HIV Prevention and Education Services
The Latin American Health Institute at Lowell provides HIV prevention, education and risk reduction services to Latino MSM and substance abusers at high risk for HIV infection. The Institute also provides prevention case management to HIV+ individuals in order to reduce the incidence of HIV infection and re-infection, Hepatitis C, and STIs in the community. Program activities include street and community outreach; individual risk-assessments; small group educational and skill building sessions; individual risk-reduction activities; referrals; client accompaniment to medical and social service appointments; interpreter services, and follow up.
“Mi Familia” Family-Based Interventions
The “Mi Familia” Program offers bilingual/bicultural therapeutic services (in Spanish and English) to Latino families from the Lowell/Lawrence/Haverhill area involved with DSS. The program's main goal is either to stabilize the family situation to prevent out-of-home placement by intervening with the family (stabilization), or to enhance the family's capacity to receive a child following an out-of-home placement (reunification). The program provides parenting education and assist families to identify community resources and maneuver the complex social services systems.
Proyecto Seguro!
Through this project, LHI-Lowell educates and enrolls uninsured Latinos and individuals from other racial and ethnic minority populations in available health plans for which they qualify. Staff assists individuals in completing forms and collecting the necessary documentation required by health insurance plans. The main goal of the program is to reduce disparities in insurance coverage in the Merrimack Valley.
“Latidos” Wellness Program
The Latidos program addresses heart disease and stroke in the Latino population of Lowell, MA. The project uses the “Mission Meltaway” curriculum which encourages healthy eating and increasing physical activity.
“Bienestar” Depression Education Program
LHI’s Bienestar program addresses disparities in knowledge and access to quality care for depression among Latinos in the Greater Lowell area. The program implements a series of educational presentations aimed at increasing community awareness about depression. Program activities support participants seeking access to quality, culturally competent and linguistically appropriate health care.