August 2006

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Latino Services Task Force
by Bob Appleton

The Latino Services Task Force was formed in December 2000 by various groups in Adams County to improve the quality of life for Latinos in the area. The Task Force is affiliated with Healthy Adams County. The group provides health information for this population and helps them to obtain medical treatment. LSTF also provides literacy, language and legal services and helps with transportation.

Early in its history the Task Force published a card with addresses of emergency services for Latino families, established a prenatal program for Latina women and sponsored seminars on health and various issues. More recently, the Task Force has supported the work of Manos Unidas, an information and referral center, which is sponsored by St. Francis Xavier Church. With Manos Unidas and Generación Diez, LSTF helped to raise funds to pay the legal fees of those Latinos who were arrested at IFCO in Biglerville. The group has also supported pro-immigration rallies in Harrisburg and York.

Recently the Task Force has been sponsoring a series of classes on breast cancer at some homes in the area. On Wednesday, September 6, LSTF will sponsor a talk by Mr. John Whitelaw, Supervising Attorney from Community Legal Services in Philadelphia. He will speak on the subject “Medical Access for Citizens and Immigrants: What Are the Options?” The presentation will be held in Rooms A-C at the Gettysburg Hospital from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Information is available at asaludares@wellspan.org or 717-337-4264, ext. 6.

A subsequent article will contain more information about the Latino Services Task Force as well as other groups serving the Latino population in Adams County. For more information on the Latino Services Task Force, contact Healthy Adams County at 424 South Washington St., Gettysburg, PA 17325. Telephone 717-337-4137 or latinotaskforce@hotmail.com.

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Last updated August 17, 2006

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