Health and Human Services in Maryland
CASA’s Mission
CASAʼs mission is to create a more just society by building power and improving the quality of life of all Immigrant working class communities. Rooted in our own power, our vision sees our inclusive, permanent, member-led movement radically transform communities and systems to ensure the needs, dreams, and aspirations of members are fully met as we achieve justice and full liberation across the world.
The Health and Human Services (HHS) Department Goal:
The HHS Departmentʼs goal is to see to the needs of working class families, utilizing service provision models that promote building the power of our communities. Services provided by the department include outreach and community engagement using popular education methodologies to increase awareness of the social determinants of health; comprehensive needs assessments designed to identify solutions to specific circumstances impacting our members well-being; as well as navigation and enrollment assistance to available public benefits. The HHS Department also contributes to CASAʼs advocacy and organizing initiatives to build on community assets to generate positive health outcomes for its members and reverse trends that negatively affect working class families and other immigrants.
For Services contact us CASA's Multilingual Information Lines
For English/Spanish: 301.270.8432
For French: 240.270.1318
Information phone line”Funded by the Latino Health Initiative, Montgomery County, Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Community Affairs”.
The Health and Human Services (HHS) Department Programs, Services and Referrals:
Programs
- Newcomer’s Program
- Navigation System
Enrollment in Public Benefit Programs
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
- Care for Kids Montgomery County
- Kaiser Care for Kids
- Rental Assistance (this program is currently closed)
- Community Health Access Programs
- Healthy Babies
Screening for Additional Programs:
- Disability
- Retirement
- Medicare
- Medicaid
- Affordable Care Act (Obamacare)
- Charitable financial assistance from hospitals
Referral Services
- Primary Care access
- Mental Health
- Dental Services
- Legal Services
- Food Banks
- Clothing
- Shelters
- Crisis centers
- Legal referrals
- Vocational trainings
- Case management services
- English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes
- Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) Taxes
- Citizenship classes
CASA is now certified by the state of Maryland Department of Health to offer a community health worker (CHW) training program.
What is a Community Health Worker?
A Community Heath Worker a frontline public health professional who is a trusted member of the community. This trusting relationship enables the worker to serve as a liaison between health, social services and the community to facilitate access to services and improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery. They also build individual and community capacity by increasing health knowledge and self-sufficiency through a range of activities such as outreach, community education, informal counseling, social support and advocacy.
Community Health Worker Training Program:
Our training program includes 144 hours of classroom instruction and 40 hours of practicum instruction along with hands-on training activities and much more. Our program is divided into 4 sections which covers the nine Maryland Community Health Worker Core Competencies which are:
- Advocacy and community capacity building skills
- Effective oral and written communication skills
- Cultural competency/implicit bias
- Understanding of ethics and confidentiality issues
- Knowledge of local resources and system navigation
- Care coordination support skills
- Teaching skills promoting healthy behavior change.
- Outreach methods and strategies
- Understanding of public health concepts and health literacy
Classes are offered in person or virtual and our schedule for classes is flexible. If you or someone you know is interested in training to become a CHW, please fill out the form from the button below.
