Acercamiento's unique position among community-based organizations providing services in the Hispanic community in the state of South Carolina, its connections and willingness to collaborate with other agencies, and its standing in the Hispanic community places it in a role of both unparalleled opportunity and risk. On one hand, the organization is strategically positioned to harness the state's resources to help the Hispanic community. On the other hand, because it is the only organization of its kind in the state, its resources are often overwhelmed with the daunting task of serving the ever growing Hispanic community. The organization divides its efforts in 3 main areas, which are:

ACCESS TO SERVICES

By collaborating with governmental and community organizations and providing the social services mentioned above, Acercamiento seeks to provide a temporary relief to this problem by offering the indispensable cultural and linguistic link between the organizations and the community. Acercamiento seeks to increase the number of Latinos able to access social services systems in the state, increase the ability of governmental agencies and community organizations to serve the Latino community, and increase the capacity of the organization to serve as a mechanism through which community needs relating to the access to and delivery of social services can be addressed.

-Information and Referrals

-Cultural Competence Trainings*

-Volunteers

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

The majority of the individuals served by Acercamiento Hispano staff are from the migrant farm-worker and the low-wage factory worker population. The services Acercamiento Hispano provides are dictated by the needs of the individuals in the community. The organization has created mechanisms through which individuals can voice their concerns and needs. Acercamiento encourages community members’ visits to the office to access the services of the organization. The design and implementation of the services is directly influenced by the community in their role as staff and as volunteers. Acercamiento Hispano staff will continue to provide the bulk of the services to the community. We have developed a cadre of community volunteers willing and able to perform these activities. The majority of our services, funded by government or private grants, are provided on an ongoing basis throughout the fiscal year at no charge to the individual or the organization requesting the assistance.

-Health Outreach and Education

-HIV/AIDS/STD and Cancer Prevention

-Cultural Competency*

-Workforce Development

-Document Translation*

*(reasonable fees apply)

ADVOCACY

Acercamiento works closely with Law-enforcement and other community service organizations in order to promote the defense and protection of the civil and workers rights for all the Hispanic Population in South Carolina. The organization also strives to make a difference in the legislative advocacy concerning Hispanic affairs. (We do not offer legal services)

-Civil Rights

-Worker Rights

-Legislative Advocacy