):
what you're being asked to share photos, same thing like
why is somebody asking you to share a photo? And
what does that look like and what's going to happen
to that photo. So the Center Folk offers parent presentations
on internet safety. They offer youth presentations in the schools.
So if your student or your child's principle is interested,
we're vetted with all the school districts so we could
(07:23):
come in you know, and just talk to youth. Sometimes
they're just they just don't think about it, you know,
they don't have the capacity yet to understand why somebody
would not have good intentions.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
Especially at my age. I can't imagine have growing growing
up with that kind of power in my hands. And
I think one thing that one tip I'll give parents
anyway either way, is don't put their name in you know,
as their username. Don't put nine one five, don't put
you know, their their their birth age, you know, and
if if anything, put like borch, you know, like you know,
(07:54):
for your ten year old. And another thing I'd seen
online too is you know, when you're talking to young
kids about pictures, you say, Okay, here's a picture of
flowers and puppies, how does that make you feel? Oh,
it makes me feel happy. Here's a picture, you know,
of a person in a bikini, how does that make
you feel? Makes me feel comfortable? Though, so, letting kids
acknowledge how they feel when seeing certain pictures and of
a certain picture evoke some kind of negative of feeling,
(08:15):
opening those lines of communication to be able to say, hey,
this picture that someone sent me here that I'm looking at,
you know, is not it's not one that makes me
feel nice that we you as a parent, can investigate it.
Speaker 3 (08:24):
Yeah, Unfortunately with AI now there's been a lot of
questions around that. We actually had a soldier locally who
was taking photos of his girlfriend's kids in a very
appropriate way and then using AI to turn those photos
into sexual content. And my god, so we don't use
the term child pornography anymore. It actually was federally changed
to child sexual abuse material because we want people to
(08:47):
know if you're looking at child pornography, that's a child abuse, right.
So he luckily is being charged with child abuse and
possession of child sexual exploitation material. But it's so hard
because like even to that girlfriend, like those were innocent
photos of my children, Like what happened? And so AI
is not always our friend neither, and just being mindful
(09:09):
of who you're letting take pictures of your children, like
even if it's a teacher or principal, like why are
they taking photos? And what might the intent be behind that?
Speaker 2 (09:17):
Even if you just question it, at least now that
you know person is aware, that this parent is aware
and is questioning. And again, if you're just joining us,
we have here Nicole Schiff executive director of the Paso
del Norte Center of Hope or more commonly referred to
as the Center of Hope, serving victims and survivors of
human trafficking. Now, Nicole, I do want to get into
(09:39):
that a little bit more. But first, if people want
to help, if they want to, you know, give money
any way that they can help, because I know there's
a lot of people that are passionate about, you know,
wanting to help these kind of of victims or survivors.
How can they do that.
Speaker 3 (09:56):
You can go to our website pdncoh dot org and
there's an option to just generally donate, just give however
much you want. There's an option to go to our
Walmart wish list where you can you know, pick specific
items that would be helpful. Sometimes people resonate more with
being able to actually like see what items they're buying
so that would get shipped directly to us. Those all
those items go to current survivors. And then also there's
(10:18):
a volunteer opportunity. Usually it goes to my email. If
you put it in an inquiry, you can sign up
for volunteer opportunities. Typically, we don't allow volunteers to work
directly with victims just because the level of training. But
we do have special events, we have you know, come
and help us organize donations, like all of those things
that still support the survivor that we really struggle behind
(10:41):
the scenes to keep up with as a small staff.
So volunteer opportunities, special events, donations, and then obviously our
wish list.
Speaker 2 (10:49):
And when these victims come to I mean it's a shelter.
How long do they stay on average.
Speaker 3 (10:54):
So it really depends. Like with our youth victims, a
lot of times they're actually like with JPD, or they
are at home because their parents weren't involved or didn't
know about the situation, so they do have a safe place.
So it really is just dependent. But our program has
no limit on how long they can stay in the program,
how long they can receive services. Some tend to come
(11:14):
and go. The national averages that somebody will come in
and out of the life as we call it, upwards
of seven times before they're ready to really disconnect themselves
from the trauma. Obviously, it's a it's a bond, a
trauma bond that is created with them and they're victim
or their traffickers, so it It can really just depend
on the person.
Speaker 2 (11:34):
It's a very manipulative thing that these people do and
it's very powerful. And there's also if you happen to
have a wedding coming up, you have a genset coming up,
you're interested in any of that. The Days of Remembrance
Bridle and Gain set expo. Now one hundred percent of
the door proceeds are going to go towards this center
(11:54):
of hope. This event is going on Sunday, August third,
from eleven to four pm at the alp has So
Convention Center. Nicole, how did you get connected to the
Days of Remembrance Bridal and King to expo?
Speaker 3 (12:06):
So, actually, the founders of that expo, they work for
Elgrant Penguin or they're actually the owners excuse me, Aurora
and her husband and so they are so wonderful. They
connected with us, her and her husband Louis, and they
just were like, we feel a calling to you all
and they've always given the door proceeds to a nonprofit.
So two years ago we were selected and we've just
(12:28):
been working with them ever since. So our team will
be out there that day. We help with the registration process.
So if ever you want to learn more about Center
of Hope. We're there as well, and we're just really
grateful to that whole team and to Elguent Penguin for
allowing us to be there with them for I think
this is their thirty sixth thirty fifth year maybe so
for a while. Yeah, And they've just been so great
(12:48):
and so supportive of the Center of Hope.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
And they're the owners of Elegant Penguin. What is their
names again, Aurora and Louis Laara, Aurora and Louis. We
love you so Okay. Days of Remembrance Bridal and King
Say Expo Sunday, August third, from eleven to four. Even
if you don't have a wedding Hurricane Sat coming up,
go check it out. It's a bunch of beautiful things
and again the money goes toward one hundred percent of
the door proceeds go towards Center of Hope. It's at
(13:11):
the Alpasso Convention Center. You you can find the The
North Center of Hope on Instagram and Facebook at Paso
the North Center of Hope or again p d n
cooh dot org for more information and of course on
Power No. Two Sunday ninety nine, point nine and ninety
six point three k country. We'll have pictures, We'll have
all this information up on our Instagram and Facebook. But Nicole,
(13:34):
I want to give you a few more minutes. If
there is anything else that you would like to tell
the listening audience.
Speaker 3 (13:39):
I think just to be mindful that it is happening
in our region, in our city. I think a lot
of people just don't want to hear that they see
documentaries or national statistics. But unfortunately, we are extremely busy.
We've had a wait list for use that we've had
to work on and you know, bring on additional staff
for so just know that and these are US citizens.
(14:01):
Only about eight percent of our entire client population is
migrants or immigrants from other countries. So just know that
that ninety two percent of the clients we've been serving
our US citizens being trafficked by US citizens. And so
to not think necessarily about it as a border issue,
but just as a human issue, as a as a victim,
(14:21):
you know, a child victimization, adult victimization, and just that
it is happening, and to be very vigilant.
Speaker 2 (14:27):
Can I ask you, and I know there's a lot
of things that you cannot discuss for you know, safety
of the people that are there, but about maybe in
a month, how many people do you help.
Speaker 3 (14:38):
On average in a month, we're serving between forty five
and fifty people at a time. That does range. Our
youngest client to date has been nine and our oldest
has been fifty four, so there's a huge range there.
