In the summer of 2003, LSS/SC Long Beach and South Bay Area staff members met with Hispanics, church leaders and members, and people of the community in Norwalk to discuss the needs of the Hispanic community and how best to provide services.  From these discussions came a program design addressing the needs of all family members from the very young to elders or seniors.  We already had experienced much success from our Elders and Their Families: A Program of Care and Caregiving, (Please see our description of Elders and Their Families: A Program of Care and Caregiving for more information about this program.)

We continued to meet with the staff from the Norwalk Social Services Center during the fall of 2003 and began our Norwalk Project in January 2004.  This project for seniors was created to provide both programs concerning issues of aging as well as literacy training (ESL).  The Norwalk Project is held at and in partnership with the Social Services Center in Norwalk.  It has consisted of the unique combination of literacy training (ESL) for elder Hispanics 60 and over and also educational programs, group discussion, and information and referral concerning issues related to aging.

Our project at the Norwalk Social Services Center quickly produced several remarkable outcomes.  Participants said they now have better awareness of community health resources and also improved family communication.  They also reported increased knowledge of illnesses and treatment which have helped them to have improved communication with their health care facilities.  Participants also stated that the project provides socialization and intellectual stimulation which helps them to have improved self-esteem and quality of life.  In September 2005 the project received recognition and an award from the City of Norwalk for its unique combination of providing literacy training (ESL) and educational programs and interactive group discussions regarding elder issues with senior Hispanics.

Some of the topics presented and discussed in the Norwalk Project have been: Diabetes and Heart Disease; Understanding Cholesterol and Hypertension; Activities and Motivation to Develop a Healthy Life Style and Live Longer; Stress Reduction; Community Health Resources; Arthritis; Alzheimer’s Disease and Vascular Dementia; and How to Prevent Strokes.

This project has been very successful and has consistently produced exceptional outcomes.  The project’s program design helped us develop out Healthy Hispanic Families Program which has been highly effective and has exceeded its goals and expectations.  Additional outcomes of the Norwalk Project have included: participants continue to report improved self-esteem and confidence which has given them increased ability to access community resources; participants are learning how to fill out applications in doctor’s offices and report better communication with health care professionals; and participants report improved relationships and communication with all family members.

We have received requests to expand our Norwalk Project and serve seniors, their adult children, and grandchildren.  In July 2007 we began introducing this expansion to participants.  We have found, especially in the Hispanic culture, that programs geared toward the needs of the whole family are best received and most successful.