NYAPRS Note: This comes to us courtesy of VCS’ new CEO Ruth Colón-Wagner, a name very familiar to our readers from the many years Ruth served as a highly valued leader as director of the NYAPRS Collective
PLEASE SUPPORT PUENTES!
FOR TICKETS AND SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES CLICK THIS LINK.
PUENTES trains Spanish-speaking lay persons in Counseling and matches people seeking services with people who look like them, speak their language and understand their culture.
VCS Inc. is a 52-year community counseling organization that was born out of an identified service gap and need for counseling. In 1970, we pioneered the Volunteer Counseling Model© which trains lay people to provide skillful and timely counseling services.
After 44 years of successful implementation, we identified a similar gap within the Spanish-language community and responding again, we developed PUENTES. A replication in every way of our nationally recognized model but in Spanish.
The Latino community in NY’s Rockland County is on this rise with people experiencing multiple social, economic, and family issues. The reality is that the Latino community’s access to healthcare is not equitable. Lack of financial resources, medical insurance, and an avoidance of the legal system cause many to steer clear of traditional mental health services. VCS Inc. fills these gaps.
