CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A wellness center that aims to provide culturally relevant wellness-oriented services to Latinos of all ages is now open in Clearlake.
“La Voz De la Esperanza” – which means “voice of hope” – will focus on education, prevention and development of the Latino community in Lake County.
Located at 14585 Olympic Drive, Suite B, it's open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The center is a program of Lake County Behavioral Health, and funded through the Mental Health Services Act, Proposition 63.
Clearlake Vice Mayor Gina Fortino Dickson said she thinks the center addresses an important need in the community and will provide a service the city has been lacking.
“It's important that we support all facets of our community and this is a start to doing just that,” she said.
Center Supervisor Edgar Ontiveros said the main goal is to connect the Latino community with mental health services in Lake County.
It will focus on identifying several social and emotional challenges that Latinos may face in Lake County, including suicide, incarceration, domestic violence, school failure or drop out, removal of children from their homes and mental health.
“The biggest problem in our county is you don't know where to go or what to do when you need services,” Ontiveros said, recognizing often unnecessary utilization of hospital emergency rooms.
“If you educate the community in how to research the resources, it's going to be less expensive, not only for the client, but for the county, too,” he said.
Ontiveros said the center will provide an opportunity to educate people about the variety of resources and agencies available to them, and fill the gap caused by language barriers that sometimes prevent people from accessing the services they need.
Services will be provided via peer support and volunteers by focusing on individual needs to help Latino families reach their goals and succeed, he said.
Available services include English as a Second Language and parenting classes, a children's book club provided through Lake County Office of Education, cooking classes provided by the members of the Latino community, nutrition classes and no-cost flu shots and Tdap vaccinations provided by Lake County Public Health; and mental health services.
The center also offers computer access, support groups, Zumba classes, cultural tradition events, peer support and mental health education and information.
Those who meet eligibility will be referred to Lake County Behavioral Health.
For more information, call the center at 707-994-4261.
Email Denise Rockenstein at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .