Lulac Project Amistad

TO SERVE AND ADVOCATE FOR ELDERLY PERSONS, PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, AND PERSONS AT RISK BY PROVIDING EFFICIENT TRANSPORTATION, GUARDIANSHIP, SOCIAL SERVICES, AND IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE.

TRANSPORTATION:PROJECT AMISTAD PROVIDES TRANSPORTATION TO ELIGIBLE MEDICAID CLIENTS, CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL HEALTH CARE NEEDS (CSHCN) SERVICES PROGRAM CLIENTS AND TRANSPORTATION FOR INDIGENT CANCER PATIENTS (TICP) WHO ARE DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER OR CANCER-RELATED ILLNESS AND MEET PROGRAM FINANCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA AND WHO HAVE NO OTHER MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION. DELIVERY OF SERVICE STARTS AS EARLY AS 5:30 AM AND AS LATE AS 7:00 PM MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. PROJECT AMISTAD PROVIDES SERVICES ON HOLIDAYS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THREE, THANKSGIVING, CHRISTMAS, AND NEW YEARS. SUNDAY TRANSPORTATION IS REQUIRED IF AGENCY DECIDES TO CLOSE ON THE THREE HOLIDAYS. RECIPIENTS MUST CONTACT THE CALL CENTER FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE TRIP. PROJECT AMISTAD SUBCONTRACTS WITH 3 TRANSIT PROVIDERS TO PROVIDE SERVICES WITHIN 23 COUNTIES. IN FY 2021, AMISTAD PROVIDED APPROXIMATELY 113,721 TRIPS.

AGING AND DISABILITY RESOURCE PROGRAM: RESIDENTS IN NEED OF A WIDE RANGE OF RESOURCES FOCUSED ON LONG-TERM CARE SERVICES AND SUPPORT FOR ELDERLY RESIDENTS AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES BENEFITTED GREATLY FROM PROJECT AMISTADS AGING, DISABILITY & TRANSPORTATION RESOURCE CENTER (ADTRC) DURING FY 2021. THE PROGRAM IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE 22 STATEWIDE NETWORK OF AGENCIES OPERATING AS AGING & DISABILITY RESOURCE CENTERS (ADRCS) WHICH SERVE AS TRUSTED AND UNBIASED ONE-STOP RESOURCE CENTERS FOR CLIENTS, THEIR FAMILIES, CAREGIVERS AND OTHER HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS. PROJECT AMISTADS STAFF OF FULLY-TRAINED RESOURCE COACHES, NAVIGATORS AND SOCIAL SERVICE PROFESSIONALS PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO THOUSANDS OF PERSONS ANNUALLY. IN FY 2021, THEY RECEIVED 19,587 CALLS. THE MAIN FOCUS OF THE ADTRC IS TO PROVIDE OPTIONS FOR LONG TERM SERVICES AND SUPPORT, THEREBY EMPOWERING CLIENTS TO MAKE INFORMED CHOICES. THE ADTRC IS THE FRONT DOOR TO DADS, EMERGENCE AND THE AREA AGENCY ON AGING. DADS STAFF ARE HOUSED WITH THE RESOURCE CENTER TWICE A WEEK. WITHIN THIS PROGRAM SERVICE, THE "AMISTAD CARES" UTILITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ASSISTS ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS TO COVER PAST-DUE WATER, GAS, AND ELECTRIC BILLS. IN FY 2021, 4,861 APPLICATIONS WERE PROCESSED.

