Services

Below is an overview of the services and programs Centro Las Americas provides. At Centro Las Americas, we have been serving Worcester since 1977 and aim to provide the same convenient, quality service that you have come to depend on.
 

If at anytime, while you are browsing through our services section, you have a question related to any of our services don't hesitate to call us at (508) 798-1900 or send us an e-mail at
 info@centrolasamericas.org.
 

Adult Basic Education Services:
Funded by the State of Massachusetts’ Department for Workforce Development, Centro Las Americas’ Adult Education Services prepare unemployed and underemployed adults with reading, writing and speaking abilities in English.  The program is aimed at adults 18 years of age and older, who are speakers of other languages, and whose limited education attainment and/or English proficiency hampers their ability to enter or advance in the workforce.
Coordinator of Adult Education: Damaso Zaldua (508) 798-1900 ext. 270

Community Support Services Program:
Fully funded by the CDBG grant through the city of Worcester, this program is geared towards assisting low-income residents with case management services as means of reducing their dependency on government funded public services and while helping them attain self-sufficiency.
Comunity Support Services: Yasmin Bali (508) 798-1900 ext. 260

Developmentally Disabled Support Program:
Funded by a contract with the Massachusetts Department of Mental Retardation, family development workers provide support services to developmentally disabled clients and their families by coordinating medical appointments, community integration activities, respite services, and other case management services. They are responsible for identifying support gaps and advocating for isolated and overburdened families.
DDS Coordinator: Ruth Gonzalez (508) 798-1900 ext. 252

Food Pantry Services:
Funded mainly by City of Worcester’s CDBG,  and Project Bread and support from the Worcester County Food Bank, this program provides area residents in need with emergency food.  Food is distributed to families and individuals twice per week. This is one of CLA’s longer standing programs.  Demand for this type of service continues to increase every year.
Food Pantry Coordinator: Madeline Alvarado (508) 798-1900 ext. 241

Intensive Adolescent Support Program:
As a contract vendor for the Massachusetts Department of Social Services (DSS), this program provides culturally sensitive case-management to DSS involved adolescents and their families that   require intensive support services. Program components include: academic support, life skills training, parent/adolescent mediation, community service connection, and emergency support.
IASP Coordinator: Michelle Rivera (508) 798-1900 ext. 223

Institute for Latino Arts & Culture (ILAC):
Funded primarily with event sponsorship dollars and small grants, the ILAC is responsible for sharing our heritage, art and culture with the general community.  The Institute coordinates and implements the Latino Film Festival, the Latin-American Festival as well as the bi-annual Viva el Arte exhibit, and other cultural events.
Institute of Latino Art & Culture Director: Dolly Vazquez (508) 798-1900 ext. 229

Latino Elder Program:
Primarily supported by funds from the Central Mass Agency on Aging, the city of Worcester and the Greater Worcester Community Foundation, this program serves as the last line of care and socialization for many low-income Latino elders from ages 60 to 93, who reside in the city of Worcester.  Over 130 seniors living across the city are served on a weekly basis by this program.  From recreation and socialization to health screenings, advocacy, consumer protection and case management, this program offers support to active and frail elders many of whom have no other caregivers involved in their lives.  Centro partners with Elder Services of Worcester, U-Mass Medical, Visiting Nurses, the Worcester Senior Center and other local providers to successfully deliver these critical services to this fast-growing segment of the Latino population in the city.
LEP Coordinator: Marieta Vazquez (508) 798-1900 ext. 227

Parent Support Services:
As a contract vendor to DSS, this program provides culturally sensitive case-management to DSS involved parents that require intensive support services. Program components include: parenting skills building, life skills training, parent/child mediation, community service connection, and emergency support.
PSP Coordinator: Monica Zahariadis (508) 798-1900 ext. 233

Workforce Development Program:
Funded by the State of Massachusetts’ Department for Workforce Development, this case management program is geared towards preparing unemployed and underemployed adults with employment-attainment related skills. The program is aimed at adults 18 years of age and older, who are interested in entering or advancing their employment status.
Case Management Services Director: Billy Ayala