Children and Families

Children and families have always been of utmost concern at CLDS. From 1999-2004, working under a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention grant, the agency worked with the Children’s Health Insurance Program, better known as C.H.I.P. A change in federal guidelines allowed more children to gain access to free immunizations. Working from a base of respecto and familiarismo, CLDS helped increase knowledge and resources for Hispanic/Latino children and their families regarding these immunizations. Countless children were spared illness and disease through this invaluable program.

The American Association for the Advancement of Science Directorate for Education and Human Resources Programs funded CLDS to promote health awareness among Hispanics/Latinos through the implementation of interactive workshops in community-based programs. The agency increased the number of children and adults to understand fundamental life-sciences and health concepts. The project emphasized how the body and brain function during physical and mental activity, and how drugs, tobacco and alcohol affect them.

Through the Alliance’s From Folic Acid to Birth: Comenzando Bien, CLDS worked with the National March of Dimes between 2000-2001, promoting a program that trained bilingual facilitators on recommended outreach strategies to increase knowledge and motivate action on folic acid intake among Hispanic women ages 15-35. CLDS worked very closely with Spanish media to reach the Hispanic community with culturally and linguistically appropriate media messages on the importance of folic acid in the prevention of birth defects.

Through Vacunas Desde la Cuna (1994-1999), CLDS participated in activities planned by the President’s National Immunizations Campaign. The agency launched, with local Spanish media, the National Infant Immunization Week in April of each year to bring attention to this important issue.

Concilio also identified and collaborated with 25 key partners including community based health and human service organizations, regarding immunization activities for Hispanic preschoolers. In 1997, CLDS was presented with the National Community Outreach Award for “Every Child by 2” by former First Lady Rosaline Carter.

Vacunas Para La Familia, a national initiative aimed at immunizations for all ages, enabled CLDS to increase the agency’s capacity to identify issues associated with access to immunizations and to develop, implement and sustain effective community-based strategies to raise immunization coverage of Hispanics of all ages. One of the strategies included the use of educational videos in Spanish which were distributed through the agency’s network of prevention partners, both traditional and non-traditional.