Summary
Instituto del Progreso Latino is one of three recipients of the 2008 Family Strengthening Award.
Description
Affiliate Organization: Instituto del Progreso Latino
Region: Midwest
Winning Program: Carreras En Salud: A Chicago Bilingual Healthcare Initiative
Over the last 30 years, Instituto del Progreso Latino (Instituto) has been a pioneering voice in education and training of Latino immigrants and their families in Chicago. What began as a church-based volunteer program providing English-as-a-Second-Language and citizenship application services in 1977 has now evolved into a leading city, state, and regional educational institution supporting the asset development of Latina and Latino immigrants, ultimately guiding families on a path to self-sufficiency. Instituto was founded with a mission to “contribute to the fullest development of Latino immigrants and their families through education, training and employment that fosters full participation in the changing U.S. society while preserving cultural identity and dignity.” Instituto’s character of achievement has been defined by offering high quality programs in workforce development, adult education, youth development, youth education, and citizenship education, serving 14,000 participants and families annually.
Carreras en Salud is a partnership unique to Chicago that provides a tangible solution to addressing the ongoing nursing shortage and the need for bi-lingual healthcare professionals. Carreras en Salud takes an innovative approach to career pathway programming in that it is designed to train and support individuals at each level of entry: ESL for Healthcare, VESL in a CNA context, and 2 levels of pre-LPN courses that bridge into Wilbur Wright College’s LPN program. As students matriculate through the program, they increase their English proficiency and wages significantly, allowing for the entire family to develop its assets over time and promoting a stronger investment in education and preventative health practices within the Latina/o community. By doing so, Carreras en Salud is transforming the life direction and possibilities of families as they achieve economic self-sufficiency.
