Las Cruces agencies offer help for overwhelmed parents
Caricia Lorena Ceballos, 19, the mother charged in the death of her infant daughter, appeared in Dona Ana County District Court shackled in chains Friday morning.
She and 19-year-old Marcus Alton Minnick are charged with a first-degree felony count of child abuse in connection with the death of their 7-week-old daughter Mattie.
Court documents states both parents had allegedly ‘shaken violently’ baby Mattie resulting in death, according to Las Cruces Police.
Whether it’s being exposed to meth, sexual abuse, or in baby Mattie’s case, physical abuse, we hear about children being harmed too often in Doña Ana County.
“Some of us as parents come into parenting with our own experiences of being parented,” said Anna Vendrely, Assistant Director at Amistad Family Services in Las Cruces. “Sometimes we have really great parenting experiences, and sometimes not so great experiences. We bring that into our relationship with our children.”
Clinicians at Amistad told ABC-7 that for some parents, the bonding process takes time. They offer services and programs to help guide people on their journey through parenthood, and say frustration is perfectly normal.
“Babies can be a lot to take care of, and for new parents they’re experiencing a lot for the first time,” said Vendrely. “They really need a lot of support and community surrounding them.”
New Mexico offers many state-funded resources and programs all around Dona Ana county that are often provided in-home.
“Our services are free to families,” said Aprendamos Program Director Celina Waller. “We’re able to go in and provide physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, family therapy, social work services as well as nursing, nutritional services.
Aprendamos employees said they try to find approaches that help the family as a whole. Staff said they are involved in community outreach, and even go door-to-door offering help to those in need.
“Just seek the support,” said Waller.” I mean it’s out there. Maybe not with our agency, but there’s several agencies throughout Dona Ana County, but just pick up the phone and call, and we’ll connect you.
Minnick and Ceballos are being held without bond at the Dona Ana County Detention Center.
Click here for a full background of the incident.
RESOURCE: Amistad Family Services
RESOURCE: Aprendamos Intervention Team
Fussy Baby Network: phone help for frustrated parents 1-800-431-2229