But what I'm seeing, and I told you earlier, is
about out of our four full time case managers, three
of them are serving youth full time and one is
serving adults. So much larger use population than we had
(15:01):
seen in past years. And just since COVID, if you
think about kids being at home with their tablets and
their laptops and parents still having to go to work,
there was a huge increase from COVID of online exploitation
of minors.
Speaker 2 (15:15):
So again go to p d NCOH dot org, Paso
del Nortes Center of Hope, look for them on social media,
just to a Google search for more information. They do
have those educational sessions to educate parents about online safety.
It is more important now than ever because that is
where people are targeting. It's very easy to access your kids,
(15:38):
so parents, please be careful, Please take the time it's
worth it to you know. Just I've played roblocks with
my daughter before. I hate it, but I do it
so I can know what she's getting into. And you know, again,
it's not about telling them you can't be on it
or taking it from them. It's just about educating them
and opening those lines of communication. Just tell them, Hey,
you ever see anything that even makes you feel you
(16:00):
don't know why, let me know. Just you know, I'm
not going to get mad at you. It's just something
to talk about. So Nicole, thank you for what you do.
Thank you to the Center of Hope for what you
all do, and thank you for being here with me today.
Speaker 3 (16:10):
Well, thank you for being one of our big advocates. Amber,
I really appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (16:13):
Of course. Welcome back to the al Paso Public Forum.
I am your host, Amberbanda, and today we have back
another program from the al Paso Center for Children. It
is the Phase Program Family and Youth Success. We have
a Helica de Loyo, lead family support specialist for FASE,
(16:37):
and Helica thank you for being here with us today.
Thank you for inviting us, of course, and we have
Alberto Fuentez family support specialist at Bright Futures Family Resource Center. Alberto,
thank you for being here with us today.
Speaker 4 (16:49):
Thank you very much for having us even.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
Though you're slithering house. That's okay, I'm raving, Paba. We'll
get through this. We'll get through this. It's for the kids,
it's for the families.
Speaker 4 (16:56):
All right.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
So we're going to be talking about the Phase program now.
The al Pasco Center for Chill is no stranger to
this program. Again, anything that has to do with child advocacy.
I'm very passionate about it. So on Helica, I'm going
to ask you first the Phase program. What is this program?
Speaker 5 (17:13):
So basically, our Face Program serves family in the Olpaso
County with children between the ages of six and seventeen.
Our goal is to help families navigate everyday challenges and
grow stronger together. We work with youth to help them
overcome obstacles, build resilience, and thrive in healthy ways. Services
(17:33):
include one on one coaching or counseling with trained professionals,
as well as a group of sessions for both youth
and parents to learn and grow together, and all services
are free.
Speaker 2 (17:46):
All services are free, as they usually are at the
Apostles Center for Children. I don't think I've heard yet
of one service that would cost something with that, So
on Helico, I'm going to ask you first, and I'll
bet I'm going to ask you this afterward. Can you
give an example of a situation where someone can benefit
from or services? I mean, we're no strangers to family conflict,
but what is something that might resonate with the audience
(18:09):
right now, especially you know with going back to school.
What is something that you can tell them that hey,
if you're having this issue or this problem, you can
come to us and we can help you with that.
Speaker 5 (18:19):
Definitely. Well, basically it's family conflict and communication skills. They
do lack in communication skills, so basically we train them
on how to have that communication with the child and
as well with the child to understand their parents.
Speaker 2 (18:36):
And again this is for age sixty seventeen. I just
had zero to five.
Speaker 6 (18:41):
Yes, that's the Hopes program. And so what would be
the difference in communication styles? I mean, you know some
of them are obvious, but why is it important to
know how to communicate with the child of that age.
Speaker 5 (18:51):
Well, of course it's very important because that way, again
it's on one and one the child and the parent.
Learn how to communicate each other and to understand each other.
We teach them the love listening, which is love stands
for listen, understanding, validate, And we also use the I
message where it helps them let them the child, let
(19:16):
the parents know they're feeling and how they're feeling, when
is it that they're feeling it, and how they can
help them with that feeling.
Speaker 2 (19:23):
And Alberto, same question, what is an example of maybe
some kind of family conflict for these kids age sixteen
to seventeen where you feel like you know your program could.
Speaker 7 (19:33):
Help well, I like to add two a miss Angelica
mentioned right now. I feel like there's a lot of
miscommunication in families. So besides that, I think here to
kate parents on we offer support for the parents on
how to deal with everyday life situations because sometimes we
(19:56):
don't know how to communicate, you know, and that causes
more trouble ye the family, you know. And then sometimes
especially like in our culture, we have this old school
like ideologies and yes, and we want to we want
to apply that to our kids, but you cannot raise
your kids using the old tools, you know. I think
of it as a washing machine, you know. So in
(20:18):
the past you would do a hand you know, like,
but now you use a washing machine. Who that pretty
much does the whole pretty much the whole job, right.
Speaker 4 (20:27):
So you updated it.
Speaker 7 (20:28):
It's the same function, but you updated it. So it's
it's about communication and providing support to families. So the
Family Resource Center it's a community. It's a welcoming hop
of support, services and opportunities for families. And like I
think a good example that I want to bring up
is one of my one of our clients.
Speaker 4 (20:48):
When she first started the program, she was a very
quiet person.
Speaker 7 (20:51):
She will she will allow every everybody, like including her kids,
to probably.
Speaker 2 (20:57):
Like she was like a doormat, yes, a little and
she's scared.
Speaker 4 (21:01):
Yes, And she was a little bit of stunt up.
Speaker 2 (21:04):
Like stand up, very passive.
Speaker 4 (21:08):
Yes exactly.
Speaker 7 (21:09):
And and she wasn't she will not trust anyone to
really like get to know her more. I remember the
first time she I met her, she said like, no,
I don't I don't trust anybody. I don't trust and
this was the parent, Yes, the parents. So after that,
she after participating in some of my programs, called I
offer one of the activities that her first parent cafess.
After she she continued and she found supporting other parents.
(21:33):
So now she's more outspoken, she's so independent, Like, I'm
so proud of her because she is achieving all the
things that when she first started the program she wasn't.
I don't think she could have been capable of doing it,
you know what I mean. So because she gained the
support and the Family Resource Center allows you to connect
with other people and to a little bit of networking,
(21:54):
because parents need friends. You know, everybody needs friends. We
are social beans. So you cannot go you can I
live your life thinking like, oh I can do this
pro I can don't miss hell.
Speaker 4 (22:05):
No, you need to perform a lot of people.
Speaker 7 (22:07):
And it doesn't have to be your family, it can
be your chosen family.
Speaker 4 (22:10):
Right.
Speaker 7 (22:11):
So, and I think this parent really embody the whole
purpose of the Family Resource Center of finding support not
just in the agency, but in other parents, and she
was able to learn to communication skills that allow her
to connect with her family.
Speaker 2 (22:25):
I think I would be the opposite. And I'm the
one that I probably need to tone myself down a
little bit more, like I need a little bit more,
you know, to be a little bit less angry. I
guess I can react, so there's a lot of families
out there that maybe they think, well, my kid seems
to be doing okay, so I don't need these services.
But I think that with anything I don't want to
say medical, but with anything health related, and this is
(22:46):
part of mental health, preventative is always key.
Speaker 7 (22:50):
And I would like to add something please to that.
And that's a misconception from parents. They think, oh, my
life is perfect, I don't have any issue, And I'm like,
are you, like, are you sure of that?
Speaker 4 (23:00):
Have you like asked your kids?
