Celeste Cruz/ Vaquero Radio
U.T.C.A.R.E.S, a student organization, supports early childhood students.
Irasema Gonzalez, an associate professor in the Department of Human Development and School Services and the founding adviser for U.T.C.A.R.E.S, said the organization advocates for the well-being of children and their families in the community.
“We specifically focus on underserved families, low-income families that might need assistance in different areas,” Gonzalez said. “Maybe they need assistance with social, emotional needs, or physical needs, or cognitive needs. And what we do is organize community service events so that we can provide those services for children and their families.”
She created this program to focus on the needs of young children.
“Twenty-five years ago, there was an organization … Bilingual Education Student Organization, BESO, and there was a SCEC, Student Council for Exceptional Children, but there was no organization that was really focusing on the needs of young children,” Gonzalez said. So, we focus on children from ages 0, infants, all the way through age 8. So, that’s considered early childhood education–infants, toddlers, preschoolers, kindergarten children–that primary age.”
She said it is important that the children have a strong foundation in the early childhood years, a positive experience in the young years so that they are ready for later in life.
U.T.C.A.R.E.S has three goals: to enhance educational experiences for children and families through community projects, promote professional development by attending conferences, workshops and inviting speakers, and build community partnerships by supporting programs that serve young children’s needs.
Julia Cuevas, an assistant professor in early childhood education in the department of Human Development and School Services, said teacher candidates complete their field experience for six Thursdays. Last December, they selected 16 children based on needs.
Cuevas said U.T.C.A.R.E.S holds events for children to have fun.
“We have a variety of activities,” she said. “For example, right now we are doing literacy at the park, where we take the mobile literacy unit and we give out free books. We also do art activities, we do read out louds, we do cuentos, we do puppetry shows. We do a little bit of everything.”
Savannah Garza, a 22-year-old early childhood development senior and parliamentarian for U.T.C.A.R.E.S, said the group also advocates for children’s academic success.
“If we notice something is up with the child, if they can’t read or they might be dyslexic,” Garza said. “We more likely bring it up to the mom or even talk to one of the advisers to see, ‘Hey, what can we do, like, can we talk to the mom or we keep it to ourselves?’ So, we usually do keep an eye out on that. Even if we notice if there’s abuse or anything like that. So we always make sure for their mental, physical and cognitive health.”
On Halloween, U.T.C.A.R.E.S will host Trunk or Treat from 2-6 p.m. at the Education Complex. Members will pass out candy and books from the organization’s mobile literacy unit.
To join or learn more about the organization, visit https://www.utrgv.edu/hdss/organizations/utcares-org/index.htm
This is Celeste Cruz for Vaquero Radio.
