Latin American Community Center Corporation

TO EMPOWER THE LATINO COMMUNITY THROUGH EDUCATION, ADVOCACY, PARTNERSHIPS AND EXCEPTIONAL SERVICES

EARLY DEVELOPMENT CENTER (CHILD CARE) - LACC PROVIDES A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM THAT MEETS THE HIGHEST ACADEMIC STANDARD TO 165 CHILDREN AGES SIX- WEEKS TO 5 YEARS OLD FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES MOSTLY LATINO BACKGROUND LIVING IN URBAN COMMUNITIES. OF THOSE 165 CHILDREN, 37 WERE ENROLLED IN EARLY HEAD START PROGRAM, 55 CHILDREN WERE ENROLLED IN EARLY CHILDHOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (ECAP) AND 25 CHILDREN WERE ENROLLED IN THE REDDING PRESCHOOL PROGRAM. LACC STRIVES TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE AND NEIGHBORHOOD BASED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING IN A SAFE, SECURE AND ENRICHING ENVIRONMENT THAT ALLOWS FOR PHYSICAL, SOCIAL- EMOTIONAL, COGNITIVE AND LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHILDREN. OUT OF THE 165 CHILDREN, 31 CHILDREN WHO HAVE DIAGNOSED DISABILITY WERE SERVED. IN ADDITION, 90% OF THE PRE-K STUDENTS DEMONSTRATED KINDERGARTEN READINESS BASED ON TEACHING STRATEGIES GOLD ASSESSMENTS SYSTEM. ALL PARENTS SURVEYED WERE SATISFIED OR VERY SATISFIED WITH THE PROGRESS OF THEIR CHILDREN. OUR INFANTS AND TODDLERS SPEND THEIR DAY IN A SPANISH LANGUAGE IMMERSION ENVIRONMENT. PRE-K STUDENTS TRANSITION TO A DUAL LANGUAGE MODEL SCHOOL WITH BOTH SPANISH AND ENGLISH USED AS THE LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION. OUR CHILDREN LEARN THROUGH PLAY AND EXPLORATION USING THE CREATIVE CURRICULUM. PRESCHOOLERS INVESTIGATE VARIOUS SCIENCE AND SOCIAL STUDIES TOPICS WHILE BUILDING THEIR SKILLS IN LANGUAGE, LITERACY, MATH AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT. OUR EARLY DEVELOPMENT CENTER IS ALSO IMPLEMENTING THE CONSCIOUS DISCIPLINE PROGRAM TO ASSIST CHILDREN IN DEVELOPING THEIR SELF-REGULATION AND PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS. AROUND 65% OF THE CHILDREN IN THE EARLY DEVELOPMENT CENTER WERE ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS.IN 2021, THE EARLY EDUCATION CENTER EXPANDED SERVICES BY PARTNERING WITH "LENA START" TO OFFER FAMILIES COACHING TO SUPPORT THEIR CHILDREN'S LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT AT HOME.

