Centro Hispano Daniel Torres Inc

TO SUPPORT AND ENHANCE THE ACCULTURATION OF THE LATINO POPULATION IN THE GREATER READING AREA

FAMILY AND WELLNESS SERVICESINFORMATION AND REFERRAL ADVOCACY PROGRAM: SAFETY NET PROGRAM PROVIDING DIRECT REFERRALS TO SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES THAT PROVIDE ASSISTANCE WITH COMPLETING APPLICATIONS, ADVOCACY, TRANSLATION/INTERPRETATION, AND CRISIS INTERVENTION SERVICES. THIS TRIAGE AREA OF THE CENTER PROVIDED OVER 10,000 INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SESSIONS LAST YEAR.SEE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON SCHEDULE O.SENIOR CENTER PROGRAMMING: A COMMUNITY CENTER FOR ADULTS OVER 60 YEARS OF AGE, STRIVING TO PREVENT THE CRIPPLING PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL EFFECTS OF ISOLATION. THIS PROGRAM UTILIZES A HOLISTIC APPROACH AND OFFERS SERVICES SUCH AS INDIVIDUAL CASE MANAGEMENT, GROUP ACTIVITIES, HEALTH CLASSES, COMPUTER CLASSES, EXERCISES, AND CULTURALLY-APPROPRIATE NUTRITIONAL DAILY MEALS DAILY. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, THE CENTER SERVED OVER 400,000 MEALS TO SENIORS.MEDICAL INTERPRETING PROGRAM: PROGRAM PROVIDED TO ASSIST SPANISH SPEAKING CITIZENS BY PROVIDING INTERPRETING AND TRANSLATION SERVICES FOR MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS.PREVENTION EDUCATION ON DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE INITIATIVE: IN COLLABORATION WITH SAFEBERKS, THE CENTER WORKS TO EDUCATE AND RAISE AWARENESS OF THE LATINO COMMUNITY ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, INCREASING ACCESS TO SUPPORT SERVICES FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN A MANNER THAT IS CULTURALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY APPROPRIATE.HELPLINK INITIATIVE: PROGRAM ASSISTS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN FINDING THE BENEFITS, PROGRAMS, AND LOCAL RESOURCES NEEDED TO COPE WITH DIFFICULT ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES THROUGH THE STATE COMPASS SYSTEM (AN ONLINE APPLICATION SYSTEM FOR PENNSYLVANIANS TO APPLY FOR MANY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE PROGRAMS).TAX ASSISTANCE PROGRAM: THE TAX ASSISTANCE PROGRAM SUPPORTS LOW TO MIDDLE INCOME WORKERS IN ASSISTING THEM WITH PREPARATION OF TAX RETURNS. THE PROGRAM HELPS THESE CLIENTS DETERMINE IF THEY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT. THE PROGRAM IS AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WHO ARE DISABLED, ELDERLY, OR THOSE WHO ARE LIMITED IN THEIR ENGLISH SPEAKING ABILITIES. CERTIFIED VOLUNTEERS PROVIDE FREE SERVICES FOR THOSE WHO QUALIFY. THIS SERVICE WILL PREPARE CLIENTS' FEDERAL AND STATE INCOME TAX RETURNS FOR FREE BY ASKING THEM A SERIES OF QUESTIONS WHICH WILL ASSURE AN ACCURATE TAX FILING. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, THE PROGRAM SERVED OVER 200 CLIENTS.MEALS ON WHEELS: AS THE LOCAL VENDOR FOR THE MEALS ON WHEELS PROGRAM FOR THE CITY OF READING, WE PROVIDE NUTRITIOUS MEALS TO HOMEBOUND SENIORS. WE COLLABORATE WITH BERKS ENCORE IN OUR COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE MEALS TO SENIORS WHO ARE BOTH HOMEBOUND AND FOR SENIORS WHO ATTEND SENIOR CENTERS. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, WE SERVED OVER 150,000 MEALS.CACFP FOOD SERVICE: CENTRO HISPANO IS A SPONSOR OF THE CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM (CACFP). THIS IS A FEDERAL PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES REIMBURSEMENTS FOR NUTRITIOUS MEALS AND SNACKS TO ELIGIBLE CHILDREN WHO ARE ENROLLED FOR CARE AT PARTICIPATING CHILD CARE CENTERS AND PROVIDES REIMBURSEMENTS FOR MEALS SERVED TO CHILDREN AND YOUTH PARTICIPATING IN AFTERSCHOOL CARE PROGRAMS. CACFP CONTRIBUTES TO THE WELLNESS, HEALTHY GROWTH, AND DEVELOPMENT OF YOUNG CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, WE HAVE SERVED OVER 250,000 MEALS TO CHILDREN.THE CENTRO HISPANO EXPANDED ITS FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM BY ADDING A PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES MEALS TO AT RISK YOUTH.

EDUCATION SERVICESEDUCATION INITIATIVE AND SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM: THIS PROGRAM, WHICH IS A COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE HISPANIC CENTER AND THE FIVE AREA COLLEGES (KUTZTOWN UNIVERSITY, PENN STATE BERKS, ALVERNIA UNIVERSITY, ALBRIGHT COLLEGE, AND THE READING AREA COMMUNITY COLLEGE), PROVIDES CULTURALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY APPROPRIATE SERVICES FOR PARENTS AND STUDENTS WHO SEEK GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT IN NAVIGATING THE COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS. WE ALSO HAVE AN ENDOWMENT MANAGED THROUGH THE BERKS COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION THAT OFFERS SCHOLARSHIPS FOR LATINO STUDENTS IN BERKS COUNTY WHO ARE PURSUING POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION. SEE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON SCHEDULE O.OPENING DOORS PARENTAL ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVE: THIS PROGRAM IS CENTRO HISPANO'S COMMITMENT TO PARENTAL ENGAGEMENT. OPENING DOORS PROGRAM IS A CURRICULUM FOCUSED ON HELPING PARENTS UNDERSTAND THEIR ROLE AS THEIR CHILD'S FIRST TEACHER.