Family Support Specialist- Under the direction of Spanish American Center Executive Director and the LUK Family Support Center Coordinator, the Family Support Specialist is responsible for providing some Peer to Peer support through their lived experience for families looking for support at the Center. This is a service that involves a structured, strength-based relationship between the FSS and a parent/caregiver. The purpose of this service is to assist the family in improving the emotional and behavioral needs of all by strengthening the parent/caregiver or other concerned family member.

Recommended Qualifications: Experience as a caregiver of a family member with special needs, preferably Developmental Disability, required. Bachelor’s Degree in human services related field preferred, or a minimum of five years experience working in the Human Service Field may be substituted. Minimum of two years experience working with an individual(s) to navigate the education or social service system for special needs/disabilities. Bilingual, Bicultural in Spanish required. Please submit resume to Neddy Latimer, Executive Director, Spanish American Center, neddy_latimer@spanishamericancenter.org. If questions, please contact Neddy Latimer at email address or by phone at 978-534-3145.  

NYPRO / Jabil Donation

We extend our sincere thanks to Jabil Corporation,

101 Union Street, Clinton, MA, 01510 for their donation of $10,000 to SAC in support of our. English as Second Language Program.

Reaching Out to Elders in the Age of COVID

Through the generosity of Fallon Community Benefits Program, the Spanish American Center, in partnership with Growing Places is providing the following programming:

The design consists of a presentation on the Combat Hunger “RevvedUP kits, a effort on behalf of the UWNCM to fight hunger in North Central MA. Each kit contains one oatmeal package, one dinner entre, 3-4 canned goods to enhance the packaged meal, 3 spice packets and a recipe card. Elder participants will be provided with these packages. They will then participate in taste testing from meals prepared by Spanish American Center cooks utilizing the package entrée meals. Growing Places Director and Nutritionist will make a presentation on healthy eating (using food demonstrations) and the use of fresh produce to further enhance the meal kits. Information and materials will also be provided on SNAP and HIP, two entitlement programs that are available but have documented underutilization by eligible elders. The Spanish American Center Elders’ Program Coordinator will be available to meet one on one with residents who are seeking assistance with referrals, translations, and support. In addition, the Growing Places Director will bring their innovative “Mobile Meals” vehicle and elders will have the opportunity to select fresh produce. Our current goal, (curtailed from the original as COVID restrictions have continued longer in senior housing than we had anticipated) is to provide a minimum of 6 presentations as described above. This is not only a nutrition education and information effort, but also provides an opportunity for seniors to get outside of their apartments and engage in social activity – something that has been impossible during the height of the pandemic.  

We thank Fallon Health Plan for funding this program and we hope to have results of impact surveys to demonstrate benefits for participating elders.  

Looking for a way to support the local community in this uncertain time? Local non-profits are in need of donations to provide others with support. You can give back to THE SPANISH AMERICAN CENTER, INC. by picking up a $2.50 reusable Fight Hunger Bag at the Hannaford located at 118 Lancaster Street, Leominster MA. in JULY, 2021. We will receive a $1 donation for every bag sold this month. Shoppers can also support us by purchasing a bag online via Hannaford-To-Go

Spanish American Cente PARTNERS WITH

COMMUNITY HEALTH CONNECTIONS

for Vaccine Clinics in MAY, 2021

Spanish American Center Receives Funding to Fight COVID -19

The MA Department of Public Health is involved in bold and aggressive efforts to help people maintain COVID safety (especially if unvaccinated) and also to reduce vaccine “hesitancy” amongst vulnerable populations. In order to do this, they are contracting with agencies in the Boston area to make grants to non-profits across the state. The Spanish American Center has received two such grants: One through Health Care for All and one through Health Resources in Action. With these grants, we are working hard to get folks vaccinated through pop up clinics at our Center and through publicizing other locations who are also running vaccination clinics. We also continue to provide hand sanitizers and masks and continue education on safety measures to avoid infection. Efforts to increase vaccination acceptance is key in our work and we are keeping abreast of innovative methods to reduce the vaccine hesitancy. - Susan O'Brien

For more information on this initiative, you can contact Sonia Rodriguez at sonia_rodriguez@spanishamericancenter.org.

PROMOTORES DE SALUD – A DREAM REALIZED

For Neddy Latimer, Executive Director of the Spanish American Center, a Promotores de Salud (Community Health Worker) Program has been a long time dream. Through the generous grants from UMass Memorial/HealthAlliance/Clinton Hospital health care system (as part of a “Determination of Need or DoN requirement), and the Heywood Health Care Fund, we are now in the early stages of starting a Promoters program.  

The goal of Promotores de Salud is to improve the delivery of healthcare to under-served Latinos by using trained community-based peers and trusted neighbors (Promotores) to bridge the gap between Latinos and healthcare providers. 

The Promotores generally perform five main roles: (1) to create a bridge between the community and healthcare providers, (2) to provide healthcare education and information in a culturally appropriate manner, (3) to assist Latinos in accessing and maintaining health services, (4) to counsel and support individuals, and (5) to advocate for the basic healthcare needs of the community. Promotores reach under-served Latinos in the community through local hospitals, health centers and health mobile health units, as well as local physicians and social service agencies. Much of their work is “home based”. Critical to the success of the intervention is the trust created between the Promotores and the community.  

By increasing access to healthcare, Promotores seek to both prevent illness as well as reduce costs to the community by preventing more serious complications through consistent care and attention.

Promotores programs were started in Latin American countries and have been adopted here in the States, especially in areas of the country with sizeable Latino populations. We are not aware of any currently in Massachusetts. 

As part of the grant from the Heywood Health Care Foundation, we are working with Growing Placing, Inc. to address food insecurity in the Greater Gardner and Winchendon area. Our Promotora in Gardner will be partnering with Growing Places staff to learn more about the nutrition concerns of Latino residents in these two communities and assist them with obtaining benefits that will improve the nutrition of their families. Our project funded by the DoN focuses on Leominster and Fitchburg and the development of a Promotores program to serve these two communities. The Center is working to foster alliances with local health care providers who serve la large Latino caseload. If the doctors are in need on follow up support for their patients out in the neighborhoods (this could be help with appointment compliance, understanding and complying with medication regimens and help with understanding their condition when explained to them in their first language of Spanish.  

If you would like more information about this program, please contact Aurea Casiano at aurea_casiano@spanishamericancenter.org. - Susan O'Brien