Puentes

Recovery is a difficult road. For non-English speakers, accessing services and understanding the roots of addiction is a greater challenge.

That’s one reason Central City Concern, in partnership with Catholic Charities’ El Programa Hispano, developed by Puentes to support Latinos in recovery.

When first generation Latino families move to Oregon to work, they often leave behind not only their relatives and friends, but also familiar community support networks.

In a new setting, some men may be gone for long stretches working, or abusing alcohol. Women are isolated. The family may be at risk for homelessness.

Puentes uses a multi-disciplinary approach to wrap services around the entire family, providing alcohol and drug treatment and mental health care in a way that avoids stigma and fear. Clients receive primary health care, a mentor for the person in recovery and another for the family, intensive case management, supportive housing, rent assistance and continuing care when treatment is finished. Puentes also assists single persons.

Nearly all of the Puentes staff is bilingual and bicultural; they understand Latino values, the importance of face-to-face relationships, respect for family roles and community structures, and providing services in a familiar setting. They help Latino clients gain insight into their culture’s influence on their behavior.

With treatment, support and shelter, the family or individual move from crisis to stability and reunification.

Many clients find it hard to leave the warmth and safety of the Puentes community. They remain active as alumni, supporting other families in crisis and providing links to the larger Latino community.

Impact

• Since program inception, Puentes has served 158 individuals