When Noah was a toddler, his grandmother Dolores—affectionately known as Gamma—was at a doctor’s appointment with him at First Step when a team from Aprendamos noticed something. They gently approached her and asked a few questions. “That’s how we first heard about Aprendamos,” she shared. From that moment on, the journey began. Noah was referred to early intervention services, and his team soon recommended testing for Autism based on observed developmental delays. “We agreed,” said Dolores, “and once he was officially diagnosed, the therapists could really begin to understand how to help him.” That diagnosis became the key to personalized care strategies that would shape the course of Noah’s future. The early days weren’t easy. “It was chaotic… unknown,” Dolores recalled. She, her husband, and her youngest daughter reorganized their lives so one of them could always be present during Noah’s therapy sessions. “We tried to keep the three of us on the same page,” she said, “because we knew we needed to give him the best shot.” That decision led to over 14 years of continuous support through multiple Aprendamos programs—including Early Intervention, Esperanza Children’s Therapy, and Mariposa Autism Service Center (MASC). Now 16 years old and preparing to enter his senior year of high school, Noah has made incredible strides. “People tell me, ‘He doesn’t look Autistic,’” said Dolores. “But what they don’t see is everything we’ve worked on—the way he’s learned to self-soothe, the way he handles crowds, and how far he’s come in school.” Despite ongoing challenges with changes in routine and overstimulation, Noah is thriving. Throughout the years, many team members have left a lasting impact, including Lydia, who was there in the beginning, and his current Esperanza therapy team—Monica (OT), Kathleen (PT), and Karah (SLP), who has been a consistent figure in his life. And then there’s Camp Amigos, which Noah attended from age 5 to about 12. “He loved it,” said Dolores. “It gave him joy, community, and structure. We still remember those summers.” Looking back, Dolores says they never imagined how much Aprendamos would come to mean to their family. “They’ve gone above and beyond our expectations. Aprendamos changed Noah’s life—and ours.” To families just starting their journey, she offers this advice: “Don’t give up. Don’t be afraid. Be patient. It will help you—and most of all, it will help your child with their journey in life.” Today, Noah is a Pokémon expert, a loving grandson, and a young man preparing for graduation in 2026. As Dolores puts it, “He might not learn in the ‘normal’ way, but he’s learning in his way—and that’s all we ever wanted for him.” Here’s to Noah, and to 14 incredible years of partnership, progress, and love.
As Aprendamos Family of Services celebrates 20 years of service, we’re proud to spotlight Krystal Chavarria-Gonzalez — a team member whose story captures the spirit of our mission and the heart behind our work. Krystal’s journey began in 2006 when she joined Aprendamos as a file clerk while still a senior in high school. She spent her early days organizing therapy notes and developing filing systems, but her favorite part of the job was talking with therapists and learning about the progress their clients were making. That curiosity, combined with a deep passion for child development, would go on to shape her future in ways she couldn’t have imagined at the time. With encouragement from a mentor, Krystal earned her 45-hour Early Childhood Certification and began supporting children as a Developmental Specialist under supervision — all while continuing her education at NMSU. After graduating in 2011, she transitioned into a full-time role as a Family Service Coordinator/Developmental Specialist II. What was originally a one-year commitment turned into nearly two decades of impactful work and leadership. Over the years, Krystal has served in a variety of meaningful roles — including Family Service Coordinator, Community Education Coordinator, Evaluator, and Program Director. She was instrumental in developing our Early Intervention Internship Program, collaborating with universities like NMSU, WNMU, UNM, and ENMU to mentor and train future professionals across departments. Her work has left a lasting mark not only on families, but on the next generation of early childhood specialists. After welcoming her daughter in 2022, Krystal made the decision to step back from management and return to Aprendamos in a role that allowed her to balance motherhood and her passion for service. Today, she continues her work as a Developmental Instructionist II/Evaluator, while also participating in leadership initiatives through UNM, the Doña Ana Early Childhood Coalition, the Gadsden Chapter, and more. She’s a member of both the Built on Values and Professional Development teams, and serves as a board member for the Children’s Reading Alliance and the Covarrubias-Aprendamos Foundation. When asked about her favorite memories, Krystal recalled the magic of organizing Aprendamos’ Winter Wonderland event with fellow team members — decorating the office until 3 a.m., wrapping cubicles like presents, stringing lights through the halls, and bringing holiday cheer to families. Without planning committees or formal budgets, it was a labor of love fueled by the shared commitment of a team that always found joy in going the extra mile. One of the most meaningful parts of Krystal’s journey has been the relationship she built with a single mother and her children — a connection that lasted more than 15 years and spanned two generations. What started as a service visit for an 18-month-old boy became a lifelong bond with his siblings and, later, his children. That family’s resilience, strength, and love left a lasting impact on Krystal — a reminder of why this work matters. Reflecting on her time at Aprendamos, Krystal shared what has kept her here all these years: “I have grown personally and professionally throughout my years here. I’ve developed meaningful relationships with my co-workers and the families I’ve served. You become a very meaningful human being in the lives of children and families.” We are truly fortunate to have Krystal as part of the Aprendamos family. Her dedication, leadership, and compassion have helped shape who we are — and her story is one of many that continues to inspire our mission today.
We would like to congratulate Olga Phillips on her recent promotion to Home Visiting Supervisor for the Aprendamos Family of Services Cariño Home Visiting Program! Olga has been with Cariño for 3 years and previously served as a Home Visitor and Lead Parent Educator. As Lead Parent Educator, Olga used her skills and expertise to help other Home Visitors with resources for families they served and provide support and tips based on her experiences. When we asked Olga what she was looking forward to the most in her new role, she said, “Stepping into the Home Visitor Supervisor role gives me the opportunity to support and help mold the next generation of Home Visitors. The work we do is very important. Kids are the future and helping families be the best they can be is something we all take seriously here at Cariño. Being a supervisor also gives me the opportunity to work with my fellow supervisors and director to grow the program and think of new and empowering ways to reach families.” Olga also shared that the families we serve have inspired her professional growth. “Wanting to gain more knowledge to empower them and being able to better support them is my biggest motivation,” she shared. Please join us in congratulating Olga!
