Association For The Advancement Of Mexican Americans

AAMA'S MISSION IS TO INSPIRE AND EMPOWER LATINOS TO PURSUE AND ACHIEVE THEIR POTENTIAL AND ACHIEVE SUCCESS. AAMA'S ULTIMATE GOAL IS THAT ALL LATINOS WILL BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE FULLY IN THE ECONOMIC AND CIVIC SUCCESS OF OUR COMMUNITY. THE ORGANIZATIONS PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO CREATE THE CONDITIONS THAT WILL MAKE THAT VISION POSSIBLE.

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

AAMA'S PREVENTION, INTERVENTION, EDUCATION AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER TREATMENT PROGRAMS ("HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES") PROVIDES A NETWORK OF PREVENTION, INTERVENTION, EDUCATION AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER TREATMENT SERVICES FOR CHILDREN, TEENS AND ADULTS FOCUSING ON SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND COMMUNICABLE DISEASES. THE ORGANIZATION'S OUTPATIENT SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER TREATMENT PROGRAMS PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY TREATMENT, INTERVENTION, PREVENTION, AND EDUCATION FOR APPROXIMATELY 5,000 YOUTH, ADULTS AND THEIR FAMILIES IN HOUSTON, LAREDO, AND SURROUNDING TEXAS COUNTIES. THE DRUG AND ALCOHOL PREVENTION, INTERVENTION AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS SERVE APPROXIMATELY 6,000 YOUTH AND ADULTS THROUGH ACTIVITIES THAT INCLUDED A SCHOOL-BASED PREVENTION PROGRAM FOR ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN HOUSTON AND SURROUNDING COUNTIES AS WELL AS OUTREACH PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE TESTING, COUNSELING, EDUCATION, AND REFERRALS FOR ADULTS WHO ARE AT RISK FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE, HIV, HEPATITIS AND OTHER COMMUNICABLE DISEASES IN HARRIS COUNTY TEXAS AS WELL AS SURROUNDING COUNTIES.