The Chattanooga area has many resources available to the recently arrived Latino resident. However, organizations and individuals who could provide these resources have a difficult time linking with the Latino community. La Paz has developed excellent relationships with government agencies, churches, schools, healthcare, housing, youth programs, etc, that could be of service. When a Latino client calls us with an immediate need, we are able to supply a linkage to the needed service. At the same time La Paz endeavors to educate the general community about the Latino culture that is growing in the city. It is a culture that can further enrich all citizens both in material and non-material ways.

La Paz Programs:

Promotores de Salud
Empowering the Latino community to take control of their health by teaching them how to access appropriate health care and community resources.

Modeled after similar programs in other cities, Promotores de Salud serve as permanent links between the Latino community and healthcare providers. Promotores work toward bringing needed cases to medical attention, help assure that prescribed diagnoses and treatments are understood, and to provide follow-up attention. La Paz Promotores can be described as:

• A lay community health worker or lay community health educator
• A natural leader within the community who is able to identify with individuals and groups providing advice and support among members in the community through education, advocacy and community participation

Entre Nosotras!
Let Us Celebrate the Woman in Each of Us!

Entre Nosotras! strives to empower Latino women by way of educational classes ranging from self-help topics to practical cooking lessons.  All of these will take place in a relaxed atmosphere where women will be encouraged to interact and discuss topics of their choosing. Classes are led by experts of the field.

VIVA Chattanooga
Creating More Engaged Community Members

VIVA Chattanooga is an opportunity to get our Latino clientele more involved in the greater community through exploration of the city itself and its resources. VIVA Chattanooga encourages Chattanooga's Latinos to become engaged members of their community by visiting organizations/businesses that might fall beyond their cultural boundaries and/or comfort levels. Examples include, but are not limited to, local banks, the public library, parks, restaurants, the Tennessee Aquarium, the Hunter Museum of American Art, etc.

Intercambio
Pack your bags and get ready for a month of shared cultures, shared languages & shared stories. Teacher and student, you are both.

Through this cultural and language exchange, we are seeking to build community within community. We will spend one hour a week, for four weeks at a time, practicing our English and Spanish language skills. For 30 minutes, you and your partner will speak only in Spanish; for the other half, only English. Conversation-based, this is an informal time to expand your language skills and meet new people and new cultures!

Info Sessions
La Paz partners with partner organizations to provide larger-scale informational sessions to groups on various topics, similar to those of our Entre Nosotras! program.

Cultural Training
La Paz provides training on the Latino population; the growth in the U.S. and Tennessee; the Latino community in Chattanooga; common myths and facts; cultural and language barriers; how to work with, serve and live beside our Latino community.  This training has taken place at various conferences, schools, churches and businesses.  A donation is requested for this service.

General Services:

La Paz focuses on care management and believes in the invaluable importance of personal interaction and genuine care for our clients.  La Paz assists clients with the following services:

•    Providers in client / care management (includes: interpretation/translation service, legal advice, physician referrals, assistance with basic needs)
•    Coordinate monthly networking opportunities for local and regional organizations to learn how to better serve the Latino population
•    Celebrate diverse Latino heritage through planning and participating in public events
•    Advocates for Latino community

Legal Services

• Public Safety. This includes working with Latino victims of crime in reporting to the Chattanooga Police Department. La Paz also works with the Police Department in educating Latinos on how to minimize the chances of becoming future victims and on how police forces work in the United States in contrast with their home countries.
• Immigration. Latinos often have issues of immigration law pertaining to their presence in the United States. We have trusted relationships with specialists in immigration law in Chattanooga and the state of Tennessee.
• Discrimination. Latinos are often victims of discrimination. La Paz will refer victims to the appropriate government agencies, such as the Office of Multicultural Affairs to address the matter.
• Documentation. La Paz will assist in Latinos obtaining proper documentation and identification needed for a variety of services.

Healthcare
La Paz works closely with area providers in the area to ensure our clients an open door to the healthcare system.

Housing Services
La Paz offers assistance in finding appropriate housing and also provide assistance with landlord issues.

Social Services
La Paz aids victims of domestic violence by responding to the immediate need and connecting them to appropriate organizations such as, Partnership for Families, Children and Adults for assessment and safe housing.

Language Training
La Paz continues to work with organizations, such as HCBA and La Plaza Comunitaria, that offer various ESL (English as Second Language) classes in the community.

Translation and Interpretation
It would be impossible for La Paz to lend assistance without skills in both Spanish and English. Much of the work requires either the translation of documents and/or interpretation services at the appropriate agency. Translation and Interpretation services are preformed for our clients and some organizations. A small donation is requested if providing the service for organizations.

Emergency Food & Clothing
Some of our clients arrive in Chattanooga in need of clothing; some have little or no food. La Paz works with several organizations to provide for these basic humanitarian needs, such as Ladies of Charity and Episcopal Metropolitan Ministries.