News Archives|News
CHS News Archives 2009
Center for Human Services and UNIVISION host event to increase enrollment in New Jersey’s FamilyCare health insurance program:
Family Day attracts hundreds of children and families
Sunday, July 26, 2009: The Center for Human Services (CHS) joined forces with UNIVISION, the most widely viewed Spanish language television station in the country, to host “Family Day,” an event at Clementon Park and Splash World in central New Jersey. The event publicized NJ FamilyCare, a state program which provides free or affordable health insurance and to enroll eligible children in the program.
NJ FamilyCare provides low cost or no cost health insurance to eligible children in New Jersey
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UNIVISION’s news anchor Julio Largo interviews CHS NJ Director Louis Marino |
NJ FamilyCare is a federal and state funded health insurance program created to help New Jersey's uninsured children and certain low-income parents and guardians to have affordable health coverage. NJ FamilyCare is for families who do not have available or affordable employer insurance, and cannot afford to pay the high cost of private health insurance.
CHS program “100% Insured for Sure” aims to increase enrollment of eligible children in NJ FamilyCare
Cumberland County, where CHS’s NJ office is located, has the highest rates of uninsured children in southern New Jersey.
Through a new program called “100% Insured for Sure,” funded by the New Jersey Department Health and Senior Services, CHS seeks to increase the enrollment of children in NJ FamilyCare.
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| Carmen Lopez, CHS Outreach/Project Manager, talks with parents |
CHS publicizes NJ FamilyCare
CHS employees dressed in the organization’s trademark red assisted potential candidates for NJ FamilyCare with the application process and distributed information about other CHS programs. Children were drawn to the CHS table, which was covered with toys.
Singers and dancers provide entertainment
UNIVISION’s news anchor Julio Largo hosted the day of musical and dance performances, games, face painting, and prizes. He also interviewed Louis Marino, the Director of CHS’ Bridgeton office about the NJ FamilyCare program, who said: “We’re very grateful to Julio Largo and the wonderful team of UNIVISION for inviting us to this celebration of the Latin Family.”
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| Esperanza Academy performs |
Families congregated around the stage, listened to music, danced, and watched various performers. A traditional Mexican balladeer serenaded the audience. All through, the day Julio Largo and UNIVISION staff rewarded the crowd with UNIVISION t-shirts, hats, and video games. Esperanza Academy dancers closed the Univision Family Day with three flawless dance routines, all in different genres.
UNIVISION televised the event the evening of Monday, July 27th.
You can read more about FamilyCare at http://www.njfamilycare.org/ and about CHS at www.chs-urc.org.
Department of Education selects CHS to provide educational services to Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers:
High School Equivalency Program will continue to serve mid-Atlantic
With a new grant from the Department of Education’s Office of Migrant Education (MEP), the Center for Human Services (CHS) will continue its partnership with La Comunidad Hispana, Inc., local community organizations, and businesses to provide educational opportunities to migrant and seasonal farmworkers. For 25 years, CHS has managed the High School Equivalency Program (HEP) in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware (states with large farming communities), and will now also serve Maryland.
Migrant and seasonal farmworkers face barriers to getting education
Migrant farmworkers are defined as agricultural laborers who travel to different locations for work. Seasonal farmworkers gain employment during specific crop cycles. Migrant and seasonal farmworkers’ frequent relocation, limited English, unpredictable work schedules, and unstable financial situations provide barriers to pursuing education.
In a survey of 50 migrant and seasonal farmworkers, CHS found that 65% want to attain the GED in order achieve higher education. HEP helps farmworkers continue their education.
Synopsis of HEP model
HEP is a four and a half month program that aids migrant and seasonal farmworkers obtain a General Educational Development (GED) certificate, which confirms the completion of a high school education. The HEP learning centers are located within the migrant workers’ housing communities and farms. Through lectures, hands on activities, peer instruction, and discussions, HEP students:
- Improve math, writing, computer skills, and English as a Second Language (ESL)
- Prepare for the GED and improve testing skills
- Enhance problem solving and creative thinking skills.
Each center displays student artwork, awards, and published writings to create a welcome learning environment.
HEP offers additional educational possibilities
While HEP focuses primarily on attainment of the GED, the program also arranges other educational opportunities including, campus tours, non-credit and credit summer classes, and financial aid workshops.
In addition, CHS students have the opportunity to spend a week in residence at McDaniel College each summer as part of a program called Common Ground on the Hill. The program is designed to assist HEP students’ transition to college life and to achieve social integration with other students. McDaniel College houses students for one week as they explore various music, dance and art traditions drawn from the traditions of white, Black, Native American and Latino cultures.
For additional information on this project please contact the Project Director, Grogan Ullah, at gullah@urc-chs.com.
“100 % Insured For Sure:”
CHS wins health insurance enrollment program for Cumberland County’s low income minorities, children, and youth
Cumberland County has the highest rate of uninsured children in southern New Jersey (over 11%). Low income minority families’ access to affordable health care is steadily declining. Through a new grant from the New Jersey Department Health and Senior Services, the Center for Human Services (CHS) will increase the number of low income, minority families enrolled in New Jersey’s FamilyCare program. “100% Insured for Sure” will focus on enrolling eligible Spanish-speaking Latino, African-American, and Native American populations, as well as residents of the assault and domestic violence shelters.
Louis Marino, who directs the CHS Bridgeton office, will serve as the Project Director. He will work with Carmen Lopez, Outreach/Project Manager, and qualified Volunteer Outreach Advocates (VOAs) to identify possible applicants through ongoing CHS programs including health literacy, education and vocational rehabilitation, and on-site childcare. In addition, Bridgeton and Vineland Public Schools systems will help find eligible students through school programs.
VOAs will conduct community outreach in churches, grocery stores, barbershops, health fairs, beauty salons, and community centers. The project will also share information through mass media, including Univision, the highly viewed Spanish language television station, WJNC, a popular Spanish radio station, Nuestra Communidad, a Latino community newspaper, The Daily Journal, and The Bridgeton News.
For information on this project, please contact Louis Marino at lmarino@urc-chs.com.
CHS Initiative Supports Building Capacity in Critical Languages
Whether for humanitarian, diplomatic, business, or security reasons, or to build bridges between cultures, the ability of U.S. professionals to communicate in a range of languages is essential to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity. CHS' Critical Languages Initiative operates on the principle that to constructively engage people and governments throughout the world, professionals in the U.S. must be able to communicate effectively in languages that have often been overlooked in the public school system.
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