some of those values into developing values for their present-day existence. “This kind some of those values into developing values for their present-day existence. “This kind of program is important for youth living in urban areas, where many have lost touch with those speci c values,” Ramirez says. Coalition-building is also a big part of the Hispanic UMADAOP’s mission, Ramirez says. “We look to mobilize the community into taking action to address those risk factors in their communities and enhancing protective factors. The key is bringing the stakeholders into play: education, health care, law enforcement, seniors, faith-based organizations, and business. And we need to bring in the youth themselves.” of program is important for youth living in urban areas, where many have lost touch with those speci c values,” Ramirez says. Coalition-building is also a big part of the Hispanic UMAD OP’s mission, Ramirez says. “We look to mobilize the community into taking action to address those risk factors in their communities and enhanci g protective factors. The k y is bringi the stakeholders into play: education, health care, law enforcement, seniors, faith-based organizations, and business. And we need to bring in the youth themselves.”
notes, particularly working with youth to help understand that “we are responsible for our actions and that actions do have consequences and making them aware of the consequences of particular behaviors,” such as countering a lack of information. Our goal is to say ‘Yes, you can become all you want to become but you need to have a body and mind that are healthy, in order to do that, whether it’s sports, education or community engagement,’” Ramirez says. PLANS FOR THE FUTURE In 2016, the agency will be expanding its prevention efforts for the local community, Nelson says. One of those will be a program to foster cultural character-development using a curriculum focused on the traditional values of the indigenous populations of the Caribbean to show Hispanic youth how they can incorporate notes, particularly working with youth to help understand that “we are responsible for our actions and that actions do have consequences and making them aware of the consequences of particular behaviors,” such as using drugs and alcohol. “Much of what we do is countering a lack of information. Our goal is to say ‘Yes, you can become all you want to become but you need to have a body and mind that are healthy, in order to do that, whether it’s sports, education or community engagement,’” Ramirez says. PLANS FOR THE FUTURE In 2016, the agency will be expanding its prevention efforts for the local community, Nelson says. One of those will be a program to f ster cult ral character-development using a curriculum focused on the traditional values of the indigenous po ulations of the Caribbean to show Hispanic youth how they can i corporate using drugs and alcohol. “Much of what we do is
improve academic achievement, increase
improve academic achievement, increase
“Of the treatment clientele we see, a majority have been dual-diagnosed,” says Ramirez, a “Of the treatment clientele we see, a majority have been dual-diagnosed,” says Ramirez, a
alcohol/drug resistant skills and reduce risk behaviors related to alcohol, tobacco, and other drug abuse. “In all situations where we’re working with youth, being able to establish a strong relationship with them is the key. We need to always be genuine with kids so they can see we truly do have a vested alcohol/drug resistant skills and reduce risk behaviors related to alcohol, tobacco, and other drug abuse. “In all situations where we’re working with youth, being able to establish a strong relationship with them is the key. We need to always be genuine with kids so they can see we truly do have a vested interest in them and their success,” Ramirez says. Another big part of Hispanic UMADAOP’s mission are two individualized addiction treatment programs for men and women: Casa ALMA (Alternative to Liberate our Minds from Addiction) and Casa MARIA (Making Abstinence, Recovery and Integrity our Aim). UMADAOP also provides aftercare and gender-speci c services. It also provides prevention and education services in schools, churches, correctional institutions and probation departments in areas where the Hispanic/Latino population resides. One of the agency’s most important activities in the Hispanic community is drug abuse prevention, Nelson Another big part of Hispanic UMADAOP’s mission are two individualized addiction treatment programs for men and women: Casa ALMA (Alternative to Liberate our Minds from Addiction) and Casa MARIA (Making Abstine ce, Recovery and Integrity our Aim). UMAD OP also provides aftercare and gender-speci services. It also provides prev ntion a d education services in schools, churches, correctional institutions and probation departments in areas where the Hispanic/Latino po ulation resides. One of the agency’s most important activities in the Hispanic com unity is drug abuse prev ntion, Nelson interest in them and their success,” Ramirez says.
