Esperanza Ministries

SERVE THE BACHMAN LAKE COMMUNITY WITH QUALITY FAITH-BASED PROGRAMS TARGETING SPECIFIC COMMUNITY NEEDS, STARTING WITH EDUCATION OF PARENTS AND CHILDREN, EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING AND MATERIAL NEEDS.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LITERACY PROGRAM - THERE ARE 2 PARTS TO THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LITERACY PROGRAM. THE FIRST IS THE AFTER SCHOOL READING PROGRAM, WHICH BEGAN IN THE FALL OF 2018. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES READING INTERVENTION FOR LOW-INCOME STUDENTS. THE SECOND PART OF THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LITERACY PROGRAM IS SUMMER AT THE LAKE. THIS SUMMER READING ENRICHMENT PROGRAM FOR K-5TH GRADERS USES TRAINED TEENAGERS AS LITERACY COUNSELORS. THE PROGRAMS GOAL IS TO HELP UNDERSERVED ELEMENTARY STUDENTS IN BACHMAN LAKE MAINTAIN OR IMPROVE THEIR READING PROFICIENCY OVER THESUMMER. THE TEEN COUNSELORS RECEIVE LEADERSHIP AND LITERACY TRAINING TO RUN THE CAMPS.

PASTORAL COUNSELING - A TRAINED PASTORAL COUNSELOR ON THE CASA DEL LAGO STAFF PROVIDES PASTORAL COUNSELING TO APPROXIMATELY 55 ADULTS, CHILDREN, AND COUPLES PER YEAR. A MINIMAL FEE ($5-$10), BASED ON A SLIDING SCALE, IS CHARGED FOR COUNSELING SESSIONS AS A WAY OF SECURING COMMITMENT TO THE PROCESS. CASAS COUNSELOR ALSO DOES APPROXIMATELY 12 LARGE GROUP PRESENTATIONS AND DEVOTIONS YEARLY WITH APPROXIMATELY 150 ATTENDEES ON TOPICS RELATED TO SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND SELF-CARE (THINGS LIKE ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, GRIEF, RELATIONSHIPS, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, ADDICTION, ETC.).

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAM - SERVES LOW INCOME HISPANIC CHILDREN FROM BACHMAN LAKE COMMUNITY WITH EARLY EDUCATION CLASSES. THIS PROGRAM FOCUSES ON LANGUAGE ACQUISITION, PRE-MATH SKILLS, GROSS AND FINE MOTOR DEVELOPMENT, SOCIAL SKILLS DEVELOPMENT, AND EXECUTIVE FUNCTION. PARENT WORKSHOPS FOCUS ON CHILD DEVELOPMENT, PARENT TALK (3TS FROM THIRTY MILLION WORDS INITIATIVE), PLAY WITH ME, EVERY CHILD READY TO READ, EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT, DISCIPLINING YOUR CHILD, SLEEP PATTERNS, AND CHILDRENS HEALTH. EACH WORKSHOP INCLUDES PRACTICAL HANDS-ON APPLICATIONS SO THAT PARENTS AND CHILDREN LEARN SKILLS TOGETHER AND ARE EQUIPPED TO PRACTICE THESE SKILLS AT HOME. PROGRAM HAS A STUDENT-TO-TEACHER RATIO WHICH ALLOWS FOR INDIVIDUALIZED ATTENTION TO EACH STUDENT. EACH STUDENTS PROGRESS IS EVALUATED AT THE BEGINNING AND END OF EACH SCHOOL YEAR.

ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAM PROVIDES CLASSES IN ENGLISH, COMPUTER LITERACY, AND FINANCIAL LITERACY FOR LOW INCOME HISPANIC ADULTS FROM THE BACHMAN LAKE COMMUNITY. OVER 70% OF STUDENTS WHO COMPLETE THE YEAR ADVANCE TO THE NEXT LEVEL, WHICH MEANS THEY HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN READING, SPEAKING, AND WRITING IN ENGLISH. STUDENTS IN OUR CLASSES ALSO RECEIVE REGULAR WORKSHOPS ON LIFE SKILLS AND SUCH AS CULTURAL ASSIMILATION, LANGUAGE LEARNING, FINANCIAL LITERACY, HEALTH, NUTRITION, DEPRESSION, GRIEF, FAMILY DYNAMICS, SCHOOL CHOICE, INTERNET SAFETY, AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT. THE BIBLE AND PRAYER ARE INCORPORATED INTO ALL ASPECTS OF THE PROGRAM AND STUDENTS ARE INVITED, BUT NOT FORCED, TO PARTICIPATE IN FAITH-BASED ACTIVITIES.