Speaker 7 (23:02):
You know, because sometimes whatever you see is not what's happening,
you know, And that's the that's the whole point of
communication is also learning how to read the cues, how
to see like what the kid is doing the body language. Okay,
so my kid wants to like they don't want to
spend time with me, They just go as soon as
(23:22):
they come back from.
Speaker 4 (23:22):
School, they go to the rooms.
Speaker 2 (23:23):
Yeah.
Speaker 7 (23:24):
So and you think like, oh, that's fine, room right, safe, like,
but that's not that's not normal, that's not that's gonna
because they're normal.
Speaker 6 (23:34):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (23:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (23:35):
And the more you know your child, the more you
can find if there is a sudden change in behavior.
Because sudden changes in behavior can usually mean that there's
something going on, bullying in person, online.
Speaker 4 (23:45):
And it can happen from one day to the other.
Speaker 7 (23:48):
I'm not going from the other, but like things change
like that, you know, sometimes you have to you start,
let's say a new day in a new school. Uh,
and then maybe it's not what you thought. Maybe you
and maybe you had high hopes and then the school
wasn't what you expect that and then you had a
rough thing or you met the wrong people.
Speaker 4 (24:05):
You know, this can bring you down.
Speaker 7 (24:06):
So things like that happen not just because your child
was I think that's my personal opinion. Not just because
your child was happy his childhood, but is you know,
things going to continue, Things evolve, change, and you need
to adapt to those changes because you need to be
able as a parent. You need to be able to
provide the right support.
Speaker 2 (24:23):
No exactly, And you know, I consider myself a great mom.
I have a nineteen and ten year old daughter and
my nineteen year old you know, this happened a few
years ago, but there was a very bad situation and
I thought I was quote unquote perfect, you know, because
she would come home, we would talk. I always told
her mama, if you need to talk to me, talk
to me. And something I blew up. I didn't have
the good communication because I am such an A type
(24:43):
personality and she is such a whatever the opposite of
that is, and I didn't know how to communicate with her.
But I didn't seek these sources. So I'm just letting
parents know, like, you don't have to have a quote
unquote problem in your family to seek these sources. You
can go and just make new friends. You can relate
to parents, and you know, you can hate and love
on your kids and welcome, you know, an unjudgmental environment
(25:06):
for free. I might add again, so again, no matter
what age child you have, the Alpaco set of your
children is going to have a program for that. And Helica,
do you have anything to respond to with what Alberto said?
I know, I can see your mind going crazy.
Speaker 5 (25:20):
It definitely. Individuals and families who engage in counseling support
services and participate in parent or youth support groups are
empowered to identify and build up on their strengths, enhance
their skills, acquire experiential knowledge, access appropriate community and social resources,
and improve their overall functioning and daily life at home,
(25:43):
in the workplace, and within the community.
Speaker 2 (25:45):
Definitely yes. And you know these programs, of course they're
geared towards the kids and towards the family. But the
parent cafes again, I think they're really geared towards the parents.
Speaker 7 (25:55):
That yes, I think like, of course we serve the kids,
but I think the Family Resource Center it's a little
bit aim a little bit more towards a parent. Yeah,
because you cannot you cannot help your kids if you're
not good you know.
Speaker 2 (26:09):
You know what I mean, Like but your oxygen mask
on first exactly.
Speaker 7 (26:12):
You know, you need to be good on you and
then you can help other people. And I tell parents like, well,
I try to encourage them, like to do a little
bit of self care, you know, like it's yeah, you
as a parent, is your first instinct to take care
of your kids.
Speaker 4 (26:27):
But like what about you?
Speaker 7 (26:28):
You know, I don't know the stiliarity you don't give
everything about you because you're going to be left empty,
So a little bit, you know, think of you for
a little bit at times.
Speaker 2 (26:38):
You know, you can't pour from an empty cup. And
a lot of people think that self care is selfish,
But honestly, like I when I do what I find
what I love, which is dance. Every time I go
and I take a dance class and I come back
and when I make the time to do that, I
find personally like I'm a better parent. So whatever that
is for you, whether it's going and hanging out with
your friends or going and just getting some quiet time,
I definitely think that this program again helping parents. You
(27:03):
cannot pour from an empty cup. You need to take
care of yourself first. So a helica, do you have kids, Yes,
I have three. You have three young adults, young adults,
so well, I have a ten year old that's a
young adult too, Okay, so I mean she was she
was born a sixty year old woman. What you know,
hearing this and hearing about how these services help the parents,
(27:25):
how do you feel as a mom that this could
benefit the rest of you, of your family, It.
Speaker 5 (27:30):
Can benefit around everybody, because again we take it for
granted sometimes that we don't know there's help out there.
So especially that services are free, I mean we have
to take advantage of the services. As a mom, I
wish I knew this that the services existed right started
being a mom. But now as a younger mom, the
(27:54):
young adult kids that I have. I'm also implementing what
I'm learning through professionally. And have you seen a difference, Yes, definitely,
especially in the communication. Yes, definitely.
Speaker 2 (28:06):
Yes. So again, if you're just joining us, we have
the Alpaco Center for Children Back, the Phase Program, the
Family and Youth Success. We have Angelica de Loyo lead
family Support Specialists for Fayse and Alberto Fuentez family support
Specialists at Right Futures Family Resource Center. Now you can
always go to EPCCI NC dot org for more information
(28:28):
or follow them on Instagram and Facebook. A ton of
But you guys right now have a lot of events
going on. Who would like to talk about those? All right, Alberta.
Speaker 7 (28:38):
So each month I tried to have at least one
or two events. They can go from events that provides
some sort of teaching lesson like like they're too fun
activities like I do movie next. But we also have
support groups. That's what I meant to say. You know,
it's a great variety of events. In July, well what's
(28:59):
left of July. Next week, on the thirtieth, we're going
to have a dance club. That's the fun thing, you know, Yes,
it's a family dance club. So I am working with
a Zombay instructor who is willing to donate her time
and provide a session. And then I'm also partnering with
(29:22):
the Fatherhood Program, which is another program within the agency,
and we're going to do a father daughter dance in August.
Speaker 4 (29:30):
So I had them on and so.
Speaker 7 (29:33):
It's a fun activity. I got a lot of parents interested.
And we also do meditation workshop. So the meditation worship
is done by a colleague of mine and she allows, well,
it helps you to yea everything now, and it's a
fun activity and everything's free. Some events are more catered
for parents. Some other events are for the family. Same thing, like,
(29:57):
I'm doing it for the parents because I think need
a time for.
Speaker 4 (30:01):
A me time, you know so, and it will help
them be a better exactly.
Speaker 2 (30:05):
So if people want to participate in these events, where
can they find out more information?
Speaker 4 (30:08):
Well? Facebook and Instagram.
Speaker 7 (30:10):
Okay, this is the best way to reach out because
you'll find the flyers and the contact information there. They
can text me it's a cell phone. My cell phone
is nine one five two seven nine twenty five twenty three. Okay, sorry,
I don't know if I went to fast on that.
Speaker 2 (30:25):
Oh you're fine. I'm going to post this information online
anyway so they can find this. Most people that listen
to the show, they know that on ninety six point
three k country pound two point one and setting ninety
nine point nine on Instagram and Facebook, the information will
be posted there. You said it was two seventy nine
twenty five twenty five twenty three, okay.
Speaker 7 (30:42):
Or they can call the main number of the agency,
which is located in our website.
Speaker 5 (30:48):
Okay, they can five five six five five zero two
one and.
Speaker 4 (30:52):
They can just leave a message.
