La Raza Services Inc

La Raza Services, Inc. dba Servicios de La Raza, which means “Services for the People,” was founded in 1972 with the primary purpose of providing culturally specific services to address the needs of marginalized Latine people throughout Colorado. Our vision is "to build and cultivate a thriving Colorado Latino community in which all members have the opportunities, and the support systems to achieve equity, self-sufficiency, and self-determination to lead a healthy quality of life."

Last fiscal year, 174,624 individuals were served/reached. The primary goal of the agency is to provide culturally responsive, evidence based, free, and bilingual health and human services to those who are furthest from care. This is achieved through the following programs and numbers served:

Behavioral Health Program: Trauma-informed Care; In-school Services; Substance Misuse Counseling; Mental Health Therapy; Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Support Services; 7,195 served.

Essential Services: Food and Clothing Banks; Case Management and Referrals; SNAP Enrollment; Housing Navigation: 72,469 served (a nine fold increase over the previous year)

Domestic Violence and Crime Victim Services: Safety Planning; Legal Advocacy; Support Groups; 32,092 served (a six fold increase over the previous year)

Health Education, Literacy, and Promotions (HELP): Health Insurance Navigation/Enrollment; COVID-19 Vaccination; Cholesterol and A1C testing: 38,509 served (double the number served in the previous year)

Re-entry Services for Ex-offenders for Adults and Youth: Housing Navigation; Adult Job Development; Transportation Assistance; 4,280 served.

Individuals living with HIV/AIDS: Medical Care Support Groups; Transportation; STI testing; 4,241 served.

Employment Growth and Financial Literacy (La Fuerza): Workforce Education and Preparation; Job Attainment; Financial Literacy; Credit Score Improvement; Budgeting; 9,001 served. (triple the number served in the previous year)

Other programs/outreach: 6,837 served.

Per the most recently completed annual report, 80% of clients served were Latino/a, 10% Non- Hispanic White, and 10% Other. 100% were low-income and many self-identified homeless. Most clients need services in both Spanish and English.

Additionally, the board and staff are representative of the community being served. The governing board of five (80% of which are Latino) supervise the agency’s CEO of sixteen years (who is a Chicano), who oversees an executive team of Vice-Presidents (three individuals; two of which are Latino), who are collectively responsible for the work and welfare of Servicios 110 full-time staff (94% of which are Latino/Chicano/Indigenous).

We are shifting away from all federal funding and seeking individuals, corporations, and foundations that will unabashedly stand up with us, and our communities of color, in the name of justice, equity, and peace!

Sí, se puede!