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT: THE HOURS IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE END OF THE SCHOOL DAY ARE CRITICAL FOR CHILDREN AGES 5 - 12. LACC PROVIDES A YEAR-ROUND QUALITY BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL ENRICHMENT PROGRAM, COMMUNITY CENTER LEARNING HUB, YOUTH ACHIEVEMENT CENTER, AND A SUMMER-CAMP IN A SAFE AND ENGAGING ENVIRONMENT WHERE CHILDREN LEARN AND GROW, EAT HEALTHY MEALS, AS WELL AS RECEIVE ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES INCLUDING DANCE, ARTS, JOURNALISM AND ATHLETICS. IT SERVED 215 CHILDREN WHILE THEIR PARENTS ARE AT WORK, AND 141 CHILDREN IN SUMMER CAMP. THE PROGRAM ENHANCES THE CHILDREN'S KNOWLEDGE OF STEM AND HELPS THEM UNDERSTAND THE POSSIBILITIES OF WORKING IN STEM-RELATED CAREERS. THIS IS DONE THROUGH ANNUAL LEGO MINDSTORM TEAMS, AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL SCIENCE AND ART-BASED PARTNERS FOR THE INTEGRATION OF THE ARTS AND THROUGH THE READING IS FUNDAMENTAL PROGRAM. THE INTEGRATION OF THE ARTS INTO OUR STEM PROGRAMMING SHOWS STUDENTS THE CLOSE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ART, DESIGN, AND ENGINEERING. THE EVENING ENRICHMENT PROGRAM PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH HOMEWORK HELP AND ASSISTANCE WITH COLLEGE, JOB, AND SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS. STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN ACTIVITIES THAT ENHANCE THEIR ACADEMIC SKILLS AND THEIR LIVES, INCLUDING ATHLETICS, THE ARTS, SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION, AND STEM. WE ALSO PROVIDE YOUTH WITH CAREER AWARENESS, JOB SHADOWING, INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AND JOB SKILLS DEVELOPMENT. THE HIGH SCHOOL CREDIT RECOVERY PROGRAM HAS MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR 7 AT-RISK STUDENTS TO REMAIN IN SCHOOL, MAKE UP CREDITS, AND BE PROMOTED TO THE NEXT GRADE AND GRADUATE. THE HISPANIC STUDENT RECOGNITION PROGRAM(HSRP) RECOGNIZES HIGH-ACHIEVING STUDENTS STATEWIDE AND INSPIRES PRIDE IN THE LATINO COMMUNITY. HSRP ENCOURAGES FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES TO SUPPORT STUDENTS WHO ARE IN PURSUIT OF GREATER OPPORTUNITIES. THE YOUTH ACHIEVEMENT CENTER OFFERED A PROGRAM IN A HYBRID MODEL WHICH INCLUDE VARIOUS ACTIVITIES SUCH AS COOKING CLASS, ART CLASS, COSMETOLOGY AND BREAKING BARRIER FITNESS. IT SERVED 38 STUDENTS DURING 2021. THE COMMUNITY CENTER ONLINE LEARNING HUB WAS USED AS A MODEL FOR OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO SET UP SIMILAR PROGRAMS WITH THEIR STUDENTS. LACC WAS RECOGNIZED MULTIPLE TIMES BY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS FOR ITS EFFORTS IN SUPPORTING ITS STUDENTS. IN 2021 THE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT SERVICES ADDED THE YOUTH PREVENTION PROGRAM WITH ACTIVITIES TO BUILD PROGRAM AND MEET THE STUDENTS' UNIQUE NEEDS. IT SERVED 38 STUDENTS DURING THE YEAR.

