Latino Partnership Initiative
The Latino Partnership Initiative (LPI) is developing relationship across the diverse Latino communities of Philadelphia for awareness and action in these communities to develop a community-based prevention system that Will empower communities to address alcohol and other drug problems.
Formed in 1995, LPI was established to develop goals and objectives that would strengthen Philadelphia’s Latino communities which suffer disproportionally from poverty. The Puerto Rican community is particularly hard hit and they are the vast majority of Philadelphian Latino population. They have the highest percentage of individuals in poverty, the lowest median income, the highest rate of unemployment, the lowest rate of home ownership and the highest school dropout rate, These social factors lend themselves to increase use and abuse of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.
LPI is a community-driven process that promotes Latino coalition building, increased awareness and action. The Partnership began the project by initiating and convening nine focus groups involving 400 individuals representing all social, age and political aspects of the Latino Community and the major institutions which serve them.
This culminated in a major summit held in June 1996. Reports and recommendations resulting from these focus groups were presented, amended and approved. This plan is the basis for LPI’s continuing work.
Collaborating agencies Agencies working with LPI include the Fire Department, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, PIC, Fifth Street Business Association, Asosiacion Nacional Pro-Personas Mayores, Consortium for Latino Health, Concilio de Organizaciones Hispanas, WOAR, Community Legal Services, AFL-CIO, Spanish Clergy of Philadelphia, local churches, social service and health centers.
2003-2004 program The following plan puts into action a community prevention system as the approach to empower communities in addressing alcohol, tobacco and other drug problems. The nine program areas will be run through the committees developed at the 1996 summit: Elderly; Youth/Leadership; Education; Immigration; Health and Social Services; Arts, Culture and Identity; Business and Economic Development; Public Safety; Political Development. This process will support and expand on CODAAP objectives.
ELDERLY according to the Philadelphia fire department are 44% of fire fatalities. Latino seniors are more , likely live in fire-prone areas; are more likely to smoke -a leading cause of fires; and, because of language barriers are less likely to have smoke detectors.
