Families First Social Services Program

How the Families First Program Helps Our Latino Community

The mission of the Families First Program by the Spanish American Committee is to provide ladders of opportunity that help low-income individuals and families break the cycle of poverty and become self-sufficient. The Families First Program takes a comprehensive approach to support families who are struggling to meet their basic needs. Our clients gain access to a wide range of culturally competent case management social services. Our case managers and social workers help our clients to navigate community resources.

Case Management

Encouraging individuals to identify their primary barriers and seek guidance from case managers with prioritizing their needs
Connection to community resources for those experiencing homelessness
Help applying for public assistance programs including (but not limited to): SNAP, Medicaid, PRC, Unemployment, Social Security, Childcare Vouchers, and Utility Assistance
Distribution of basic needs items including toiletries, baby products, school supplies, and boxes of produce
We have partnered with the McGregor Foundation to provide Spanish-speaking senior citizens with affordable housing, employment assistance, and healthcare services.
Client advocacy, especially for Spanish-only speaking clients
Spanish translation services for phone calls and documents related to accessing benefits or basic needs (excludes legal documents and tax forms)
Technology assistance, including navigating online systems
Assistance with applying for ID documents including birth certificates, passports, licenses and replacement social security cards
Creo En Ti ("I Believe In You") Women’s Support Group offered throughout the year
Community activities and events to meet the current needs of our clients
Referrals to Cleveland Furniture Bank of qualifying families (client must cover the $180 cost of furniture and delivery)

Walk-In Hours

Weekly on Thursday’s from 9:00am - 12:00pm
We serve clients in the order that they arrive

Domestic Violence Support

Referrals to community resources in cases of domestic violence
In partnership with the Journey Center for Safety & Healing, we offer weekly onsite domestic violence counseling

Lactation Services

Essential support for breastfeeding mothers
Breastfeeding basics to addressing challenges
Services offer guidance on positioning, milk expression, and maintaining a healthy breastfeeding routine.

Identification Crisis Collaborative

We provide vouchers that cover the cost of ID documents for income eligible clients
Support in navigating the process when clients have expired documents

Entrepreneurship Support

In partnership with JumpStart Inc., we offer onsite bilingual one-on-one advising for businesses of all stages