ALBUQUERQUE — Encuentro announced it recently received a $25,000 grant from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico’s Blue Impact℠ initiative. The grant will support Encuentro’s Home Health Aide program. The program is a comprehensive, culturally and linguistically accessible eldercare training program in New Mexico for Spanish-speaking immigrants seeking career opportunities in home health, which is New Mexico’s fastest growing industry.
“We are grateful for BCBSNM’s support,” said Samantha Morales, program director at Encuentro. "Because of this funding, Encuentro can continue to make a positive impact in the caregiving industry by ensuring that older adults receive better care and immigrant workers earn a living wage in a viable career path that offers them professional growth.”
In addition to supporting educational opportunities for home health aide students training to improve elder care in New Mexico, this grant provides an opportunity for Encuentro to engage with potential partners in the creation of a home health aide training center next year. This project will enable Encuentro to expand training and provide skill building to other caregivers interested in gaining essential industry recognized certifications.
BCBSNM’s Blue Impact grant is part of an ongoing commitment to invest in and collaborate with community organizations that offer sustainable, measurable programs that address the social and economic factors impacting health and wellness in our state. Encuentro’s commitment to transform New Mexico into a thriving community for all its residents through education and career development opportunities aligns with the vision of Blue Impact to improve health outcomes in communities across New Mexico.
“Supporting our community members in the pursuit of economic opportunity and stability is a key priority of community giving at BCBSNM,” said Janice Torrez, BCBSNM president. “Encuentro is helping to remove barriers to employment by providing immigrant, Hispanic-Latino families with education and career development opportunities to build stability and prosperity for themselves, their families and their communities.”
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About Encuentro
Encuentro is a community-based nonprofit with a mission to transform New Mexico into a thriving community for all its residents by engaging with Latino immigrant families in educational and career development opportunities that build skills for economic and social justice. As an organization, Encuentro offer high-quality classes and programs, filling an essential need in New Mexico for Spanish language adult education in a culturally relevant environment.
About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico is one of the largest commercial health insurers in New Mexico with approximately 700,000 New Mexicans carrying a Blue Cross and Blue Shield card. Since 1940, BCBSNM has been committed to promoting the health and wellness of its members and communities through accessible, cost-effective, quality health care. BCBSNM is a Division of Health Care Service Corporation, the country’s largest customer-owned health insurer and fourth largest health insurer overall. Health Care Service Corporation is a Mutual Legal Reserve Company and an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.