Speaker 7 (30:53):
I like to participate in the parent cafes or the
events of the Family Resource Center and they will get
gathered information and they just give you know.
Speaker 2 (31:01):
That sounds fun. You're gonna have to do a Harry
Potter night.
Speaker 4 (31:04):
I want. We had a movie night. We watched Half
Blood Prints.
Speaker 2 (31:09):
Oh I haven't seen that one yet. I've only seen
the first three, so yeah, I can do a whole
whole series on that. But you know, and Helica, is
there anything else that you would like to tell the
listening audience.
Speaker 5 (31:20):
Basically all the information that we provided, it's again, it's
pretty much clear for everybody and to please come in,
and they're more than welcome to come and and and
and see if our sessions are suited for what their
needs are. And also, I would like to add to
what Alberto said about the Family Resource Center, it's also
(31:40):
open to our community partners if they want to use it.
They're more than welcome to use our center for any
events that they have. Of course, it's not a party hall.
It's a business business forum, so that they can use
it for whatever their business might need. And it's also
free for them.
Speaker 2 (32:00):
So when you mean community partners, are you talking like
the Child Crisis Center?
Speaker 4 (32:03):
Actually any other organization.
Speaker 7 (32:07):
Oh wow, maybe let's say ex organization wants to hold
a resource fair.
Speaker 4 (32:12):
We have the space now.
Speaker 5 (32:14):
Training whatever their needs are, and it's free for them.
Speaker 2 (32:18):
Okay, awesome, And they would just use this in contact methods.
Speaker 4 (32:21):
Yes, they will contact me.
Speaker 5 (32:22):
O our agency nine one five five six five five
zero two one, and we are more than happy to
help them whatever they need.
Speaker 2 (32:30):
That's awesome. And Alberto, is there anything else that you
would like to tell the listening audience.
Speaker 4 (32:34):
Yes, we don't.
Speaker 7 (32:36):
We also offer parenting classes and I myself can provide
parenting groups. So parenting classes is my matemalian. So that's
I think it's the main thing besides the events and
the parent cafes. So if any agency or school or
community center is interested in offering hosting parenting classes, we
work with a curriculine called the Strengthening Families. It's an
(32:58):
eleven steps program and it's free. Just a parent need
to I need parents with kids under the age of
seventeen to be to be enrolled. So the parenting classes
requires un enrollment, but everything else is free, like doesn't
require anything, so the events. Another thing that I do
encourage parents is that because I understand that maybe a
(33:18):
parenting class is kind of like.
Speaker 4 (33:22):
The I don't.
Speaker 5 (33:24):
You know to teach them, Well, actually it's to teach them,
but it's not to tell them what to do if
they are already know as a parent what to do.
Because some parents are like, you're not going to tell
me what you do. We're just here to provide them
with strategies and techniques and how to help have a
a better home environment so that they can have a
(33:45):
better loving home environment.
Speaker 7 (33:47):
Right, yes, And when you when you mentioned parenting classes
to a parent who has that type of mentality, they're like, no, no, no,
I don't know parenting classes, but if that's okay, because
but they can participate in a parent cafe, and the
parent cafe it's a little bit, it's a taste of it,
you know, it's a little bit. In the bank cafe
is once a month, okay, So the pan cafes are
once a month, and the meditation is one every other month.
(34:08):
Because I'm I'm doing the maitation and then the support
group which is called a sukaramargo in Spanish and beater
served in English. So i have two sessions and so
I'm doing one was going on mess and then the
other one the other man the other following month. And
but I'm open for those kind of services in anybody needs.
Speaker 2 (34:26):
The perfect So if you need more information, again on
Instagram it's ep c c I in c because again
the phase program is a part of the L. Pascal
Center for Children. And on Facebook e p c c
I and C of al Paso or epc c I
n C dot org. Again just google al Passal Center
for Children and it's going to come up. And Helica
(34:46):
and Alberto, thank you so much for being here with
me today.
Speaker 4 (34:49):
Thank you so much, Thank you very much.
Speaker 1 (34:51):
You've been listening to El Paso Public Forum, a weekly
public affairs presentation of iHeartRadio El Paso. If you, your
organization or event would like to be featured on an
upcoming program, please email to Epforum at iHeartMedia dot com
or call us at nine one five three five one
five four zero zero. Tune in again next week for
(35:12):
another additional of El Paso Public Forum. The preceding program
was recorded at the studios of iHeartRadio El Paso
Welcome to El Paso Public Forum, a weekly half hour
public affairs presentation of iHeartRadio El Paso for over twenty years,
featuring local news and interviews of interest to our listeners
in West Texas and southern New Mexica. All views and
opinions expressed on this program are those of the host
and guest, and not necessarily those of iHeartRadio Management and
now El Paso Public Forum.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Welcome back to the El Paso Public Forum. I'm your host,
Amber Banda, and today we have back in the station,
Nicole Schiff. She's the executive director for the Paso del
Norte Center of Hope. Nicole, thank you for being here
with me today.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
Thank you Amber for having me back on the show again.
I appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Of course. I mean I love having you here because
of what you do. And it is going to be
a very sensitive topic that we're talking about today, especially
because it is about human and sexual exploitation and you
just having mentioned the average age, so I'm just giving
the listeners a fair warning. But it is something that
needs attention and it is something that the community can
(00:59):
help with and you are giving a voice to those people.
So thank you for coming back into the station. So
Nicole the Center of Hope serving victims and survivors of
human trafficking, you know, according to online person Center Trauma
Informed Services. So what exactly does the Center of Hope
do for the community?
Speaker 3 (01:18):
Great questions. So we provide case management, which looks very
different for each victim or survivor, depending on what their
needs are. That can be providing basic needs housing, maybe
they have just the clothes they're wearing when they come
to us, and so helping them get food, clothing, shelter,
and then looking at longer term goals when they're ready.
(01:39):
But it's all about what the victim wants, what the
survivors looking for, and what their needs are. If it's
a youth, it might involve supporting also the family or
the parents or guardians that they're living with as well.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
And usually a lot of these victims are also looking
for safety, you know, they don't feel safe in their homes.
And so my question is a lot of time, you know,
maybe someone will have escaped this and come to you all,
but I imagined that that's not a majority of the people.
How does someone find or come to the Center of
Hope ever after having been victimized that way.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
A lot of times it's through referrals like law enforcement.
If they're already talking with law enforcement, then the law
enforcement knows locally to refer to us for victim services.
Sometimes it's thro duvena probation if it were talking about
a youth or even a school counselor maybe they've talked
with their teacher counselor at school, so they're going to
reach out. And then for adults, it's more it's been
(02:33):
like the National Human Trafficking Hotline. If they call for
victim services, then they're going to get us as local support.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
So a lot of times when I travel actually just
came back from traveling in the bathrooms, they're going to
have that phone number a lot. Is that similar, is
that where they would send them or is that different?
Speaker 3 (02:48):
Yeah, so the national phone number should pretty much be
everywhere now law it should be in hotels, it should
be in nail salons, and it should be in airports.
That's a federal mandate. And so yeah, that's the national number,
and we're associated with the National Human Trafficking Hotline. So
if any zip code, if they say they're in any
area near US, then the national hotline will actually get
(03:09):
us on the phone immediately for victim support.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
Oh wow, Okay, And I know a lot of people
don't want to believe it happens or don't think it
happens in our city, and especially to the age group
that you're going to be talking about. But you said
that you wanted to address a certain age group and
things that were happening right now at the center of Hope,
So please go ahead and educate the listening audience.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
Unfortunately, when people think of human trafficking a lot of
times they do confuse it with smuggling, especially because we're
close to the border, and so the majority of the
cases we're seeing locally are youth. They're involving online exploitations,
so social media apps, video games, anywhere where somebody can
receive a private message. That's where we're really seeing the increase.
