Staff Spotlight: Vanessa Martinez-Mautino Supports BCCS’ Spanish-Speaking Families
When Vanessa Martinez-Mautino, BCCS’s bilingual social worker, arrives at the office, she ensures Spanish-speaking students and families receive the supports they need to be successful.
Spanish-speaking families make up about 15% of all families at BCCS. Vanessa is dedicated to observing the children in the classroom, learning about their home life, and empowering families to become powerful advocates. Resources include parent trainings, parent group sessions, learning to manage paperwork, applying for Medicaid and/or Medicare, and eventually for lifelong services through the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD).
Her best advice to parents beginning to navigate the complicated system of services and supports is to “Ask questions. Don’t settle for ‘because we said so’ or ‘because we think so’ because there are a lot of services they can ask for.”
Being the parent of a child with disabilities and developmental delays can be stressful because there are many unknowns. Having someone who shares the same language and potentially a similar cultural experience can make all the difference.
“Whereas a family that is not bilingual will ask ‘Why,’ or ‘What makes you think my child needs this service,’ they are more likely to not questions things,” said Vanessa Martinez-Mautino. 
According to her, Spanish-speaking families don’t really ask for services. She typically has to inform them of additional services that can meet their needs like at-home therapies and respite programs. This becomes a problem because as kids age, they can miss out on crucial services like early intervention, day care or preschool.
“It’s just a matter of them understanding what’s going on at school. I make sure that if they are getting a notification in English, they will also receive one in Spanish,” said Vanessa. “They feel very comfortable sharing with me because I do understand the immigration part as well.”
All parents want to ensure their child succeeds and having people who can meet them where they are is necessary for them to feel supported.
“For the students, we connect with them and provide what they need as much as we can,” said Vanessa. “If any point if it gets too much, we connect with the social worker at the school district and then we collaborate with them to serve the family and provide additional resources.”