Courtesy
District Attorney Neil Rombardo and Assistant District Attorney Mark Krueger recently recognized moms and their children at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Nevada. The awards were in recognition of the first graduating preschool class of Rombardo’s Moms Program and recognition to the moms for learning new parenting and job skills.
The Moms Program was started several years ago as a part of the District Attorney’s Gang Response Intervention Prevention Suppression program. In its infancy, the program was named “Madres tu Madres,” but over time, it morphed into simply “Moms Program.”
The program seeks to teach mothers new job and parenting skills and provide preschoolers an opportunity to grow and learn basic skills such as colors, letters, numbers, and when necessary, to speak English. It’s modeled after early childhood programs throughout the country that have been proven to provide children a head start in life and significantly reduce gang membership. The program is funded through the District Attorney’s Office from state grants.
“The Moms Program is one of my favorite programs that we started at the District Attorney’s office,” Rombardo said. “Children join gangs and abuse drugs because they are looking for a connection to a community. Programs like the Moms Program give them the connection they need. When you provide opportunities for mothers and their children to connect to a community, you provide them with opportunities for life and opportunities that are proven to keep children on track to pursue their dreams.”