(03:53):
And then what happens is these predators or traffickers are
building relationships with the youth, making them feel wanted or
care about, or providing for them in some way, whether
it's monetary or you know, maybe giving them shelter, a
couch to stay on, and then it turns into a
sexually exploitive situation, and so we're seeing teachers being arrested
(04:13):
for relationships with youth. Those all fall under the purview
of the services we provide. So our average clientage right
now is between about thirteen and seventeen. On average, fourteen
is like our unfortunate most common age where we're seeing
these crimes happening.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
I mean, I have a nineteen and a ten year old,
So you know, it's just difficult to digest that information.
And is there a difference between someone that has been
you know, sexually abused versus someone that has been trafficked?
Are both able to go to the center of hoper
or what is the difference?
Speaker 3 (04:47):
That's so hard because it is kind of like this
fine line between I guess you could say sexual abuse
in terms of rape and then exploitation. Typically there's something
involved with exploitation, whether they're offered in exchange or like
I said, shelter or maybe even mon items like Michael
Kor's bag or Jordan sneakers. They're giving them items in
(05:08):
exchange for the sex. And so that's the difference between
general sexual assault and like being assaulted or being raped
versus being exploited for something.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
And you had said that a lot of this happens online.
Can you give parents again, this is not too fear monger.
This is to educate and empower. I mean, my daughter,
she's on her iPad while I'm doing this interview, and
you know, I just want parents to have this in
their tool belt. What games or apps or things online
should parents look out for.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
So honestly, there's no one specific app. We've seen cases
locally that involve Instagram. Facebook Roadblocks unfortunately, is geared towards
very young children, and we've seen cases even involving roadblocks,
So it's hard to say anyone specific app. It's more
about social media safety in general. Talking with your kids
about if somebody were to reach out to you that
(06:00):
you don't know or that you don't trust, you know,
please come to me or you know, block that person,
and so having conversations. It's kind of like the idea
of stranger danger back in the day when we were younger.
You know, you don't talk to strangers. Well, it should
apply the same way to social media. If you don't
know that person, why should they be reaching out to
you or why would you be engaging with them. Kids
(06:20):
so often think, well, it's because they're my friend online
or they're my friend through the video game, and that's fine,
but if they're asking you like where you live, or
asking you, you know, what you do after school and
who's home with you. Just having those conversations with your
kids about what you should answer and what you shouldn't
and really treating it the same way like stranger danger. Yeah,
and some parents think, no, I'll just take social media
(06:41):
away from my children, but they have friends who have it,
they go to school, they share passwords, and so just
being mindful of not you know, it's not like the
anti drug campaign where it's just like don't do drugs. Well,
it's just not working. So let them have social media,
but have honest conversations with them about out what you're sharing,
(07:01):
what you're being asked to share photos, same thing like
why is somebody asking you to share a photo? And
what does that look like and what's going to happen
to that photo. So the Center Folk offers parent presentations
on internet safety. They offer youth presentations in the schools.
So if your student or your child's principle is interested,
we're vetted with all the school districts so we could
(07:23):
come in you know, and just talk to youth. Sometimes
they're just they just don't think about it, you know,
they don't have the capacity yet to understand why somebody
would not have good intentions.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
Especially at my age. I can't imagine have growing growing
up with that kind of power in my hands. And
I think one thing that one tip I'll give parents
anyway either way, is don't put their name in you know,
as their username. Don't put nine one five, don't put
you know, their their their birth age, you know, and
if if anything, put like borch, you know, like you know,
(07:54):
for your ten year old. And another thing I'd seen
online too is you know, when you're talking to young
kids about pictures, you say, Okay, here's a picture of
flowers and puppies, how does that make you feel? Oh,
it makes me feel happy. Here's a picture, you know,
of a person in a bikini, how does that make
you feel? Makes me feel comfortable? Though, so, letting kids
acknowledge how they feel when seeing certain pictures and of
a certain picture evoke some kind of negative of feeling,
(08:15):
opening those lines of communication to be able to say, hey,
this picture that someone sent me here that I'm looking at,
you know, is not it's not one that makes me
feel nice that we you as a parent, can investigate it.
Speaker 3 (08:24):
Yeah, Unfortunately with AI now there's been a lot of
questions around that. We actually had a soldier locally who
was taking photos of his girlfriend's kids in a very
appropriate way and then using AI to turn those photos
into sexual content. And my god, so we don't use
the term child pornography anymore. It actually was federally changed
to child sexual abuse material because we want people to
(08:47):
know if you're looking at child pornography, that's a child abuse, right.
So he luckily is being charged with child abuse and
possession of child sexual exploitation material. But it's so hard
because like even to that girlfriend, like those were innocent
photos of my children, Like what happened? And so AI
is not always our friend neither, and just being mindful
(09:09):
of who you're letting take pictures of your children, like
even if it's a teacher or principal, like why are
they taking photos? And what might the intent be behind that?
Speaker 2 (09:17):
Even if you just question it, at least now that
you know person is aware, that this parent is aware
and is questioning. And again, if you're just joining us,
we have here Nicole Schiff executive director of the Paso
del Norte Center of Hope or more commonly referred to
as the Center of Hope, serving victims and survivors of
human trafficking. Now, Nicole, I do want to get into
(09:39):
that a little bit more. But first, if people want
to help, if they want to, you know, give money
any way that they can help, because I know there's
a lot of people that are passionate about, you know,
wanting to help these kind of of victims or survivors.
How can they do that.
Speaker 3 (09:56):
You can go to our website pdncoh dot org and
there's an option to just generally donate, just give however
much you want. There's an option to go to our
Walmart wish list where you can you know, pick specific
items that would be helpful. Sometimes people resonate more with
being able to actually like see what items they're buying
so that would get shipped directly to us. Those all
those items go to current survivors. And then also there's
(10:18):
a volunteer opportunity. Usually it goes to my email. If
you put it in an inquiry, you can sign up
for volunteer opportunities. Typically, we don't allow volunteers to work
directly with victims just because the level of training. But
we do have special events, we have you know, come
and help us organize donations, like all of those things
that still support the survivor that we really struggle behind
(10:41):
the scenes to keep up with as a small staff.
So volunteer opportunities, special events, donations, and then obviously our
wish list.
Speaker 2 (10:49):
And when these victims come to I mean it's a shelter.
How long do they stay on average.
Speaker 3 (10:54):
So it really depends. Like with our youth victims, a
lot of times they're actually like with JPD, or they
are at home because their parents weren't involved or didn't
know about the situation, so they do have a safe place.
So it really is just dependent. But our program has
no limit on how long they can stay in the program,
how long they can receive services. Some tend to come
(11:14):
and go. The national averages that somebody will come in
and out of the life as we call it, upwards
of seven times before they're ready to really disconnect themselves
from the trauma. Obviously, it's a it's a bond, a
trauma bond that is created with them and they're victim
or their traffickers, so it It can really just depend
on the person.
