Serving Those Most in Need – in Any Language
National Hispanic Heritage Month is September 15 – October 15, and Catholic Charities’ Hispanic Outreach program is celebrating the work it does with the Twin Cities Latino population year-round.
Hispanic Outreach collaborates with other Catholic Charities programs to serve low-income Latino adults. One Latina client, Isabel*, was referred to Hispanic Outreach by Catholic Charities Prenatal Services. Isabel had recently fled from her abusive husband, only to discover that she was pregnant.
“Isabel had been beaten and degraded, and now was alone and pregnant in a strange city where she couldn’t speak the language,” recollected Ixia Helmueller, psychotherapist and program manager for Hispanic Outreach.
Helmueller began seeing Isabel as frequently as possible, and Isabel’s demeanor improved rapidly. She delivered a healthy baby boy and was connected to other Latinas in her community. “Her progress was miraculous,” Helmueller said.
Hispanic Outreach serves Latino adults in a culturally welcoming environment. Staff can provide a variety of services to meet their needs, including clinical therapy, emergency food and shelter, information and referrals. It also offers educational outreach on current issues affecting the Latino community.
*Name changed for privacy
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