FAMILY SERVICES

The New Americans Initiative Project

The New Americans Initiative Project is a partnership between the State of Illinois and the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights. Centro Romero is part of the NAI North West Side Chicago Collaborative along with four other organizations. Together we organize monthly workshops at different locations, such as churches, schools, colleges, and partner agencies to help Lawful Permanent Residents through the process of becoming U.S. citizens.

At these monthly workshops, Lawful Permanent Residents can receive an interview with a volunteer attorney to determine eligibility, assistance on completing the application for naturalization by a trained volunteer, and have their photos taken, free of charge.

Usted podría calificar para aplicar para la ciudadanía gratis, sin tener que pagarle al USCIS (US Citizenship and Immigration Service), si su ingreso familiar anual es por debajo del índice de pobreza.

You might qualify for a USCIS (US Citizenship and Immigration Service) Fee Waiver if your annual household income is below the poverty level.

 

Public Benefits
Immigrant Family Resource Program

Due to fear of authorities and lack of financial resources, many immigrants do not frequent public clinics or other related service agencies. Their trust in most agencies is quite limited. Lack of transportation and childcare to avail themselves of services in the City and State are obstacles for them. There are no other services providers in our area who are prepared to deal with the language and cultural needs of this population on the scale in which it is needed.

 

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Food Stamps)

SNAP offers nutrition assistance to eligible, low-income individuals and families and provides economic benefits to communities. SNAP is the largest program in the domestic hunger safety net.

 

Public Benefits Assistance

Centro Romero can help you determine if you are eligible for public benefits.

We can help you fill out applications for the following:

  • Allkids / Family Services
  • Child Care
  • Child Support
  • Food Stamps (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)
  • Medical Card
  • Social Security Disability (SSDI)

Centro Romero offers referrals to the following:

  • Food Pantries
  • HIV/AIDS Outreach and Education
  • LIHEAP (Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program)
  • Low-Income Clinics
  • Vision Exams

Domestic Violence Prevention Project

Supported by the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services, the Polk Bros. Foundation, the Union Pacific Foundation, and Verizon.
Centro Romero’s Domestic Violence Prevention Program offers a variety of services for victims of domestic violence as well as their children, including:

  • One-on-one counseling sessions
  • Empowerment support groups for victims and survivors
  • Court advocacy
  • Assistance in obtaining a police report or Order of Protection
  • Domestic violence prevention workshops
  • Childcare during group sessions
  • Connections and referrals to social and legal services

 

Mission: to serve our community’s domestic violence victims and survivors by encouraging them to become self-reliant and autonomous, and to help them learn that domestic violence is never an acceptable way to solve problems.

Focus and accomplishments:

  • Improving the quality of life of the victims and survivors by providing services in Spanish.
  • Providing several domestic violence victims with individual counseling including support, guidance, education, and developing safety plans to address other problems.
  • Provided Illinois Domestic Violence Advocacy, including assistance in pursuing criminal charges and/or orders of protection at the criminal and civil courts for hundreds of clients.
  • For more than ten years, we have led weekly support groups to victims and survivors to give support, offer guidance and facilitate social interaction.
  • Promoted awareness around the community, offering several prevention activities that highlight the dynamics of domestic abuse and providing information intended to help prevent it from happening.
  • Guided more than one hundred domestic violence victims and survivors in the process of Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).
  • Certain spouses, children and parents that have been abused by U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents may obtain lawful status through this act.
  • Guided more than sixty domestic violence victims and survivors in the process of U-Visa. It is designed to provide lawful status to noncitizen crime victims who are assisting or willing to assist the authorities in the investigation of crimes. The U-Visa status is available to victims of domestic violence.

Our success is made possible by the generosity and commitment of our volunteers. Volunteers may provide direct or non-direct service, meaning they potentially will not interface directly with victims or survivors of domestic violence. You do not need to be a counselor or lawyer to make a difference.  Help us today!