Speaker 2 (11:34):
It's a very manipulative thing that these people do and
it's very powerful. And there's also if you happen to
have a wedding coming up, you have a genset coming up,
you're interested in any of that. The Days of Remembrance
Bridle and Gain set expo. Now one hundred percent of
the door proceeds are going to go towards this center
(11:54):
of hope. This event is going on Sunday, August third,
from eleven to four pm at the alp has So
Convention Center. Nicole, how did you get connected to the
Days of Remembrance Bridal and King to expo?
Speaker 3 (12:06):
So, actually, the founders of that expo, they work for
Elgrant Penguin or they're actually the owners excuse me, Aurora
and her husband and so they are so wonderful. They
connected with us, her and her husband Louis, and they
just were like, we feel a calling to you all
and they've always given the door proceeds to a nonprofit.
So two years ago we were selected and we've just
(12:28):
been working with them ever since. So our team will
be out there that day. We help with the registration process.
So if ever you want to learn more about Center
of Hope. We're there as well, and we're just really
grateful to that whole team and to Elguent Penguin for
allowing us to be there with them for I think
this is their thirty sixth thirty fifth year maybe so
for a while. Yeah, And they've just been so great
(12:48):
and so supportive of the Center of Hope.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
And they're the owners of Elegant Penguin. What is their
names again, Aurora and Louis Laara, Aurora and Louis. We
love you so Okay. Days of Remembrance Bridal and King
Say Expo Sunday, August third, from eleven to four. Even
if you don't have a wedding Hurricane Sat coming up,
go check it out. It's a bunch of beautiful things
and again the money goes toward one hundred percent of
the door proceeds go towards Center of Hope. It's at
(13:11):
the Alpasso Convention Center. You you can find the The
North Center of Hope on Instagram and Facebook at Paso
the North Center of Hope or again p d n
cooh dot org for more information and of course on
Power No. Two Sunday ninety nine, point nine and ninety
six point three k country. We'll have pictures, We'll have
all this information up on our Instagram and Facebook. But Nicole,
(13:34):
I want to give you a few more minutes. If
there is anything else that you would like to tell
the listening audience.
Speaker 3 (13:39):
I think just to be mindful that it is happening
in our region, in our city. I think a lot
of people just don't want to hear that they see
documentaries or national statistics. But unfortunately, we are extremely busy.
We've had a wait list for use that we've had
to work on and you know, bring on additional staff
for so just know that and these are US citizens.
(14:01):
Only about eight percent of our entire client population is
migrants or immigrants from other countries. So just know that
that ninety two percent of the clients we've been serving
our US citizens being trafficked by US citizens. And so
to not think necessarily about it as a border issue,
but just as a human issue, as a as a victim,
(14:21):
you know, a child victimization, adult victimization, and just that
it is happening, and to be very vigilant.
Speaker 2 (14:27):
Can I ask you, and I know there's a lot
of things that you cannot discuss for you know, safety
of the people that are there, but about maybe in
a month, how many people do you help.
Speaker 3 (14:38):
On average in a month, we're serving between forty five
and fifty people at a time. That does range. Our
youngest client to date has been nine and our oldest
has been fifty four, so there's a huge range there.
But what I'm seeing, and I told you earlier, is
about out of our four full time case managers, three
of them are serving youth full time and one is
serving adults. So much larger use population than we had
(15:01):
seen in past years. And just since COVID, if you
think about kids being at home with their tablets and
their laptops and parents still having to go to work,
there was a huge increase from COVID of online exploitation
of minors.
Speaker 2 (15:15):
So again go to p d NCOH dot org, Paso
del Nortes Center of Hope, look for them on social media,
just to a Google search for more information. They do
have those educational sessions to educate parents about online safety.
It is more important now than ever because that is
where people are targeting. It's very easy to access your kids,
(15:38):
so parents, please be careful, Please take the time it's
worth it to you know. Just I've played roblocks with
my daughter before. I hate it, but I do it
so I can know what she's getting into. And you know, again,
it's not about telling them you can't be on it
or taking it from them. It's just about educating them
and opening those lines of communication. Just tell them, Hey,
you ever see anything that even makes you feel you
(16:00):
don't know why, let me know. Just you know, I'm
not going to get mad at you. It's just something
to talk about. So Nicole, thank you for what you do.
Thank you to the Center of Hope for what you
all do, and thank you for being here with me today.
Speaker 3 (16:10):
Well, thank you for being one of our big advocates. Amber,
I really appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (16:13):
Of course. Welcome back to the al Paso Public Forum.
I am your host, Amberbanda, and today we have back
another program from the al Paso Center for Children. It
is the Phase Program Family and Youth Success. We have
a Helica de Loyo, lead family support specialist for FASE,
(16:37):
and Helica thank you for being here with us today.
Thank you for inviting us, of course, and we have
Alberto Fuentez family support specialist at Bright Futures Family Resource Center. Alberto,
thank you for being here with us today.
Speaker 4 (16:49):
Thank you very much for having us even.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
Though you're slithering house. That's okay, I'm raving, Paba. We'll
get through this. We'll get through this. It's for the kids,
it's for the families.
Speaker 4 (16:56):
All right.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
So we're going to be talking about the Phase program now.
The al Pasco Center for Chill is no stranger to
this program. Again, anything that has to do with child advocacy.
I'm very passionate about it. So on Helica, I'm going
to ask you first the Phase program. What is this program?
Speaker 5 (17:13):
So basically, our Face Program serves family in the Olpaso
County with children between the ages of six and seventeen.
Our goal is to help families navigate everyday challenges and
grow stronger together. We work with youth to help them
overcome obstacles, build resilience, and thrive in healthy ways. Services
(17:33):
include one on one coaching or counseling with trained professionals,
as well as a group of sessions for both youth
and parents to learn and grow together, and all services
are free.
Speaker 2 (17:46):
All services are free, as they usually are at the
Apostles Center for Children. I don't think I've heard yet
of one service that would cost something with that, So
on Helico, I'm going to ask you first, and I'll
bet I'm going to ask you this afterward. Can you
give an example of a situation where someone can benefit
from or services? I mean, we're no strangers to family conflict,
but what is something that might resonate with the audience
(18:09):
right now, especially you know with going back to school.
What is something that you can tell them that hey,
if you're having this issue or this problem, you can
come to us and we can help you with that.
Speaker 5 (18:19):
Definitely. Well, basically it's family conflict and communication skills. They
do lack in communication skills, so basically we train them
on how to have that communication with the child and
as well with the child to understand their parents.
Speaker 2 (18:36):
And again this is for age sixty seventeen. I just
had zero to five.
Speaker 6 (18:41):
Yes, that's the Hopes program. And so what would be
the difference in communication styles? I mean, you know some
of them are obvious, but why is it important to
know how to communicate with the child of that age.
Speaker 5 (18:51):
Well, of course it's very important because that way, again
it's on one and one the child and the parent.
Learn how to communicate each other and to understand each other.
We teach them the love listening, which is love stands
for listen, understanding, validate, And we also use the I
message where it helps them let them the child, let
(19:16):
the parents know they're feeling and how they're feeling, when
is it that they're feeling it, and how they can
help them with that feeling.
Speaker 2 (19:23):
And Alberto, same question, what is an example of maybe
some kind of family conflict for these kids age sixteen
to seventeen where you feel like you know your program could.