PREVENTION AND ADVOCACY SERVICES. LACC PROVIDES INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WITH THE TOOLS TO HANDLE MANY FORMS OF ADDICTION, INCLUDING DRUGS AND ALCOHOL, TO CREATE A POSITIVE AND HEALTHY HOME AND LIVING ENVIRONMENT. PROGRAMS INCLUDE ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUGS PREVENTION, HIV EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES, HEALTHY FAMILIES AND HEALTHY HOMES ASSISTANCE AND FINANCIAL LITERACY AND THE CONEXIONES PROGRAM. WITHIN THE PREVENTION PROGRAM, 42 PARTICIPANTS COMPLETED THE EDUCATION SESSION, 93% OF WHOM INCREASED THEIR KNOWLEDGE ABOUT DRUGS AND ALCOHOL. THE PROGRAM HOSTED A TOTAL OF 4 ALCOHOL OR DRUGS FREE EVENTS TO PROMOTE ALTERNATIVE ACTIVITIES TO SUBSTANCE ABUSE. THE PROGRAM CONDUCTED OUTREACH EVENTS AND REACHED 2,451 INDIVIDUALS. THE HIV EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES PROGRAM SERVED 282 CLIENTS WITH HIV AND AIDS TESTING. OUR FINANCIAL LITERACY PROGRAM SERVED 435 CLIENTS WITH THEIR CREDIT REPORTS, DEBT REDUCTION, CREDIT IMPROVEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT, BUDGET DEVELOPMENT, AND HOME OWNERSHIP. THE HEALTHY HOMES PROGRAM PROVIDED SERVICES FOR 501 HOME RISK ASSESSMENTS. THE HEALTHY FAMILIES PROGRAM, WHICH CONNECTS FAMILIES TO HEALTH CARE, SERVED 122 INDIVIDUALS. IN ADDITION, THE CONEXIONES PROGRAM ADVOCATES FOR RIGHTS OF THE LATINO COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING COVID-19 CARE, TESTING, VACCINE DISTRIBUTION, EDUCATION, AND OTHER RESOURCES THAT WILL EMPOWER THEM. DURING 2021, THERE WERE 18 VACCINATION CLINICS BY MEDICAL PROVIDERS IN LACC "MOB" BUILDING. 1,256 OF COVID VACCINE DOSES WERE MADE TO INDIVIDUALS. ALSO, THE PROGRAM CONDUCTED 435 OUTREACH EVENTS AND 3 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WORKSHOPS. IN NOVEMBER 21, THE PREVENTION AND ADVOCACY PROGRAM STARTED OFFERING COVID PCR TESTING ON THE LACC "MOB" BUILDING. LACC BELIEVES IN PREVENTION AS A WAY OF LIFE AND ALL OF THE PREVENTION AND ADVOCACY PROGRAMS COMPLEMENT EACH OTHER TO CREATE WRAP-AROUND PREVENTIVE CARE SERVICES.

FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES: LACC OFFERS COMPREHENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT SUPPORT TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES THROUGH HOLISTIC WRAPAROUND SERVICES IN A BILINGUAL, SAFE AND CULTURALLY-APPROPRIATE ENVIRONMENT. FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES INCLUDE LONG AND SHORT-TERM CASE MANAGEMENT, BASIC LIFE NEEDS (FOOD, CLOTHING AND SHELTER), BREASTFEEDING ASSISTANCE, VICTIMS SERVICES AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE TO HELP CLIENTS THROUGH CRITICAL PERIODS OF SURVIVAL, RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND EVENTUAL INDEPENDENCE. IN 2021 LACC PARTNERED WITH THE DELAWARE STATE HOUSING AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE HOUSING ASSISTANCE TO CLIENTS. IN 2021, APPROXIMATELY 2,615 INDIVIDUALS WERE SERVED IN THE FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES PROGRAM. ADDITIONALLY, 1,139 CLIENTS AND 250 FAMILIES WERE ASSISTED THROUGH THE EMERGENCY FOOD, CRISIS ALLEVIATION, AND CLOTHING CLOSET PROGRAMS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC CRISIS AND THROUGHOUT 2021. INCLUDED IN FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES IS THE LOS ABUELOS PROGRAM WHICH SERVED 79 SENIORS WHO LIVE IN LOS JARDINES AND THROUGHOUT NEW CASTLE. AMONG THE ACTIVITIES PROVIDED UNDER THE PROGRAM ARE MEDICAL CHECK-UPS, NUTRITIONAL SERVICES, EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS, RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES, FIELD TRIPS, ZUMBA CLASSES, AND ARTS & CRAFTS. INCLUDED IN THE FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES IS THE ADULT BASIC EDUCATION. LACC SERVES ADULTS WHO HAVE LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY AND POSSESS A DESIRE TO ACHIEVE COMPETENCE IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE. LACC PROVIDES FREE CLASSES IN ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE(ESL), ENGLISH LEARNER CIVICS, GED PROGRAMS, AND BEGINNING COMPUTER LITERACY SKILLS TO 235 HISPANIC ADULTS, 38 CITIZENSHIP/CIVICS STUDENTS AND 21 ADULTS DIGITAL LITERACY (ADL) STUDENTS.