Adult Programs Adults Take Advantage Of El Centro'S Educational Programs, Including English As A Second Language, Spanish As A Second Language, Ged Preparation In Spanish, Financial Literacy, Keyboards To Success Job Training And Placement And Job De

Child & Youth Programs Children And Youth Are Served Through El Centro'S Three Childcare And Multiple Youth Tutoring And Mentoring Programs.

Explanation The Purpose Of El Centro And Its Subsidiaries Is To Create And Sustain Educational, Social And Economic Opportunities For Families. El Centro And Its Subsidiaries Are Strong, Diverse, Entrepreneurial Asset-Building Social Enterprises. They Lead By Example, Helping Families Build Assets, Which Put Them In Control Of Their Destinies And Major Life Choices. Racisim And Discrimination Gave Birth To El Centro In 1976. Today,Although El Centro's Programs Serve Anyone In Need, The Agency Retains Its Unique Expertise To Provide Bilingual, Multicultural Services That Best Meet The Needs Of Kansas City's Rapidly Growing Latino Immigrant Population. El Centro's Variety Of Programs And Services Are Structured Into Programs For Children And Youth, Adult Education And Family Support Programming And Community Development Programming. Last Year.. About 15,000 Individuals Were Served Through One Or More Of These Programs And Services.

Housing Programs Individuals Are Served Through The Agency'S Community Development Programs, Including Woodland Hills Apartments, Homebuyer Education, Housing Rehab, Mortgage Lending, And Home Maintenance Classes.

Policy Advocacy El Centro'S Policy Advocacy Work Mobilized More Than 10,000 People To Participate In The Social Change Process On Policy Priorities Including Immigration Reform, Affordable Housing, Wealth Creation And Protection, And Working Family C

The Purpose Of El Centro And Its Subsidiaries Is To Create And Sustain Educational, Social And Economic Opportunities For Families. El Centro And Its Subsidiaries Are Strong, Diverse,

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COUNSELING: PROVIDES CULTURALLY-COMPETENT CORE VICTIM SERVICES INCLUDING CRISIS COUNSELING, COURT ADVOCACY, SUPPORT GROUPS, ACCESS TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES SUCH AS SHELTERS, SOCIAL SERVICES, POLICE, AND LEGAL ASSISTANCE, AND FORMULTAING INDIVIDUAL SAFETY PLANS TO INDIVIDUALS VICTIMIZED BY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

FAMILY SERVICES: EL CENTRO'S FAMILY SERVICE CENTERS OFFER COMPLIMENTARY PROGRAMS RANGING FROM HEALTHCARE CASE MANAGEMENT, HEALTH FOCUS OUTREACH AND INTERVENTION, EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE, CLIENT ADVOCACY, AND PATIENT NAVIGATION. OUR CASE MANAGEMENT AND EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE SERVICES HELP STABILIZE FAMILIES IN CRISIS, DIRECT THEM TO NECESSARY RESOURCES, PROVIDE FAMILY INTERVENTION, ADVOCATE ON CLIENT'S BEHALF AND EMPOWER FAMILIES TO HANDLE FUTURE CRISES. OUR HEALTH-FOCUSED OUTREACH AND INTERVENTION PROGRAM TRAINS VOLUNTEER COMMUNITY LAY HEALTH PROMOTERS-PROMOTORES DE SALUD. THE PROMOTORES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR COLLECTING COMMUNITY HEALTH DATA, PROVIDING BASIC HEALTH INFORMATION, AND DISSEMINATING MATERIALS RELATED TO OBESITY, SMOKING CESSATION, DIET, AND EXERCISE THROUGH DOOR-TO-DOOR SURVEYS AND HEALTH FOCUS EVENTS. OUR PATIENT NAVIGATION PROGRAM FOCUSES ON PROVIDING ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE AMONG THE UNINSURED POPULATION THROUGH AN "INSIDE-OUT" APPROACH. EL CENTRO'S PATIENT NAVIGATORS CREATE INFORMAL CONTACTS WITHIN OTHER MEDICAL PROVIDERS AND HUMAN SERVICE AGENCIES TO ASSIST CLIENTS AND REMOVE BARRIERS TO HEALTHCARE ACCESS. THESE INTEGRATED PROGRAMS ASSIST FAMILIES WITH NON-CLINICAL MEDICAL NEEDS, EDUCATE FAMILIES ABOUT HEALTHY LIFESTYLES, AND EMPOWER FAMILIES TO BUILD STRONG FOUNDATIONS FOR THEIR FUTURE.

OTHER PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE POLICY ADVOCACY, FINANCIAL DEVELOPMENT, LA CONEXION AND PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SERVICES. POLICY ADVOCACY EMPHASIZES PUBLIC POLICY RESEARCH AT LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL LEVELS. FINANCIAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM SERVES LOW-/MODERATE-INCOME FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS THROUGHOUT THE KANSAS CITY METROPOLITAN AREA WITH FINANCIAL EDUCATION AND FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYER EDUCATION COURSES. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES GROUP EDUCATION ON THE HOMEBUYING PROCESS AND MONEY MANAGMENT ISSUES (E.G. BUDGETING, SAVINGS, AND ASSET-BUILDING). IN ADDITION, INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE AND COUNSELING IN HOMEBUYING AND MONEY MANAGEMENT ISSUES ARE OFFERED, ALONG WITH FREE VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE (VITA) AND ITIN APPLICATIONS. LA CONEXION IS A PROGRAM TO TRAIN OTHERS IN CULTURALLY-COMPETENT APPROACHES TO THE GROWING LATINO POPULATION. THERE ARE MODULES THAT SHOW AN OVERVIEW, ALONG WITH SPECIFICALLY-TAILORED MODULES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF COMPANIES AND ORGANIZATIONS AND THEIR FOCUS AREAS, E.G. HEALTH, ADVOCACY, EDUCATION, ETC. PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SERVICES INCLUDE UTILIZING EXCESS BUILDING SPACE TO PRODUCE INCOME THROUGH RENTAL AGREEMENTS AND ENCOURAGES COLLABORATIONS WITH OTHER LIKE-MINDED NOT-FOR-PROFIT AND FOR-PROFIT ENTITIES.

PRE-K EDUCATION: ESTABLISHED IN 1989, EL CENTRO'S ACADEMY FOR CHILDREN PREPARES 2 1/2 - 5 YEAR OLD CHILDREN THROUGH ITS QUALITY, DUAL-LANGUAGE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAM. THE ACADEMY FOR CHILDREN IS NATIONALLY ACCREDITED THROUGH THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE EDUCATION OF YOUNG CHILDREN, AND RECEIVED A 5 STAR RATING ACCORDING TO THE STATE OF KANSAS QUALITY RATING IMPROVEMENT SYSTEM. WITH A SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON LITERACY AND READING READINESS AND OVER 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE, OUR PRE-K PROGRAM FOCUSES ON PREPARING CHILDREN, SPECIFICALLY ENGLISH-LANGUAGE LEARNERS, FOR FUTURE SUCCESS IN BOTH SCHOOL AND LIFE. EL CENTRO'S ACADEMY FOR CHILDREN ALSO PROVIDES MONTHLY, LITERACY SPECIFIC PARENT "LEE Y SERAS" WORKSHOPS GIVING FAMILIES BOTH SUPPORT AND RESOURCES FOR MEANINGFUL EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES AT HOME. THE ACADEMY HELPS FAMILIES FOSTER THE LANGUAGE AND EARLY LITERACY SKILLS THAT CHILDREN NEED TO BECOME STRONG READERS AND LIFELONG LEARNERS.