The word 'outreach' is defined by Webster's Dictionary as "to surpass in reach," or "the extending of services beyond usual limits." In a looser sense I believe outreach is about informing people, making them feel welcome and about increasing connectivity between communities and the organizations that serve them.

Service providers reach out to their constituencies (and beyond them) to connect individuals with services to create positive outcomes. As a Latina with a disability in Michigan, I set out to examine the extent to which various Latino service organizations in Southwest Detroit were reaching out to and serving the community of Latinos with disabilities. The results were mixed. Here is a summary of what I found.

Mexicantown Community Development Corporation

First I contacted Mexicantown Community Development Corporation (MCDC). According to their website (http://www.mexicantown.org), the mission of Mexicantown Community Development Corporation is "to foster economic development in the Hispanic community of Southwest Detroit, known as Mexicantown, as a means of eliminating blight, creating skilled positions for residents of the neighborhood, and providing opportunities of small business development by local entrepreneurs."

I asked what outreach activities they engaged in to seek out Latinos with disabilities who wanted to learn more about starting a small business or becoming economically self-sufficient. I was told to contact another agency because they did not provide the services I requested. I found this is interesting because I asked for services within the scope of their mission statement, and the services I requested had nothing to do with the fact that I have a disability.

This was a disappointment because Latinos with disabilities may be discouraged from seeking such services when they are referred to a health or disability agency after identifying as a person with a disability.

Community Health and Social Services Center, Inc.

Next I contacted the Community Health and Social Services Center, Inc. (CHASS ). Their website (http://www.chasscenter.org) describes them as "...a national model for the delivery of healthcare to urban populations. The Center has successfully overcome the three barriers to health care - language, transportation, and access - and provides culturally competent primary services in English and Spanish. CHASS services are specifically designed to meet the needs of Southwest and Midtown Detroit's multicultural community."

I asked a representative about outreach in regards to Latinos with disabilities, healthcare needs and education. They responded with information about REACH, a program that helps people with diabetes. The mission of the REACH Detroit Partnership is to provide a community-driven approach to preventing diabetes and related conditions. It is about improving individuals' quality of life through partnerships and collaborations. According to CHASS, REACH staff informs, educates and empowers families, communities, and healthcare providers through one-on-one relationships, support groups, and community-wide healthy lifestyle activities. REACH works in several Hispanic communities in Detroit. I was glad to learn about the program, however, the outreach of this one initiative to people who have diabetes is not an integral understanding about disability and outreach to people who have different kinds of disabilities.

Toward More Effective Outreach

These two agencies in Southwest Detroit provide very different services to community members. However, neither was prepared to respond to questions about (let alone provide services to) people with disabilities. Without outreach to disabled Latinos (and basic familiarity with issues relating to people with disabilities), information about services will not get to a lot of people who could use it.

printer friendly format