Mi Raza currently serves as an outreach health and education center for all citizens of Arcola and Douglas County, but specializes in offering many of the outreach services to the growing Hispanic and Spanish speaking population. Volunteers currently staff Mi Raza and it is open most evenings from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. >> Read more about Mi Raza
Mi Raza y está abierta la mayoría de las tardes a partir del 4 p.m. hasta los 8 p.m.
“It’s Your Destiny” – Youth Summit
Project Y.O.U. (our youth coalition) is working with a group of downstate youth to plan a youth summit for this summer. We will pass along the details as they become available.
TEXT 2 SURVIVE
The Illinois Department of Public Health offers a service entitled “TEXT 2 SURVIVE”. To get on demand notifications listing free HIV testing centers near you, text “IL” plus your Zip Code to 36363.
Use our Text2Survive Mobile program “it’s easy, it’s convenient”.
Text event to 36363 for free health events around the state (Max 10 msgs).
Text IL and your ZIP code to 36363 for a free HIV testing location near you (Max 5 msgs).
Text game to 36363 to test your HIV knowledge (Max 10 msgs).
For all services, text HELP IDPH for help, and STOP IDPH to cancel. Msg & Data rates may apply. Terms & privacy policy: riproad.com/idph.
Cleaning for a Reason
Assistance with house cleaning is available for women undergoing Chemotherapy treatment entitled ‘Cleaning for a Reason’ Please see below for more information.
Cleaning for a Reason http://www.cleaningforareason.org
Child Care Resource Service (CCRS)
Do you know of some who is looking for child care? Do you know of someone needing help paying for child care? Do you know of someone who wants to provided child care? Please have them call 1-800-325-5516 for more information. They can also visit http://ccrs.hcd.uiuc.edu or e-mail ccrs@uiuc.edu or contact us for more information.
Free HIV Testing
We continue to offer FREE (GRATIS) HIV testing, counseling and educational services to Douglas County and the Latino communities within a 50+ mile radius of Arcola. If you know of anyone that needs this service or would like more information, please have them contact us at 217-268-3555. Or, anyone can call the AIDS/HIV & STD Hotline at 1-800-243-2437.
We are willing to expand our HIV testing and counseling services to other communities. If any of your communities have an interest in offering the free HIV testing in English or Spanish, please contact us and we will explore the possibility of establishing a program.
ESL, GED and US Citizenship Classes
We continue to offer ESL classes and tutoring 5 times per week at Mi Raza Community Center. Classes are offered Monday, Tuesday and Friday mornings from 9 AM to 10:30 AM, and, Monday and Thursday evenings from 6 PM to 8 PM. Anyone is welcome to join the classes at anytime regardless of skill level. Tutors are available to assist with the students and classes.
U.S. Citizenship exam preparation classes and/or tutoring are available as needed. Just stop by or give us a call.
There continues to be a notable increase in interest in the G.E.D. exam preparation tutoring. Interested students can contact us for more details on formal classes and assistance with arranging the exam with the Regional Office of Education. A Spanish language GED exam is available for those that are interested. Again, give us a call or stop by for more information. We are currently working with Parkland College and an ESL student on a service learning project. If you know of others that might want to work with us, please let us know.
Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program
Please continue to help spread the word that women between the ages of 35 and 64 that do not have health insurance are eligible for a free mammogram through this program. Many of the barriers including the “proof of income” requirement have been eliminated from the program, which should allow more women to participate.
For additional information, please call Mi Raza at 217-268-3555 or Línea De Salud Para Las Mujeres De Illinois at 1-888-522-1282.or a local toll free number is available in the information below. Information is also available at www.cancerscreening.illinois.gov.
All Kids Health Insurance Program
We can now take applications at Mi Raza for the All Kids insurance program. The program offers health insurance to all children 18 and younger in the State of Illinois, regardless of immigration status. If you know of anyone that can use this service, please have them stop in Mi Raza or call us at 217-268-3555. Or they can contact the Douglas County Health Department 217-253-4137.
Cultivadores
We have established a plan with Cultivadores and Rev. Nelson Cuevas for the alcohol and drug evaluations and counseling in Spanish at Mi Raza.
Cultivadores is now focusing on youth and youth activities. However, they will continue to provide their facility for free HIV testing and counseling for our program.
Interested parties can contact Cultivadores at 217-892-5292 or Mi Raza at 217-268-3555 to schedule appointments for these services.