Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2004. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Miami Herald - November 28, 2004
Sara Blumenthal, sblumenthal@herald.com
El Portal Village Council voted unanimously Tuesday to enter into an agreement with North Dade Medical Foundation for a community outreach center offering free services for students and seniors, as well as health services and HIV and crisis counseling.
In February, the North Dade Medical Foundation gave a $350,000 grant to establish the center and run it for three years. The village of El Portal, New Horizons Health Center and Rader United Methodist Church will jointly operate the center at the church, 205 NE 87th St. Services would only be available to El Portal residents.
One of the main offerings of the center will be day programs for seniors. El Portal officials say the village has a large population of seniors, many without families or other support systems. The center will provide a place for the seniors to meet, and staff will assist them with various tasks including grocery shopping and filling out paperwork.
"We realized that seniors were stuck in their homes," said Mayor Audrey Edmonson. "These are people who have lived in the village for years [who] don't have a support system. It is the village's responsibility to look after them."
The center will provide transportation, lunch, field trips and a variety of programs for seniors.
Also at the center, two certified teachers will provide tutoring for students from kindergarten to high school seniors.
"Our children are failing the FCAT," said Edmonson, who works as a career specialist with Miami-Dade County Public Schools. "The council has to their best to help them."
The center will also offer crisis counseling for victims of trauma, such as rape or abuse, mental health services, and will provide counseling for HIV patients.
Medical and mental health screenings will also be offered through staff provided by New Horizons Health Center, a Miami-based nonprofit that provides community outreach services.
The center will be run by a board that will include residents and church representatives. Village Manager Steven Alexander said the board has yet to be selected. Officials hope to have the center up and running within three months.
The $350,000 grant is meant to cover start-up and operational costs over four years, and other sponsors and funding such as state or federal will be sought to maintain services.
"It is time for El Portal to give something back to its citizens without them paying for it," Edmonson said.
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