news release
ANDREW J. SPANO, Westchester County Executive SUSAN TOLCHIN, Director of Communications

CONTACT: SUSAN TOLCHIN (914) 995-2932

LYNNE BEDELL (914) 995-3106

FEBRUARY, 2003

LIAISON OFFERS HELP (IN SPANISH!) TO HISPANIC RESIDENTS

Health care, education, day care – Martha Lopez can find it

Say you speak only Spanish and are in need of some medical care or job training. Maybe you have a problem you don’t know how to solve or think someone might be taking advantage of you. Perhaps you’d just like to learn more about American customs and culture. Who are you going to call?

In Westchester, that would be Martha Lopez.

Her official job title is program administrator for Hispanic Affairs, but she could also be described as a “Jack (or is it Jill?) of all trades.” Part community advocate, ombudsman and problem solver, with a bit of social worker thrown in, she is available to help constituents with whatever they may need.

The position was created in 2000 by County Executive Andy Spano, who saw the growing needs of a Hispanic community often thwarted by cultural and language barriers. With Hispanics now making up 15 percent of the county’s population – more than any other minority group – new issues are needing to be addressed, Spano said.

Lopez was hired in 2001 when Spano restructured the position to report directly to his office. The Hispanic Advisory Board, which was revived in 1998, was directed to join forces with Lopez and come up with suggestions for improvement.

“We wanted to tear down the barriers that often keep Hispanics and Latinos from enjoying a quality of life that many of us take for granted – a job, an affordable place to live, a safe place to raise a family, and the ability to be an active part of a community,” Spano said.

Lopez, a bilingual liaison hired in May 2001, serves as a “bridge” between Hispanic residents and the programs and services available throughout the county.

“I probably get between 15 and 20 calls a day – most of them people looking for help,” Lopez said. “People call me about everything, from finding a job or a doctor to asking about housing subsidies. I’m always glad to help them find whatever they need.”

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Recently Lopez got a call from a woman with multiple sclerosis who was spending her days confined to a wheelchair in a corner of a room. The woman apparently had no health insurance and therefore couldn’t afford a motorized wheelchair. Lopez linked up with another agency and connected with the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation to get her a motorized chair - giving her the ability to go outside, take buses to run errands and visit friends.

Another time, she referred a woman looking to start a career in child care to the Child Care Council, which gave her contacts to pursue in her job search. When another woman called wanting to find a doctor but having no health insurance, Lopez was able to tell her about the services of the Ossining Open Door neighborhood health center, which offers a sliding fee scale.

One mother wanted to enroll her toddler in a special education program and Lopez was able to tell her about a program right near her house. An older woman called to say her mortgage payments were too high and she needed help. Lopez did some research and discovered that the woman had been talked into a mortgage with an exorbitant interest rate and was never informed of her rights as a borrower. An effort is now underway to link her up with a housing advocate and help her refinance.

Most of the calls center around employment and health care issues, requests for English as a Second Language classes, and a need for affordable housing, Lopez said. Callers are referred to the appropriate services.

With years of experience as a Hispanic advocate - and 18 years with the Washingtonville Housing Alliance - Lopez was a natural fit to lead the county’s Hispanic outreach efforts, said County Executive Spano.

“She has built up an amazing network of connections. She seems to know everybody and she knows how to get things done,” Spano said. “I always knew we needed someone in this position but I hadn’t realized how much she would be able to accomplish.”

In addition to answering constituent calls, Lopez works closely with schools, local organizations, churches, health centers and government departments to see how they can all better meet the needs of the community. Every day she gets calls from government departments, schools, individuals and other organizations asking what other agencies assist the Hispanic/Latino community.

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She also speaks to various schools and agencies about the challenges faced by immigrants, organizes special events and helps local agencies promote their programs and services. She is now organizing the second annual Hispanic Summit for October and creating a resource directory of services and a web site.

“My job is to make sure people know what government can do for them and encourage the development of more programs out in the community,” she said.

To reach Lopez, call (914) 995-2476.

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