GUARDIANSHIP PROGRAM AND MONEY MANAGEMENT:PROJECT AMISTAD REMAINS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT COMMUNITY RESOURCES FOR PERSONS WHO HAVE BEEN DEEMED BY THE COURT SYSTEM TO BE UNABLE TO CARE FOR THEIR OWN HEALTH AND WELFARE. OUR GUARDIANSHIP TEAM WORKS DILIGENTLY TO ENSURE THAT THE PERSONS UNDER GUARDIANSHIP, APPROXIMATELY 393, HAVE APPROPRIATE SHELTER, FOOD, CLOTHING, MEDICAL CARE AND MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT. THE PROGRAM CURRENTLY SERVES INDIVIDUALS RANGING FROM 21 TO 101 YEARS OF AGE THROUGHOUT 36 COUNTIES IN FAR WEST TEXAS. THE AGENCY CONTINUES ITS CLOSE ASSOCIATION WITH SEVERAL AGENCIES TO INCLUDE THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF AGING AND DISABILITY SERVICES (DADS), ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES (APS), BIENVIVIR ALL-INCLUSIVE HEALTH CENTER AND MANY OTHER COMMUNITY-BASED AGENCIES TO PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY PROFESSIONAL GUARDIANSHIP SERVICES. THE COUNTY OF EL PASO AND DADS CONTRACT WITH PROJECT AMISTAD TO TAKE CARE OF THESE CLIENTS. ALL GUARDIANS ARE CERTIFIED THROUGH THE STATE OF TEXAS.MONEY MANAGEMENT SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO PERSONS WHO ARE UNABLE TO MANAGE THEIR OWN FINANCES. MONEY MANAGEMENT SERVICES ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF PROJECT AMISTADS EFFORTS TO EASE BURDENS FOR PERSONS SERVED. THE PROGRAM IS FUNDED BY A GRANT FROM THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) PROGRAM THROUGH THE CITY OF EL PASO. PROJECT AMISTAD CLIENTS WHO HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS NEEDING ASSISTANCE IN MANAGING THEIR OWN FINANCES ARE PROVIDED COMPREHENSIVE AND PROFESSIONAL MONEY MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE BY A CASE MANAGER. AMONG THE REFERRING SOURCES WERE THE PROBATE COURT, ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES (APS) AND THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION (SSA). WE CURRENTLY HAVE A CASELOAD OF 50 CLIENTS.WITHIN THESE PROGRAM SERVICES, THE "EL CAMINO A CASA" PROGRAM FUNDED BY THE CITY OF EL PASO, IS AIMED TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS IN THE COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING RAPID REHOUSING, HOMELESS PREVENTION, AND STREET OUTREACH. IN FY 2021, 345 CLIENTS WERE ASSISTED.

TRANSPORTATION:PROJECT AMISTAD PROVIDES TRANSPORTATION TO ELIGIBLE MEDICAID CLIENTS, CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL HEALTH CARE NEEDS (CSHCN) SERVICES PROGRAM CLIENTS AND TRANSPORTATION FOR INDIGENT CANCER PATIENTS (TICP) WHO ARE DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER OR CANCER-RELATED ILLNESS AND MEET PROGRAM FINANCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA AND WHO HAVE NO OTHER MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION. DELIVERY OF SERVICE STARTS AS EARLY AS 5:30 AM AND AS LATE AS 7:00 PM MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. PROJECT AMISTAD PROVIDES SERVICES ON HOLIDAYS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THREE, THANKSGIVING, CHRISTMAS, AND NEW YEARS. SUNDAY TRANSPORTATION IS REQUIRED IF AGENCY DECIDES TO CLOSE ON THE THREE HOLIDAYS. RECIPIENTS MUST CONTACT THE CALL CENTER FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE TRIP. PROJECT AMISTAD SUBCONTRACTS WITH 3 TRANSIT PROVIDERS TO PROVIDE SERVICES WITHIN 23 COUNTIES. IN FY 2021, AMISTAD PROVIDED APPROXIMATELY 113,721 TRIPS.