Cleveland native who spent more than 15 years as an administrator of mental health and social services programs, before coming to the Hispanic UMADAOP about three years ago. “Over the years, developing executive skills that have translated to leading three organizations in my career, I’ve enjoyed serving the community and being part of the solution.” BACKGROUND OF SERVICE Ramirez has spent most of his professional career in Lorain County, except for a four-year period with the Ohio Governor’s Of ce’s closing the Achievement Gap program, an initiative to improve the graduation rate for African American and Hispanic American males. After more than 20 years as an administrator in the mental health and social services elds, Nelson started his career at Hispanic UMADAOP as director of prevention, and was named executive director in May of 2015. Cleveland’s Hispanic UMADAOP was established in 1989 with the mission of increasing awareness of substance abuse and providing treatment and prevention services to the Latino community. “It’s very evident that the two elds are working together better to serve that (dual-diagnosis) population,” Ramirez notes. “We need to continue to do so in bi-cultural and bilingual ways that enhances those efforts. There has been signi cant progress, but there needs to be continued progress, since our community is getting less healthy.” Ramirez has found that the networking and coalition-building skills he developed while working in the mental health eld also translate well to his current duties at the Hispanic UMADAOP. Ramirez serves on the advisory board for an annual Hispanic Alliance Youth Risk Behavior Survey that “sheds a lot of light on what kinds of risky behaviors young people may be undertaking.” INNOVATIVE PROGRAM One of the Hispanic UMADAOP’s major programs is the Hispanic Youth Center, a community-based drug prevention and youth leadership facility that focuses on academic tutoring, supportive mentoring, positive peer relationships and alternative activities. These are designed to Cleveland native who spent more than 15 years as an administrator of mental health and social services programs, before coming to the Hispanic UMADAOP about three years ago. “Over the years, developing executive skills that have translated to leading three organizations in my career, I’ve enjoyed serving the com unity and being part of the solution.” BACKGROUND OF SERVICE Ramirez has spent most of his professional career in Lorain County, except for a four-year period with the Ohio Governor’s Of ce’s closing the Achievement Gap program, an initiative to improve the graduation rate for African American and Hispanic American males. After more than 20 years as an administrator in the mental health and social services elds, Nelson started his career at Hispanic UMADAOP as director f prev ntion, and was named ex cutive director in May of 2015. Clev land’s Hispanic UMADAOP was established in 198 with t e mission of increasing awaren ss of substance abuse and providing treatment and prev ntion services to the Latino com unity. “It’s very evident that the two elds are working together better to serve that (dual-diagnosis) po ulation,” Ramirez notes. “We need to conti ue to do so in bi-cult ral nd bilingual ways that enhances those fforts. Ther has been signi cant progress, but ther needs to be conti ued progress, ince our com unity is getting less healthy.” Ramirez has found that the networking and coalition-building skills he dev loped while working in the mental health eld also translate well to his current duties at the Hispanic UMADAOP. Ramirez serves on the advisory board for an annual Hispanic Alliance Youth Risk Behavior Survey that “sheds a lot f light on what kinds of risky behaviors young people may be undertaking.” IN OVATIVE PROGRAM One of the Hispanic UMADAOP’s major programs is the Hispanic Youth Center, a com unity-based drug prev ntion and youth leadership facility hat focuse on ac demic tu oring, supportive mentoring, positive peer relationships and alternative activities. Thes are designed to
Yes, you can become all you want to become but you need to have a body and mind that are healthy in order to do that. — Nelson Ramirez, Executive Director at the Hispanic UMADAOP in Cleveland
MENTAL ILLNESS IS COMMON . . .
among those who battle substance abuse and addiction. In the United States, approximately 8.9 million people have both a mental health and a substance abuse issue. Yet, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, more than half of people with dual disorders don’t receive any treatment for either disorder. Nelson Ramirez, executive director at the Hispanic UMADAOP in Cleveland, hopes to use his experience in both mental health and substance abuse treatment to help improve the situation. among those who battle substance abuse and ad iction. In the United Sta es, ap roximately 8.9 million people have both a mental health and a substance abuse issue. Yet, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Admin stration, more than half of people with dual disorders don’t rec ive any treatment for either disorder. Nelson Ramirez, ex cutive director at the Hispanic UMADAOP in Clev land, hopes to use his experience in both mental health and substance abuse treatment to help improve the situation.
“We need to always be genuine with kids so they can see we truly do have a vested interest in them and their success.” —Nelson Ramirez, Executive Director at the Hispanic UMADAOP in Cleveland
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