PROGRAMS AND SERVICES


The Institute with its 28 years of experience providing social services citywide works with immigrant and non-immigrant populations on a daily basis providing much needed social services including:

Entitlement Assistance

Assistance with applying for and obtaining American Citizenship

English as a Second Language classes

Bilingual Citizenship classes in English and Spanish

Translation Services

Case Management

Counseling

Advocacy

Information and referral

Crisis Intervention

Crime Prevention Services and Court Accompaniment

Social Services

Nutrition

Mental Health Services

Housing

Through this daily work, the Institute’s bilingual/bicultural staff has acquired first hand knowledge of the cultural and social barriers affecting the access to provider services. The staff is also acutely aware of the increased emotional, psychological, financial, legal and social service needs of a growing immigrant population. Accordingly, the Institute’s staff works diligently to address those needs by providing clients with a culturally friendly arena where they can discuss their problems freely and fully while receiving the necessary assistance and support to overcome the complications of bureaucracy which are usually experienced when contacting government provider institutions on their own.

Currently, the Institute sustains twenty three on-going programs. Ten of which are programs covering senior services, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), housing and immigration. In addition, the Institute conducts a Crime Victims Assistance Program, which assists domestic violence victims amongst others. These programs are conducted by bilingual/bicultural caseworkers placed at sites located throughout the tri-borough area. The Institute also sponsors five senior centers, delivery of services to the Homebound through its Homecare Program; Housing at its El Cemi , Bonifacio Cora Texidor and Alice Kornegay residences; Mental health services at Clinica Nueva Esperanza and problem solving assistance through its bilingual Hot Line Program.

Through these various programs, the Institute has established a proven track record of providing quality services to the Hispanic and other minority populations while creating culturally sensitive interventions that are tailored to meet client needs and erase the barriers of obtaining services. Indeed all Institute programs are based on empathy, knowledge, experience bilingualism, cultural awareness, and results oriented activities that provide speedy results for our clients and their families. These factors allow caseworkers the opportunity to promote client trust, establish good working relationships with outside entities and encourage wider participation within our community population.

Throughout its 28 years of existence, the Institute has collaborated with numerous community, private and government institutions on different levels. Collaborations have included helping form coalitions on immigration rights, senior services, referring clients to services in the community or on a city-wide basis, co-sponsoring housing developments, co-sponsoring caregivers programs and forming professional coalitions.

Multilingual/multicultural program staffs are available to communicate with seniors in English and Spanish and thereby disseminate information, awareness and education. Having overcome the language barrier, program staff is especially equipped to advise, reassure, encourage and support seniors and their families and ensure that they receive needed intervention services and benefits. Program staffs also assist seniors and their families in completing applications for entitlements and benefits, translations and access services. In person interviews are conducted in a private setting and confidentiality is guaranteed to all seniors and their families.


COMMUNITY LINKAGES

The Institute has a proven track record of successfully working with local, state/ federal government agencies and other social service providers to serve seniors and their families throughout the Metropolitan New York City area. As a member of many service provider groups and other networks, the Institute has established long-standing collaborations with various organizations including:

The Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies

The New York Women’s Agenda

The Hispanic Federation

The New York Mission Society

Through these linkages and many others, the Institute not only receives and provides mutual support for program endeavors, but also serves as a mutual referral for clients in need in need of entitlement assistance, clothes and food pantry referrals as well as legal, financial, health, housing, utility assistance and information resources. The long standing linkages with these and other entities enhance the services that are provided to Institute clients throughout the city.