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iMINUTES-Final <br />ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH <br /> March 28, 2018 <br />S:\Managers Working Files\BOH\Agenda & Abstracts\2018 Agenda & Abstracts/ March Page 2 <br />Pilar Rocha-Goldberg, Executive Director of El Centro, gave a presentation on El Centro and its <br />activities and programs. Below are some highlights. <br /> <br /> History <br />• Founded 26 years ago in 1992 in Durham when Latinos were only 1% of the <br />population; the percentage is currently 13.5% <br />• In 2000, amidst many robberies due to most Latinos keeping their money on them or <br />in their home due to documents needed to open bank accounts, a partnership was <br />created by El Centro Hispano (ECH), Self-Help Credit Union, State Employees <br />Credit Union and the NC Minority Support Center that opened the 1st Latino <br />Community Credit Union in NC. <br />• April 2015, ECH opened the Center for Employment & Leadership in its branch in <br />Carrboro-Chapel Hill. <br /> <br /> Four Program Areas - El Centro has a holistic approach when it comes to helping our <br />community members. <br />• Education <br />o Most adult clientele are 1st generation or have a 3rd grade education level. <br />o Most children are 2nd generation, stay with relatives versus going to <br />structured childcare; thus, they’re already behind when entering kindergarten. <br />There are 4th graders that read on a 1st grade school level. <br />o El Centro offers: preschool, tutoring for K-12, college preparation, work skills, <br />ESOL, literacy in Spanish for adults, Spanish as a 2nd language, computer, <br />citizenship and many other classes. <br />• Economic Development <br />o El Centro works with day laborers assisting them with gaining full <br />employment; however, one barrier is that some really want to be day <br />laborers. <br />o El Centro helps them secure better jobs with better pay. <br />o Financial literacy and worker protection and safety are also taught. <br />• Health and Well-being <br />o There are other races that come to El Centro for assistance as well as the <br />homeless population. <br />o There are 2 health promoters and connected with low-cost medical centers. <br />o Health promotion and disease prevention, access to health care and direct <br />support services are services that we provide to our clientele. <br />o Other services include HIV prevention, domestic violence and legal clinic. El <br />Centro partners with 19 attorneys that work pro-bono. <br />• Community Engagement and Advocacy <br />o El Centro hired an immigration attorney that works with our families. <br />o El Centro provides advocacy and community leadership. <br />o LGBTQ support groups, community outreach workers, Faith ID drives as well <br />as no driver’s license clinics are some services offered. <br /> <br />The BOH had questions that were addressed by Ms. Rocha-Goldberg. <br /> <br />B. Cardinal Annual Update <br /> <br />Ric Bruton, Senior Community Executive, Cardinal Innovations, presented on how county funds