Speaker 7 (19:33):
Help well, I like to add two a miss Angelica
mentioned right now. I feel like there's a lot of
miscommunication in families. So besides that, I think here to
kate parents on we offer support for the parents on
how to deal with everyday life situations because sometimes we
(19:56):
don't know how to communicate, you know, and that causes
more trouble ye the family, you know. And then sometimes
especially like in our culture, we have this old school
like ideologies and yes, and we want to we want
to apply that to our kids, but you cannot raise
your kids using the old tools, you know. I think
of it as a washing machine, you know. So in
(20:18):
the past you would do a hand you know, like,
but now you use a washing machine. Who that pretty
much does the whole pretty much the whole job, right.
Speaker 4 (20:27):
So you updated it.
Speaker 7 (20:28):
It's the same function, but you updated it. So it's
it's about communication and providing support to families. So the
Family Resource Center it's a community. It's a welcoming hop
of support, services and opportunities for families. And like I
think a good example that I want to bring up
is one of my one of our clients.
Speaker 4 (20:48):
When she first started the program, she was a very
quiet person.
Speaker 7 (20:51):
She will she will allow every everybody, like including her kids,
to probably.
Speaker 2 (20:57):
Like she was like a doormat, yes, a little and
she's scared.
Speaker 4 (21:01):
Yes, And she was a little bit of stunt up.
Speaker 2 (21:04):
Like stand up, very passive.
Speaker 4 (21:08):
Yes exactly.
Speaker 7 (21:09):
And and she wasn't she will not trust anyone to
really like get to know her more. I remember the
first time she I met her, she said like, no,
I don't I don't trust anybody. I don't trust and
this was the parent, Yes, the parents. So after that,
she after participating in some of my programs, called I
offer one of the activities that her first parent cafess.
After she she continued and she found supporting other parents.
(21:33):
So now she's more outspoken, she's so independent, Like, I'm
so proud of her because she is achieving all the
things that when she first started the program she wasn't.
I don't think she could have been capable of doing it,
you know what I mean. So because she gained the
support and the Family Resource Center allows you to connect
with other people and to a little bit of networking,
(21:54):
because parents need friends. You know, everybody needs friends. We
are social beans. So you cannot go you can I
live your life thinking like, oh I can do this
pro I can don't miss hell.
Speaker 4 (22:05):
No, you need to perform a lot of people.
Speaker 7 (22:07):
And it doesn't have to be your family, it can
be your chosen family.
Speaker 4 (22:10):
Right.
Speaker 7 (22:11):
So, and I think this parent really embody the whole
purpose of the Family Resource Center of finding support not
just in the agency, but in other parents, and she
was able to learn to communication skills that allow her
to connect with her family.
Speaker 2 (22:25):
I think I would be the opposite. And I'm the
one that I probably need to tone myself down a
little bit more, like I need a little bit more,
you know, to be a little bit less angry. I
guess I can react, so there's a lot of families
out there that maybe they think, well, my kid seems
to be doing okay, so I don't need these services.
But I think that with anything I don't want to
say medical, but with anything health related, and this is
(22:46):
part of mental health, preventative is always key.
Speaker 7 (22:50):
And I would like to add something please to that.
And that's a misconception from parents. They think, oh, my
life is perfect, I don't have any issue, And I'm like,
are you, like, are you sure of that?
Speaker 4 (23:00):
Have you like asked your kids?
Speaker 7 (23:02):
You know, because sometimes whatever you see is not what's happening,
you know, And that's the that's the whole point of
communication is also learning how to read the cues, how
to see like what the kid is doing the body language. Okay,
so my kid wants to like they don't want to
spend time with me, They just go as soon as
(23:22):
they come back from.
Speaker 4 (23:22):
School, they go to the rooms.
Speaker 2 (23:23):
Yeah.
Speaker 7 (23:24):
So and you think like, oh, that's fine, room right, safe, like,
but that's not that's not normal, that's not that's gonna
because they're normal.
Speaker 6 (23:34):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (23:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (23:35):
And the more you know your child, the more you
can find if there is a sudden change in behavior.
Because sudden changes in behavior can usually mean that there's
something going on, bullying in person, online.
Speaker 4 (23:45):
And it can happen from one day to the other.
Speaker 7 (23:48):
I'm not going from the other, but like things change
like that, you know, sometimes you have to you start,
let's say a new day in a new school. Uh,
and then maybe it's not what you thought. Maybe you
and maybe you had high hopes and then the school
wasn't what you expect that and then you had a
rough thing or you met the wrong people.
Speaker 4 (24:05):
You know, this can bring you down.
Speaker 7 (24:06):
So things like that happen not just because your child
was I think that's my personal opinion. Not just because
your child was happy his childhood, but is you know,
things going to continue, Things evolve, change, and you need
to adapt to those changes because you need to be
able as a parent. You need to be able to
provide the right support.
Speaker 2 (24:23):
No exactly, And you know, I consider myself a great mom.
I have a nineteen and ten year old daughter and
my nineteen year old you know, this happened a few
years ago, but there was a very bad situation and
I thought I was quote unquote perfect, you know, because
she would come home, we would talk. I always told
her mama, if you need to talk to me, talk
to me. And something I blew up. I didn't have
the good communication because I am such an A type
(24:43):
personality and she is such a whatever the opposite of
that is, and I didn't know how to communicate with her.
But I didn't seek these sources. So I'm just letting
parents know, like, you don't have to have a quote
unquote problem in your family to seek these sources. You
can go and just make new friends. You can relate
to parents, and you know, you can hate and love
on your kids and welcome, you know, an unjudgmental environment
(25:06):
for free. I might add again, so again, no matter
what age child you have, the Alpaco set of your
children is going to have a program for that. And Helica,
do you have anything to respond to with what Alberto said?
I know, I can see your mind going crazy.
Speaker 5 (25:20):
It definitely. Individuals and families who engage in counseling support
services and participate in parent or youth support groups are
empowered to identify and build up on their strengths, enhance
their skills, acquire experiential knowledge, access appropriate community and social resources,
and improve their overall functioning and daily life at home,
(25:43):
in the workplace, and within the community.
Speaker 2 (25:45):
Definitely yes. And you know these programs, of course they're
geared towards the kids and towards the family. But the
parent cafes again, I think they're really geared towards the parents.
Speaker 7 (25:55):
That yes, I think like, of course we serve the kids,
but I think the Family Resource Center it's a little
bit aim a little bit more towards a parent. Yeah,
because you cannot you cannot help your kids if you're
not good you know.
Speaker 2 (26:09):
You know what I mean, Like but your oxygen mask
on first exactly.
Speaker 7 (26:12):
You know, you need to be good on you and
then you can help other people. And I tell parents like, well,
I try to encourage them, like to do a little
bit of self care, you know, like it's yeah, you
as a parent, is your first instinct to take care
of your kids.
Speaker 4 (26:27):
But like what about you?
Speaker 7 (26:28):
You know, I don't know the stiliarity you don't give
everything about you because you're going to be left empty,
So a little bit, you know, think of you for
a little bit at times.
Speaker 2 (26:38):
You know, you can't pour from an empty cup. And
a lot of people think that self care is selfish,
But honestly, like I when I do what I find
what I love, which is dance. Every time I go
and I take a dance class and I come back
and when I make the time to do that, I
find personally like I'm a better parent. So whatever that
is for you, whether it's going and hanging out with
your friends or going and just getting some quiet time,
I definitely think that this program again helping parents. You
(27:03):
cannot pour from an empty cup. You need to take
care of yourself first. So a helica, do you have kids, Yes,
I have three. You have three young adults, young adults,
so well, I have a ten year old that's a
young adult too, Okay, so I mean she was she
was born a sixty year old woman. What you know,
hearing this and hearing about how these services help the parents,
(27:25):
how do you feel as a mom that this could
benefit the rest of you, of your family, It.
