LA JARA — Ramon Montoya has been in the San Luis Valley for just three months and he is already making an impact.
As a social worker of 23 years and the founder of Padres Adelante Family Services Inc., Montoya looks for ways to empower fathers, families and communities.  
Before coming to the Valley, he previously lived and worked in Denver when a two-fold opportunity brought him to Alamosa.
The first reason for the move was because his son, Reyes-Rafael, will be an incoming student at Adams State University. Secondly, the opportunity to bring a new non-profit organization to the area was open.
Montoya explained that Padres Adelante, Inc. is an offshoot of Adelante Family Services that was established in 2010.
As a single parent himself, Montoya has an understanding of the challenges that families are facing.
He plans to begin his work in Conejos County by starting a 12- week parenting program called Nurturing Fathers.  
The class is a cognitive-based curriculum that is open to both men and women.
Also, Montoya plans to offer a support program for grandparents who are raising their grandchildren called Grandparents being a Parent Again. Additionally, he in the process of setting up an office for Padres Adelate Inc. in La Jara next to the Guadalupe Parish Credit Union.
Currently, Montoya is working under a contract with Conejos County Social Services. He is also collaborating with other groups/organizations such as Antonito Together, Antonito High School, the Antonito Senior Center and the Northerners’ Senior Center to raise awareness about Padres Adelante in the community. The services are open to single parents, married couples, grandparents, non- custodial and kinship parents, and Conejos County TANF participants. Montoya noted that in the short time that he has been in the Valley, he has met a lot of people who have provided a great deal of support for his efforts. He further noted that he has been impressed with Conejos County Social Services Director, Nicholas Barela and his team. Montoya is also grateful for the assistance that he has been given and for the way things have come together in such a short time. “It’s been a lot of hard work, but it will pay off,” he said. “My goal is to help others that usually can’t get services.”
For more information about all the programs at Padres Adelante, call 303 495-2224 or email [email protected].