AGING AND DISABILITY RESOURCE PROGRAM: RESIDENTS IN NEED OF A WIDE RANGE OF RESOURCES FOCUSED ON LONG-TERM CARE SERVICES AND SUPPORT FOR ELDERLY RESIDENTS AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES BENEFITTED GREATLY FROM PROJECT AMISTADS AGING, DISABILITY & TRANSPORTATION RESOURCE CENTER (ADTRC) DURING FY 2021. THE PROGRAM IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE 22 STATEWIDE NETWORK OF AGENCIES OPERATING AS AGING & DISABILITY RESOURCE CENTERS (ADRCS) WHICH SERVE AS TRUSTED AND UNBIASED ONE-STOP RESOURCE CENTERS FOR CLIENTS, THEIR FAMILIES, CAREGIVERS AND OTHER HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS. PROJECT AMISTADS STAFF OF FULLY-TRAINED RESOURCE COACHES, NAVIGATORS AND SOCIAL SERVICE PROFESSIONALS PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO THOUSANDS OF PERSONS ANNUALLY. IN FY 2021, THEY RECEIVED 19,587 CALLS. THE MAIN FOCUS OF THE ADTRC IS TO PROVIDE OPTIONS FOR LONG TERM SERVICES AND SUPPORT, THEREBY EMPOWERING CLIENTS TO MAKE INFORMED CHOICES. THE ADTRC IS THE FRONT DOOR TO DADS, EMERGENCE AND THE AREA AGENCY ON AGING. DADS STAFF ARE HOUSED WITH THE RESOURCE CENTER TWICE A WEEK. WITHIN THIS PROGRAM SERVICE, THE "AMISTAD CARES" UTILITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ASSISTS ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS TO COVER PAST-DUE WATER, GAS, AND ELECTRIC BILLS. IN FY 2021, 4,861 APPLICATIONS WERE PROCESSED.

GUARDIANSHIP PROGRAM AND MONEY MANAGEMENT:PROJECT AMISTAD REMAINS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT COMMUNITY RESOURCES FOR PERSONS WHO HAVE BEEN DEEMED BY THE COURT SYSTEM TO BE UNABLE TO CARE FOR THEIR OWN HEALTH AND WELFARE. OUR GUARDIANSHIP TEAM WORKS DILIGENTLY TO ENSURE THAT THE PERSONS UNDER GUARDIANSHIP, APPROXIMATELY 393, HAVE APPROPRIATE SHELTER, FOOD, CLOTHING, MEDICAL CARE AND MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT. THE PROGRAM CURRENTLY SERVES INDIVIDUALS RANGING FROM 21 TO 101 YEARS OF AGE THROUGHOUT 36 COUNTIES IN FAR WEST TEXAS. THE AGENCY CONTINUES ITS CLOSE ASSOCIATION WITH SEVERAL AGENCIES TO INCLUDE THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF AGING AND DISABILITY SERVICES (DADS), ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES (APS), BIENVIVIR ALL-INCLUSIVE HEALTH CENTER AND MANY OTHER COMMUNITY-BASED AGENCIES TO PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY PROFESSIONAL GUARDIANSHIP SERVICES. THE COUNTY OF EL PASO AND DADS CONTRACT WITH PROJECT AMISTAD TO TAKE CARE OF THESE CLIENTS. ALL GUARDIANS ARE CERTIFIED THROUGH THE STATE OF TEXAS.MONEY MANAGEMENT SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO PERSONS WHO ARE UNABLE TO MANAGE THEIR OWN FINANCES. MONEY MANAGEMENT SERVICES ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF PROJECT AMISTADS EFFORTS TO EASE BURDENS FOR PERSONS SERVED. THE PROGRAM IS FUNDED BY A GRANT FROM THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) PROGRAM THROUGH THE CITY OF EL PASO. PROJECT AMISTAD CLIENTS WHO HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS NEEDING ASSISTANCE IN MANAGING THEIR OWN FINANCES ARE PROVIDED COMPREHENSIVE AND PROFESSIONAL MONEY MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE BY A CASE MANAGER. AMONG THE REFERRING SOURCES WERE THE PROBATE COURT, ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES (APS) AND THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION (SSA). WE CURRENTLY HAVE A CASELOAD OF 50 CLIENTS.WITHIN THESE PROGRAM SERVICES, THE "EL CAMINO A CASA" PROGRAM FUNDED BY THE CITY OF EL PASO, IS AIMED TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS IN THE COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING RAPID REHOUSING, HOMELESS PREVENTION, AND STREET OUTREACH. IN FY 2021, 345 CLIENTS WERE ASSISTED.