Speaker 5 (27:30):
Can benefit around everybody, because again we take it for
granted sometimes that we don't know there's help out there.
So especially that services are free, I mean we have
to take advantage of the services. As a mom, I
wish I knew this that the services existed right started
being a mom. But now as a younger mom, the
(27:54):
young adult kids that I have. I'm also implementing what
I'm learning through professionally. And have you seen a difference, Yes, definitely,
especially in the communication. Yes, definitely.
Speaker 2 (28:06):
Yes. So again, if you're just joining us, we have
the Alpaco Center for Children Back, the Phase Program, the
Family and Youth Success. We have Angelica de Loyo lead
family Support Specialists for Fayse and Alberto Fuentez family support
Specialists at Right Futures Family Resource Center. Now you can
always go to EPCCI NC dot org for more information
(28:28):
or follow them on Instagram and Facebook. A ton of
But you guys right now have a lot of events
going on. Who would like to talk about those? All right, Alberta.
Speaker 7 (28:38):
So each month I tried to have at least one
or two events. They can go from events that provides
some sort of teaching lesson like like they're too fun
activities like I do movie next. But we also have
support groups. That's what I meant to say. You know,
it's a great variety of events. In July, well what's
(28:59):
left of July. Next week, on the thirtieth, we're going
to have a dance club. That's the fun thing, you know, Yes,
it's a family dance club. So I am working with
a Zombay instructor who is willing to donate her time
and provide a session. And then I'm also partnering with
(29:22):
the Fatherhood Program, which is another program within the agency,
and we're going to do a father daughter dance in August.
Speaker 4 (29:30):
So I had them on and so.
Speaker 7 (29:33):
It's a fun activity. I got a lot of parents interested.
And we also do meditation workshop. So the meditation worship
is done by a colleague of mine and she allows, well,
it helps you to yea everything now, and it's a
fun activity and everything's free. Some events are more catered
for parents. Some other events are for the family. Same thing, like,
(29:57):
I'm doing it for the parents because I think need
a time for.
Speaker 4 (30:01):
A me time, you know so, and it will help
them be a better exactly.
Speaker 2 (30:05):
So if people want to participate in these events, where
can they find out more information?
Speaker 4 (30:08):
Well? Facebook and Instagram.
Speaker 7 (30:10):
Okay, this is the best way to reach out because
you'll find the flyers and the contact information there. They
can text me it's a cell phone. My cell phone
is nine one five two seven nine twenty five twenty three. Okay, sorry,
I don't know if I went to fast on that.
Speaker 2 (30:25):
Oh you're fine. I'm going to post this information online
anyway so they can find this. Most people that listen
to the show, they know that on ninety six point
three k country pound two point one and setting ninety
nine point nine on Instagram and Facebook, the information will
be posted there. You said it was two seventy nine
twenty five twenty five twenty three, okay.
Speaker 7 (30:42):
Or they can call the main number of the agency,
which is located in our website.
Speaker 5 (30:48):
Okay, they can five five six five five zero two
one and.
Speaker 4 (30:52):
They can just leave a message.
Speaker 7 (30:53):
I like to participate in the parent cafes or the
events of the Family Resource Center and they will get
gathered information and they just give you know.
Speaker 2 (31:01):
That sounds fun. You're gonna have to do a Harry
Potter night.
Speaker 4 (31:04):
I want. We had a movie night. We watched Half
Blood Prints.
Speaker 2 (31:09):
Oh I haven't seen that one yet. I've only seen
the first three, so yeah, I can do a whole
whole series on that. But you know, and Helica, is
there anything else that you would like to tell the
listening audience.
Speaker 5 (31:20):
Basically all the information that we provided, it's again, it's
pretty much clear for everybody and to please come in,
and they're more than welcome to come and and and
and see if our sessions are suited for what their
needs are. And also, I would like to add to
what Alberto said about the Family Resource Center, it's also
(31:40):
open to our community partners if they want to use it.
They're more than welcome to use our center for any
events that they have. Of course, it's not a party hall.
It's a business business forum, so that they can use
it for whatever their business might need. And it's also
free for them.
Speaker 2 (32:00):
So when you mean community partners, are you talking like
the Child Crisis Center?
Speaker 4 (32:03):
Actually any other organization.
Speaker 7 (32:07):
Oh wow, maybe let's say ex organization wants to hold
a resource fair.
Speaker 4 (32:12):
We have the space now.
Speaker 5 (32:14):
Training whatever their needs are, and it's free for them.
Speaker 2 (32:18):
Okay, awesome, And they would just use this in contact methods.
Speaker 4 (32:21):
Yes, they will contact me.
Speaker 5 (32:22):
O our agency nine one five five six five five
zero two one, and we are more than happy to
help them whatever they need.
Speaker 2 (32:30):
That's awesome. And Alberto, is there anything else that you
would like to tell the listening audience.
Speaker 4 (32:34):
Yes, we don't.
Speaker 7 (32:36):
We also offer parenting classes and I myself can provide
parenting groups. So parenting classes is my matemalian. So that's
I think it's the main thing besides the events and
the parent cafes. So if any agency or school or
community center is interested in offering hosting parenting classes, we
work with a curriculine called the Strengthening Families. It's an
(32:58):
eleven steps program and it's free. Just a parent need
to I need parents with kids under the age of
seventeen to be to be enrolled. So the parenting classes
requires un enrollment, but everything else is free, like doesn't
require anything, so the events. Another thing that I do
encourage parents is that because I understand that maybe a
(33:18):
parenting class is kind of like.
Speaker 4 (33:22):
The I don't.
Speaker 5 (33:24):
You know to teach them, Well, actually it's to teach them,
but it's not to tell them what to do if
they are already know as a parent what to do.
Because some parents are like, you're not going to tell
me what you do. We're just here to provide them
with strategies and techniques and how to help have a
a better home environment so that they can have a
(33:45):
better loving home environment.
Speaker 7 (33:47):
Right, yes, And when you when you mentioned parenting classes
to a parent who has that type of mentality, they're like, no, no, no,
I don't know parenting classes, but if that's okay, because
but they can participate in a parent cafe, and the
parent cafe it's a little bit, it's a taste of it,
you know, it's a little bit. In the bank cafe
is once a month, okay, So the pan cafes are
once a month, and the meditation is one every other month.
(34:08):
Because I'm I'm doing the maitation and then the support
group which is called a sukaramargo in Spanish and beater
served in English. So i have two sessions and so
I'm doing one was going on mess and then the
other one the other man the other following month. And
but I'm open for those kind of services in anybody needs.
Speaker 2 (34:26):
The perfect So if you need more information, again on
Instagram it's ep c c I in c because again
the phase program is a part of the L. Pascal
Center for Children. And on Facebook e p c c
I and C of al Paso or epc c I
n C dot org. Again just google al Passal Center
for Children and it's going to come up. And Helica
(34:46):
and Alberto, thank you so much for being here with
me today.
Speaker 4 (34:49):
Thank you so much, Thank you very much.
Speaker 1 (34:51):
You've been listening to El Paso Public Forum, a weekly
public affairs presentation of iHeartRadio El Paso. If you, your
organization or event would like to be featured on an
upcoming program, please email to Epforum at iHeartMedia dot com
or call us at nine one five three five one
five four zero zero. Tune in again next week for
(35:12):
another additional of El Paso Public Forum. The preceding program
was recorded at the studios of iHeartRadio El Paso
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