ECS4Kids envisions a community where early education and multi-generational family support drive progress and innovation. We recently sat down with Chandara Kim who transitioned from a staff member who helped to cast that vision to other families to being a full-time parent and graduate student who received the services and resources she spent years sharing with others.
Tell us about your journey with ECS, from serving as a Family Advocate to now being a parent with a child enrolled in the program.
I went from being a home visitor to becoming a family advocate. I absolutely loved building relationships with our families. Now as a parent, I get to enjoy all of the resources ECS provides for its families.
What was it like making the transition from helping families experience ECS to experiencing ECS yourself as a parent?
That was a big transition for me. I still see a lot of the families I served as a family advocate and there are times that I find myself unintentionally sliding back into FA role because it feels like second nature. But now, I get to be a friend instead of having to wear a professional hat with them all the time.
Having seen the mission from the employee side, what do you understand or appreciate differently about ECS now that you’re experiencing it as a parent?
Our mission is about empowering families to be bigger and better. I left my position with the company because I wanted to pursue a master’s while also spending more time with my four-year-old daughter, Kira. Now, I can focus on myself while my daughter learn and grow with ECS. She is quite the overachiever and it’s beautiful to see her thriving at Good Shepherd.
Can you share a standout moment from your time as a Family Advocate that showed you the impact ECS can have on a family, and a standout moment you’ve experienced as an ECS parent?
There’s been multiple standout moments so it’s hard to pinpoint one. I bonded and built a lot of strong relationships with my families when I was an employee. I have seen them endure and overcome trauma. I cried when they cried and gave them a safe space when they just needed to share. There was one couple in particular that went through a lot and eventually became so close with us, they’d come everyday just to share. Eventually, as they began to trust us more, they became more willing to accept our advice and take advantage of our resources. And believe me, they made an impact on me as well. As a parent, I’m excited about serving as the secretary of our Parent Policy Council and I actually get to lead our next meeting!
When you think about your journey from Family Advocate to ECS parent, what does that experience mean to you, and what would you want other parents to know about ECS?
It means a lot to me. Being a family advocate was such a big learning experience for me because it helped me get outside of my introverted shell while building my communication skills. Not only can I read people better, but I’m better at building connections and my self-belief and that’s all because of ECS. I would tell parents that ECS will help you be bigger. The staff will push you to be better as a person, in your career, and as a parent. And it doesn’t matter what your situation is; any staff member will help you with anything you need without judgment. Before, I had to see and consider all the families and all the children. Now, I get to focus on myself & my daughter. I will always be a part of ECS and ECS will always be a part of me.
