April 2023
Destacado de programación de salud
Prioritizing Clients’ Safety
Many of our clients have been victims of domestic violence, various types of assault, or human trafficking, among other crimes. HCM’s bilingual, bicultural therapists prioritize clients’ safety by making it easier for them to receive mental health services. HCM’s Counseling Program offers stress reduction, grief and loss, and resilience groups to our clients, which provide relief and psychoeducation before, during, or after individual therapy. In addition to the groups that are currently available, our program has begun to implement a new process for prioritizing client outcomes.
During the initial intake, our therapists work with clients to develop individualized treatment plans that address the clients’ unique needs and goals. After four weeks of receiving therapy services, our clients are given a test so that our therapist can determine areas of progress and areas of concern. Depending on the results, the client and therapist decide whether the treatment plan should be continued, modified, or discontinued. By reporting outcomes, we can continuously improve our services and provide the best possible care for our clients, empowering them and helping them build resilience as they navigate their healing journey.
Programación destacada de justicia
A Dream of Becoming a U.S. Citizen Becomes a Reality
*Rosario initially received assistance for a U visa in 2008 and returned in 2013 for assistance in applying for lawful permanent residency, and again in 2021 for assistance in applying for citizenship. Rosario had cancer and was undergoing treatment at the time of her last interview, but despite her health struggles, Rosario remained determined to become a citizen and was overjoyed when she passed her citizenship test. Rosario was hospitalized and unable to walk when she received her appointment for the oath ceremony, where she could pledge her allegiance to the United States and formally become a citizen. Our immigration services manager immediately contacted the local USCIS Field Office and asked if it would be possible to have someone administer the citizenship oath at the hospital; they responded that it would be possible, but that it would take weeks. Rosario didn’t want to postpone her oath ceremony, so her daughter contacted the hospital case manager, who was able to arrange Rosario’s transportation to USCIS for the oath ceremony, and she was able to become a U.S. citizen early this year. HCM is happy for Rosario, and her story is a reminder that with determination, anything is possible.
On another occasion, HCM’s legal immigration team was also invited to meet at a local church to talk with a group of volunteers that provide assistance to displaced people in need of temporary housing. Church leaders wanted to know how the immigration process works so that they could support families from the Ukraine arriving in Utah as refugees. HCM was honored to be able to share information and educate community leaders about temporary employment authorization and the complex process required to obtain permanent residence in the United States. Our Legal Immigration Program director, Lorina Tester, reported that “it was an incredible opportunity to meet with compassionate people who assist vulnerable populations that have limited resources available to them when they arrive in Utah.”
HCM’s attorneys and U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Accredited Representatives work with immigrants and their families to gain legal status and participate fully in the community by providing consultations, legal support for immigrant victims of violence, support for humanitarian and temporary status applicants, family reunification assistance, and citizenship services. Immigration services at HCM are always provided without regard to age, gender, faith, race, ethnicity, or ability to pay. Notably, these services are also provided at various locations in the State of Utah. We strive to facilitate requests for assistance that come from the community – including hospitals and churches.
Programación destacada de justicia
Venturing for Success
Paula and Daniel Pedraza were unemployed due to the hotels where they worked closing during the COVID-19 pandemic. They saw this as an opportunity to venture and see how they could make money to cover their expenses. HCM Parents as Teachers Parent Educator Maria Elena supported the family and connected them to sewing classes around the area. Paula and Daniel first noticed a high demand for face masks after most masks in stores and online were sold out, so they decided to make cloth masks for the Park City community. The Pedraza family advertised their service on Facebook and was well received by families. They made masks for adults and children, some personalized and others with designs, which helped them cover some of their family’s expenses. As a result of their success, they began telling their friends, neighbors, and relatives that they could assist them with simple clothing alterations, and due to positive communication, they were referred to a laundromat in the city to make bags for industrial use.
The family’s entrepreneurial spirit and willingness to adapt to the needs of their community allowed them to expand their services beyond just making masks. Paula saw a need in the nail technician community for gift bags where people could keep their nail sets, so they began creating little bags with the leftover fabric from the face masks, then began looking for holiday and season-themed fabric to give out during festive days. Following a great start, they purchased a Cricut machine so they could offer a wider variety of bags and be able to personalize them. With the addition of facemasks, keychains, and hair ties, Paula and Daniel continuously explore new opportunities to grow their business, and now that summer is approaching, they started to personalize cups.
After learning about their business, our education director, Miriam Garcia, informed the Pedraza family of our Small Business Assistance Program and referred them to our coordinator, Sergio Bernabeu. This program helps immigrants and traditionally marginalized communities throughout the entrepreneurial process by guiding them and empowering them. The Pedraza family is excited to grow their small business and aspire to one day open their own online store where they can display all of their products and their customers can make a secure purchase. We hope to see the Pedrazas’ family business thrive and become a successful venture. Give funny_goodies a follow on Instagram!
* Para proteger la privacidad de aquellos a quienes servimos, se utiliza una imagen y un nombre alternativos para este cliente de HCM.
