Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY)
Early Childhood Education–Ages 3-5
Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) is an early childhood education program. It works with families in the comfort of their own homes to support parents by making sure their children are ready for kindergarten.
We meet with caregivers and children once per week for one hour. During this time, we:
- Guide parents through a carefully developed, progressive school readiness curriculum
- Strengthen children’s cognitive skills, early literacy skills, social/emotional skills and physical development
- Practice role playing activities with parents that they can do with their children at home
- Measure children’s progress towards school readiness
Once per month, we host a group meeting where PAT families can learn together. Like home visits, these meetings have a dual focus:
- Activity stations teach parents activities they can do with their children, including early literacy and math, social-emotional skills, and gross motor skills
- Education about parenting skills and family well-being
Registration for our 2019-2020 program year is currently open! Please visit Focus Points between 1-4pm from Tuesday, August 13th-Friday, August 16th to register for the program. Don’t forget to bring:
- Birth Certificate
- Immunization Record
- Physical Exam
- Proof of Address (i.e. an energy bill)
Meet the HIPPY Parent Educators
HIPPY Parent Educator
Judith Anaya
Judith Anaya
Judith was born and raised in Denver and has lived in Five Points, Thornton, Westminster and South Denver. 24 years ago, Judith was a HIPPY kid! Her mom participated in HIPPY through her church, and it was only when Judith became a Parent Educator at Focus Points that she realized that she had gotten an early start in her education through HIPPY. Knowing from experience, Judith believes that the HIPPY curriculum reinforces everything kids need to learn. Judith is humbled and excited to be part of something as important as a child’s early education. She can’t wait to get to know the families she will be working with! Outside of her service, Judith loves to spend time with her own family, and music is a common passion that her family shares.
HIPPY Parent Educator
Claudia Cardoza-Flores
Claudia Cardoza-Flores
Native to Denver, Claudia grew up close to home in the Five Points neighborhood. Claudia found Focus Points last year when she enrolled her 3-year-old son in HIPPY. She found that HIPPY home visits were more helpful than she had expected, and soon her son was coming home from preschool excited to work on his homework, and she was excited to help him learn. She also has a chatty 2-year-old in the PAT program. In her role as HIPPY Parent Educator Claudia is looking forward to helping parents learn how to teach their children. For Claudia, family means always staying committed to helping each other and being there for each other. In the past year, she has enjoyed exploring new places with her children—the Children’s Museum of Denver is a favorite! Outside of her service, Claudia loves sports and, surprisingly, is a New England Patriot’s fan.
HIPPY Parent Educator
Maria Chavez
Maria Chavez
Originally from Chihuahua, Mexico, Maria moved to Denver with her family over 16 years ago. Mother to four children, Maria first enrolled her son in HIPPY two years ago. Maria loved everything about HIPPY; from learning through play, to group connections, to the friendly atmosphere at Focus Points. She is most excited about working with children in the program. Maria has experience working at a daycare and know she wants to spend her career working with kids. As a HIPPY Parent Educator, she’ll have the opportunity to learn more about child development. For Maria family is big word. Everything she does is for family, from smiling to working. Maria has been married for 14 years and continues to spend a lot of time with her parents. She loves going out to places like the mall, the movies and for ice cream with her children. A favorite movie in her family is How the Grinch Stole Christmas. What a classic.
HIPPY Parent Educator
Belinda Hernandez
Belinda Hernandez
Born in El Paso, TX, Belinda came to Denver when she was 6 years old and grew up in the West Colfax neighborhood. When Belinda first learned about Focus Points this spring, it struck her as great that the organization helps families succeed, especially as Belinda is a single mother. In her role as a HIPPY Parent Educator, Belinda is excited to get to meet new people and celebrate their similarities and differences. She also loves working with children. For Belinda, family means always being there to support one another, or to quote on of her favorite characters, “family means no one gets left behind” (Lilo & Stitch). Belinda loves going out to eat with her family and taking her son to the movies. Some recent favorites are Toy Story 4 and Aladdin! Outside of her service, Belinda is pursuing her undergraduate degree. Her favorite courses are Psychology, Sociology and Political Science.
HIPPY Parent Educator
Ruth Juanez
Ruth Juanez
Ruth is from Chihuahua, Mexico and has lived in Colorado for more than 15 years. Before she heard about Focus Points, Ruth didn’t realized programs like HIPPY existed. One of Ruth’s passions is helping others and she is looking forward to helping parents work with their children as a HHIPPY Parent Educator. As a parent, she would have liked to have been in a similar program and thinks sharing knowledge in the HIPPY curriculum can lead to a better world. For Ruth, family is everything. She loves spending time with her family, whether it is an outing to the park, Boondocks, a soccer game or a family meal. Thinking back to when she was the age of the children in HIPPY, Ruth remembers a time when she was attacked by a chicken determined to defend the chicks Ruth was innocently playing with. Yikes!
HIPPY Parent Educator
Priscilla Martinez-Quevedo
Priscilla Martinez-Quevedo
Originally from Durango, Mexico, Priscilla has been living in Denver since her teen years. A mother of two, Priscilla participated in Parents as Teachers and HIPPY before joining the Focus Points team as a HIPPY Parent Educator. When she was a participant in the HIPPY program, she felt that it helped her spend extra quality time with her children, and helped them learn Spanish, since all their learning in preschool was in English. She is excited to share with HIPPY families what she knows about how to work with kids and see the connections between parents and their children grow and strengthen. Respect, love, and communication are just a few words that she thinks of when she thinks about her own family. Together, they love to play board games and do puzzles.
Interested in participating in our HIPPY program?
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