Since 2009, Latino families in Allegheny County have benefited from Latino Family Center (LFC) programs offered through the Allegheny Intermediate Unit (AiU).
Now the LFC has begun a planned transition to be a part of the Latino Community Center (LCC), located in Downtown Pittsburgh. The change was determined after a 2015 assessment and meetings with stakeholders. The need for an improved structure to serve the specific needs of Latino families better immerged. Once the transition is completed, the LFC will still focus on parenting support, child development, and now with even more connections to resources to help reduce the feeling of isolation many experience when they are new to the region or even the country.
LCC Director Rosamaria Cristello shared what the center and staff are doing to help those affected during the transition. Current efforts include hosting a series of meetings to hear directly from families (who have received services in the past) on the key programs that have worked and which they like to see continued.
Piloting new programs is also in the works for the LCC. Parent Child Plus is one of the new initiatives with evidence-based programming, which provides key early literacy skills to children beginning at the age two. So far, it has proven to give children in the Center an advantage at the start of kindergarten and to help them succeed academically.
The feedback has been positive on the transition so far and the lines of communication are open for dialogue among families and staff.
For more information about the LFC transition into the Latino Community Center, visit the LCC website at https://www.latinocommunitycenter.org/transition.
