SANTA ANA — Padres Unidos, a nonprofit organization supported by the diocesan Office of Restorative Justice/Detention Ministry that provides classes for parents and guardians of at-risk and incarcerated young people, was presented with an award for its “outstanding collaborative work” by the Orange County Probation Department.
Padres Unidos was cited for its parenting classes that are held at Orange County Juvenile Hall that help to strengthen families that have suffered from a young family member serving time in jail.
“Through grant funding provided by the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, our office was able to facilitate the initiation of the classes inside Juvenile Hall and at three additional parish locations,” says Fred La Puzza, the Director of the Office of Restorative Justice/Detention Ministry. Major funding for the classes inside Juvenile Hall is provided by Padres Unidos and the Orange County Probation Department.
“Padres Unidos classes are designed to foster self-sufficiency and responsibility among families based on the philosophy that successful families build successful communities,” says La Puzza. “Doug Sanger, the Juvenile Hall Probation Director, and his staff have been very supportive. He’s seen the difference the program is making in the lives of parents. He has said that the Probation Department has provided parenting classes in the past, but received nowhere near the amount of parent participants as they have with Padres Unidos.”