April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.
CATHOLIC CHARITIES
Services expand to meet growth among Hispanics
In recognition of that trend, Hispanic Outreach Services (HOS) of diocesan Catholic Charities has grown from a two-person office in the 1980s to an agency with 18 staff members, four service locations and an annual budget in excess of half a million dollars.
Annually, HOS helps more than 2,500 newly arrived families in the Capital Region and Amsterdam become established.
"We assist people to become assimilated within their adopted communities without losing their cultural identity," said Sister Anne Tranelli, executive director of HOS.
Serving Hispanics
Church-sponsored services for Hispanic people have been a part of diocesan human services for many years. In the early 1970s, Bishop Edwin B. Broderick established the Spanish Apostolate to respond to the spiritual and human service needs of local Hispanic people.Later, human service programs were offered through the Church-sponsored Spanish Center. In 1989, the agency was renamed Hispanic Outreach Services and became part of Catholic Charities.
Initially, services were concentrated in Albany and Amsterdam. In the mid-1980s, they were expanded to include Schenectady and Troy.
Needs to meet
Many Hispanic immigrants arrive with a dream for a better life, but with little or no ability to speak English. They come from Puerto Rico, or from Central and Latin American nations (such as Mexico, Peru or El Salvador) where they faced poverty, a lack of jobs that pay a decent wage, and, in some cases, political oppression.For many immigrants, HOS is their first stop on a journey to self-sufficiency. Case workers help people meet immediate needs, such as registering for English-language classes, obtaining social services, enrolling children in school and finding a place to live. Other HOS services include tutoring and after-school programs to help children succeed in school.
"HOS helps people take care of the immediate problems that are impediments to improving their lives," noted Christine Galvin, secretary of the HOS board of directors and a local attorney who offers pro bono legal services to Spanish-speaking clients.
Improving lives
The success stories at HOS are plentiful, such as a woman and her four children who arrived from Puerto Rico four years ago, unable to speak English. Today, she owns a daycare program. Her two oldest children are employed, and the other two are doing well in school.HOS prides itself on the level of trust its clients have for the agency and staff.
"All our staff are bi-lingual and bi-cultural," said Sister Anne. "At HOS, someone can understand their culture, their situation."
Nilda Giraldi, program manager for the agency, said she has chosen to work for HOS for 16 years because "I like working with my people, especially children."
HOS hopes to continue its growth in existing locations and perhaps initiate services in Columbia County. "It has always been our hope to have an outreach office in Columbia County, but we lack funding to do it," said Sister Anne. "It is a goal for the future."
(09-26-02) [[In-content Ad]]
MORE NEWS STORIES
- Washington Roundup: Supreme Court concludes term, Senate weighs ‘Big Beautiful Bill’
- Carol Zimmermann, NCR news editor, wins St. Francis de Sales Award
- Archbishop arrested, second cleric sought, amid Armenian government crackdown on opposition
- Israel-Iran war, Supreme Court decisions, pope message to priests | Week in Review
- Sid Meier’s Civilization VII
- Novel puts Joan of Arc’s heroic struggle into modern context
- Supreme Court upholds online age verification laws to protect kids
- Supreme Court says parents can opt kids out of classroom instruction with LGBTQ+ themed books
- Supreme Court limits judges’ ability to block Trump on birthright citizenship
- Full text of the homily of Pope Leo XIV on the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart
Comments:
You must login to comment.