HomeMy WebLinkAboutM-82-0624t;
CITY 09' MIAMI• FLORIDA
INTIkR=OF'01t; V.NiEM100VNDUM
TO Howard V. Gary �� 7
City Manager
Ft: hen Spillman, Director
Community Development Department
N; • 4 Dully 7, 1982
Proposal from Centro Caribeno de
Estudios Postgraduados
City Commission Agenda
July 22, 1982
Per your request, staff has reviewed the proposal submitted by the Centro
Caribeno de Estudios Postgraduados. Basically, this Organization provides
post graduate training to psychologists at its mental health clinic for
the purpose of dealing with the "complex socio-cultural realities of
Hispanic minorities". Funding is requested for both the clinic and program.
This proposal is not recommended for fundinq. Eighth Year Community De-
velopment Funds directed to social services have been maintained at the
same level as in the 7th Year. This has enabled the City to continue its
existinq Drograms,but also recommend that new programs not be considered
for funding. In addition, further reductions are anticipated in the
future. In light of these reductions, the City Commission has identified
basic human service needs (with an emphasis on hot meals) as its top prior-
ity. Centro Caribeno does not provide a service which falls within the
service categories prioritized by the Commission. It should also be noted
that the Miami Mental Health Center operates a mental health program in
the Little Havana area.
Attached please find an overview of the proposal. If further information
is needed, please contact me.
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SPONSOR AGENCY: Centro Caribeno de Estudios Postgraduados (Caribbean Center for
Advanced Studies)
PROJECT TITLE Proposal to Mental Health Service and Training of Hispanic
Psychologists
City Funding History . New Project
Funding Requested . $50,000
Target Group : Hispanic
Target Area . Little Havana, Wynwood, Allapattah, West Dade
and Hialeah
Number to be Served 300 cases per year
Proposed Services Post graduate training for Hispanic psychologists
.. supervised diagnostic and therapeutic practice
.. clinical training
Results Expected Develop psychologists trained to deal with the
specific problems of the Hispanic community
Proposed Funding Distribution Personnel (Director, Consultant, Secretary,
2 Supervisors) - $43,000
Physical Facilities - $6,000
Office Supplies - $11000
PROGRAM ANALYSIS
This Organization is basically a post graduate institution which offers programs
leading to advanced degrees (Master and Doctoral) in psychology. The Center was
specifically created to train psychologists to be sensitive to the needs and
cultural characteristics of Hispanic populations. A Community Mental Health Center
operates as a component for the overall training program.
The proposal reflects the characteristics of the Hispanic population in Dade County.
Obviously, this represents a significant portion of the total population of the
community. There is no question that, due to language and cultural differences,
the Hispanic population faces many problems which are unique to traditional training
approaches. The Caribbean Center must be commended for recognizing these differences
and establishing a program which seeks to serve the particular needs of these people.
From a cursory glance, it appears that the Caribbean Center has developed a program
which will help address these needs in the future.
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In light of anticipated reductions in social service funds, the City must
realistically identify service priorities for available resources. The Com-
mission has identified basic human services, particularly hot meals, as its
top priority for funding. This does not minimize the effectiveness or merit
of any program, but rather directs the City's allocation of available funds.
The concept of training psychologists for the Hispanic community, as noted,
is commendable. However, it does not fit within the basic human service
needs already identified by the City Commission. In this same vein, there is
also a question as to the City's role in funding a post graduate educational
program, particularly in light of the fact of dwindling social service dollars.
When the City questions its role in the responsibility for funding a basic
human service need such as primary health care, it is difficult to justify
funding a program of this nature.
It should also be noted that the Miami Mental Health Center currently provides
mental health services. This Center is located in Little Havana and provides
services on a countywide basis.
It is staff's recommendation, based on the aforementioned information, that
the Centro Caribeno de Estudios Rostgraduados not be considered for funding
at this time. If additional, applicable funding is identified from an outside
source, staff will contact the program to pursue the matter further.
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