January 2023
Programación destacada de justicia
Bienvenida de regreso Ana Flores
Estamos encantados de que la Sra. Ana Flores haya regresado a Holy Cross Ministries como abogada. Ana comenzó su carrera en HCM como especialista en admisión de clientes en 2015, poco después de que la ascendieran a asistente legal y luego se convirtió en representante acreditada del Departamento de Justicia. Ana rápidamente se dio cuenta de que le apasionaba ayudar a los inmigrantes vulnerables a obtener la residencia permanente y la autorización para trabajar en los Estados Unidos, y decidió postularse a la Universidad de Utah, S.J. Facultad de Derecho de Quinney.
Ana estaba bien preparada para la facultad de derecho, ya que anteriormente asistió al Instituto de Estudios Internacionales de Middlebury, donde obtuvo una maestría en política internacional con especialización en seguridad y desarrollo humanos. También obtuvo una licenciatura en artes en estudios globales, asistió al Instituto Danés para Estudiar en el Extranjero en Dinamarca y terminó con éxito un programa prestigioso en la Universidad Ashesi en Ghana.
Ana ha desarrollado una gran comprensión de lo importante que es promover el acceso a sistemas legales relacionados con la inmigración que apoyen la justicia social. A lo largo de los años, ha ayudado a innumerables víctimas de violencia doméstica a escapar de situaciones de vida peligrosas y eventualmente convertirse en ciudadanos naturalizados. Ana también brinda servicios legales de manera experta a víctimas de ciertos delitos violentos, beneficiarios de DACA e inmigrantes desplazados que buscan asilo en los EE. UU.
HCM anunció discretamente que Ana regresaría al Programa de Inmigración Legal de HCM en el reciente Beneficio de la Cosecha de Otoño. Los miembros del personal estaban encantados de saber que Ana ahora es abogada y las noticias viajaron rápido en la comunidad. “¡Me sorprendió la cantidad de personas que ya conocen a Ana!” dice Lorina Tester, Directora del Programa de Inmigración Legal. “Cuando llegó a HCM, inmediatamente comenzó a brindar representación a nuestros clientes de inmigración legal, y estamos realmente bendecidos de que haya regresado. Todos en la familia de Holy Cross esperan que ella esté con nosotros durante muchos años más”.
Programación destacada de justicia
Una Navidad memorable
Cada año, Toys for Tots dona juguetes a nuestras familias en nuestros programas educativos, trayendo alegría a los rostros de muchos niños. Para distribuir estos juguetes, nuestro director y gerente de educación planeó una celebración navideña con la ayuda de voluntarios y simpatizantes. Este año, 41 voluntarios de Park City Sunrise Rotary y South Summit Interact Club pasaron un estimado de 104 horas desempacando y preparando regalos.
Se distribuyeron obsequios a 56 familias del Programa Padres como Maestros y el Programa de Preparación Escolar. Además de los juguetes, gracias a Park City Sunrise Rotary, las familias también recibieron una tarjeta de regalo de $50.00, una bolsa de ingredientes para hacer un delicioso chocolate caliente, fotos instantáneas y la oportunidad de conocer a Santa. Estamos agradecidos con todos nuestros voluntarios y simpatizantes por hacer que este día sea tan especial para muchas de nuestras familias.
Destacado de programación de salud
Servicios integrales para Esteban
*Esteban fue contactado por Carmen Cárdenas, una de las trabajadoras/promotoras de salud comunitaria de HCM, quien se enteró de que Esteban no tenía beneficios médicos o dentales, estaba luchando contra la inseguridad alimentaria y no estaba seguro de a dónde acudir para obtener ayuda con sus necesidades. Junto con todos estos problemas, Esteban tampoco se sentía bien, carecía de los medios económicos para buscar atención médica, tenía una barrera del idioma y perdió una parte importante de su pequeña empresa familiar.
Carmen intervino y ayudó a Esteban a solicitar Medicaid y el Programa de Asistencia de Nutrición Suplementaria, así como a comunicarse con otros recursos comunitarios para obtener asistencia inmediata, ya que había muchos disponibles para ayudar con las necesidades médicas. También se reunió con él en la Clínica 4th Street para asegurarse de que recibiera la atención médica necesaria para su enfermedad. Pudieron programar citas para atención dental, de la vista y de salud juntos. Carmen y Esteban colaboraron durante meses para presentar numerosas solicitudes de servicios para los que Esteban calificaba.
HCM ofrece servicios integrales a todos nuestros clientes, uno de los cuales es el Programa de Asistencia para Pequeñas Empresas. Este programa ayuda a inmigrantes y comunidades tradicionalmente marginadas a obtener recursos para iniciar o hacer crecer sus negocios. La pequeña empresa de Esteban se vio afectada financieramente por la pandemia y se vio obligado a vender su casa. Carmen lo puso en contacto con la coordinadora de asistencia para pequeñas empresas de HCM, Claire Shaver, y juntos solicitaron varias subvenciones para ayudar a su negocio.
Esteban se comunicó recientemente con Carmen para informarle que había sido aprobado para todos los servicios que habían solicitado y estaba muy agradecido por la ayuda que nuestra organización le brindó para trabajar en el proceso de solicitud. Ahora está esperando recibir noticias sobre las subvenciones para pequeñas empresas y expresó su agradecimiento a Carmen por conectarlo con los recursos de la comunidad y tomarse el tiempo para ayudar, explicar y completar solicitudes que ayudan a las personas con sus necesidades específicas.
* Para proteger la privacidad de aquellos a quienes servimos, se utiliza una imagen y un nombre alternativos para este cliente de HCM.