1. A Year-End Message
2. A Warm Welcome
3. Discussing Health Care Reform
4. 3 Staff Complete MBA Program
5. On Cultural Competency
6. Teen Anger Management Groups
7. T.O.Y.S. “Fiesta Navideña”
8. Strengthening Communities

 
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A Warm Welcome
On December 3, 2009, Pilsen Wellness Center organized a special welcoming ceremony for new Illinois Department of Human Services Secretary, Michelle R.B. Saddler.  Secretary Saddler met with CEO Francisco Cisneros, Latino Caucus Legislators, as well as other local service providers.  She shared her extensive experience with not-for-profit organizations, particularly those serving the homeless and her mutual concern regarding the current public funding climate.

Secretary Saddler recognized the many sacrifices providers have had to make to remain open.  While communicating her vision for IDHS, she encouraged future collaboration with both evidence-based practices and culturally competent human services.  State Senators, representatives, and aldermen stressed the importance of community-based organizations, such as the Pilsen Wellness Center, to their constituents many of whom currently face unemployment and housing uncertainties.  They further underscored the need to support this vital network of community-based providers helping families through this economic downturn.		  
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Those in attendance included State Senators Martin Sandoval and Antonio Muñoz, State Representatives Daniel Burke and Elizabeth Hernandez, Chicago Alderman George Cardenas and Berwyn Alderman Cesar Santoy.
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Health Care Reform

The Pilsen Wellness Center’s Medical Director for Mental Health Services, Psychiatrist Daniel Martinez, M.D., served as an expert panelist discussing Health Care Reform and its implications for community-based providers during the “Change That Includes Us” Conference organized by the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus Foundation.

Dr. Martinez highlighted the current prohibitively low Medicaid reimbursement rates which make serving economically disadvantaged individuals almost impossible, given the exorbitant costs for medical malpractice insurance.  He also emphasized the great need for mental health services among immigrant populations currently experiencing increased rates of depression and anxiety disorders.  Sharing the human toll on families and their evident distress personalized the issue for many attending the panel discussion on health care reform.

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3 Staff Complete MBA Program

Three members of Pilsen Wellness Center’s management team complete a 22-month-long Masters in Business Administration Program offered by National Louis University.  Patricia Perez, the Division Director for the Mental Health and Education Divisions as well as Christina Gonzales, the Business Initiative Director, and Teresa L. Bentley, the Agency Grant Writer, finished the two-year program in November 2009.

With fewer that 2 percent of Latinos pursuing graduate studies and even fewer Latinas pursuing advanced business degrees, this major accomplishment underscores PWC’s commitment to advancing scholarship and leadership goals among its senior management team members.  Pilsen Wellness Center congratulates its recent grads and expects both the agency and community will benefit from this commendable achievement attained by these talented and dedicated individuals.

  

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On Cultural Competency 

Pilsen Wellness Center, Inc. participated in Argosy University’s Symposium on Cultural Competence highlighting the socio-political context when working with Latinos immigrants.  The November 19, 2009 conference attended by over 90 faculty, current and perspective students, and involved-community members offered attendees an opportunity to weigh present health, social, and financial disparities that Latino-origin communities often face within a context of mental health and reduced access to culturally competent counseling and psychiatric servicers.
  




Eddy Borrayo, the Division Director for Substance Abuse Services, served as a major conference speaker and discussed treatment interventions that are both linguistically and culturally relevant.   He emphasized the significance of ongoing treatment research involving evidence-based practices, the advantages of “in-vivo” cultural immersion experiences for student interns and current clinicians, and how strategic partnerships with universities and treatment centers in Latin-American countries can support these initiatives.
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Teen Anger Management Groups

Pilsen Wellness Center’s Therapeutic Outpatient Youth Services (TOYS) program will begin offering an Anger Management Support Group in collaboration with Corazon Community Services (1323 South Austin Boulevard, Cicero, Illinois) to young males between 14 and 17 years of age.  Beginning Friday, December 11, 2009, and each subsequent Friday through Spring 2010 (barring the Christmas, and New Year Holidays) the support group will cover topics such as violence and aggression prevention, conflict resolution, and coping strategies as well as provide opportunities to practice de-escalation techniques.

Approximately 30 teens have already registered to participate.  For additional information, please contact Ms. Kathryn Saclarides, TOYS Program Supervisor, at (708) 683-5500, extension 24 or via e-mail at ksaclarides@pilsenmh.org.

 

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T.O.Y.S. “Fiesta Navideña” 

The Pilsen Wellness Center, Inc. Therapeutic Outpatient Youth Services (T.O.Y.S.) Program’s has organized its first International “Fiesta Navideña” Festival.  The event will take place at the Cicero Stadium located at 1909 South Laramie Avenue in Cicero between the hours of 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, December 19, 2009.

The TOYS Program provides culturally competent mental health services to children and adolescents with integrated treatment involving the family, school personnel, medical professionals, and/or other human service agencies.

 


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In September 2009, the TOYS program began an “International Year” offering themed activities each month.  This initiative’s primary purpose seeks to advance cultural diversity, appreciation, and recognition of its significance within the therapeutic process.  The International “Fiesta Navideña” Festival is an extension of this endeavor.  Approximately 20 different countries will be represented in this year-end event.  Over 120 TOYS Program participants and family members will enjoy culturally diverse music, dance, food, and donated gifts.

For children’s gift donations, please contact Ms. Kathryn Saclarides at
(708) 683-5500, extension 24.
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Strengthening Communities

Pilsen Wellness Center, Inc.’s Division Director for Substance Abuse Services, Eddy Borrayo, served on a recent conference panel discussing “Building the Capacity to Holistically Address HIV, Viral Hepatitis, Mental Health and Substance Abuse.”  The Adelante Illinois Conference held on December 14-15, 2009 and organized by the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors in collaboration with the Chicago Department of Public Health and the Illinois Department of Public Health focused on strengthening the response to HIV/AIDS and Viral Hepatitis in Latino communities.

  



Mr. Borrayo presented on PWC’s success in reducing infection rates within the Latino community by implementing an integrated, grass roots approach involving culturally and linguistically competent professionals.