Newsletter
NEWSLETTER
Inside this Issue:
5th Annual Bilingual Family Health Fair
Visit Our Website ! www.hispaniclatinocoalition.org |
Message from the Executive Director
Dear Members and Friends:
It is with a mix of emotions that I write these lines. An opportunity came and it is time for me to leave the Coalition and continue to grow.
I want to take the opportunity to express my gratitude for all the help and support during this journey. This was a learning experience in every possible way and I take with me good memories as well as good friends.
I don’t say good bye since I will be seen some of you around.
It was a pleasure knowing you and having the opportunity of working together for this great cause.
Sincerely,
Maria
Maria J. Garcia-Casellas
5th Annual Bilingual Family Health Fair
By Maria Jose Garcia-Casellas
A
free bilingual Family Health Fair was held on Saturday, March 18 from
8:30 a.m. to noon at the Glasser/Schoenbaum Human Services Center, 1750
– 17th Street in Sarasota. Almost four hundred residents of
all ages took advantage of free health screenings. These included blood
sugar, blood pressure, Cholesterol, dental, memory (Alzheimer’s) and
vision screenings. Free HIV and syphilis testing was available as well.
Those who attended were able to connect with 35 local agencies providing
health, educational, youth and social services information in both
English and Spanish. Topics included healthy eating, parenting, youth
mentoring programs, elder care, mental health, early cancer detection,
Alzheimer’s disease and related memory disorders. Door prize drawings
and refreshments were provided. Once again the Bilingual Family Health
Fair was a success counting with the participation of 300 adults and 70
children, continuing our goal of outreaching and serving our community.
Thanks to the Health Fair Committee for all the efforts and continuing support!!!
Resource Committee
By B.J. Branson
The Resource Committee is moving forward on two major projects for the Coalition. Committee members have been busy researching agencies to be included in the Manual for Social Services, a manual that will be printed in Spanish and distributed free to the community. The goal of the manual is to help non English-speaking persons access local services that require an intake process. Maria Garcia-Casellas is in the process of taking the information and compiling a draft of the manual.
Work is also underway for the 2006-2007 Bilingual Directory of Helping Resources for Residents of Sarasota County. The size and format of the “little blue book” will remain the same, but there will be an exciting new feature this year! In response to inquiries from the public, the bilingual directory will be selling advertising space. Companies, agencies or individuals will be able to purchase full-page or half-page advertisements. Funds collected for advertisements in the directory will go to help sustain the Coalition. As in prior years, printing costs for the directory will continue to be supported by those agencies that make contributions for the directory. In turn, these agencies will receive a number of directories they can distribute to the community. Last year, over 40,000 copies of the directory were printed for free distribution in the community.
If you would like to help with either of these worthwhile projects, please contact the Hispanic/Latino Coalition at 955-5834. Please tell her if you would like to be part of the Resource Committee!
Education/Youth Committee
By Yvonne Bras, Committee Chair
The Education/Youth Committee has been working on the “Teen Cultural Competency” training. Several coalition members received training this past month on how to deliver this workshop to teens. A pilot trial with students has been scheduled for April. Additional tweaking will occur then before marketing the workshop to Sarasota County schools. Thank you to Edna Apostol, Johnnie Burnhart, Estela Curiel, Yvonne Bras, and Maria Garcia-Casellas for their help in preparing the training.
Sexual Violence
By Jeanie Ocasio-McLain, Health Committee Chair
Sexual violence affects millions of people every year. Statistics about sexual violence vary due to differences in how data is collected, and how sexual violence is defined. For example, sexual violence can also be identified as sexual assault, rape, sexual battery, and marital rape. The data that is available underestimates the true magnitude of the problem. Sexual violence is one of the most underreported crimes. The fact that most sexual violence crimes are not reported to authorities has led to the mistaken assumption that the incidence of such crimes is low.
Sexual violence is a crime that leaves behind harmful and lasting consequences for victims, families, and communities. Those effects can be physical or psychological and may include shock, denial, fear, and guilt. They may also suffer from symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder such as emotional detachment, sleep disturbances, and flashbacks.
There are many reasons why victims of abuse may not seek help. One reason many victims of sexual violence are reluctant to seek help is the relationship between the victim and the perpetrator. Studies show that in 8 out of 10 rape cases, the victim knows the perpetrator (Tjaden and Thoennes 2000).* A national survey found that 34% of women were victims of sexual coercion by a husband or intimate partner in their lifetime (Basile 2002).* Married Hispanics/ Latinas are less likely than other women to immediately define their experience of forced sex as rape and terminate their relationship; some view sex as a marital obligation (Berger, R.K. 1996, Wife Rape).** Of those who report sexual violence, 64% of women and 16% of men were raped, physically assaulted, or stalked by an intimate partner. This includes a current or former spouse, cohabitating partner, boyfriend/girlfriend, or date (Tjaden and Thoennes 2000). *
Studies show that Hispanics/Latinos are in need of sexual assault services, yet face barriers that prevent them from receiving the services they need. These barriers include language barriers, fear of deportation, cultural issues, and fear of the legal system.
SPARCC (Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center) has been providing services to victims of domestic and sexual violence 1979. SPARCC has a comprehensive program that reaches out to victims of sexual violence that included bi-lingual counselors. Services include crisis and longer-term counseling, safety planning, information and referrals, legal advocacy, and case management. All of SPARCC services are free. Services are available to all victims of sexual and domestic violence despite gender, race, or immigration status. For services or information, contact SPARCC’s 24-hour hotline at (941) 365-1976.
On April 6th 2006, SPARCC will observe Sexual Violence Awareness Day with a special event of survivor-based art. The free event will be from 6pm-10pm at the Beach Club Siesta Key located at 5151 Ocean Blvd, Sarasota. There will be live music, free buffet, prizes and art. For more information, or if you are interested in including your art or music contact Diana Riser, Program coordinator at (941) 365-0208 Ext. 127.
www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/svfacts.htm *
Contact Us
Hispanic/Latino Coalition, Inc.
Location: The Glasser-Shoenbaum Human Services Center 1750 17th St., Building K3 Sarasota, FL 34234 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 736 Sarasota, FL 34230 Phone: (941) 955-5834 Fax: (941) 366-7686 E-mail: hispaniclatinocoalition@verizon.net www.hispaniclatinocoalition.org