Community Blog
Posted by The MolinaCares Accord

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month

The MolinaCares Accord partners with community organizations to support and empower the Latino and Hispanic communities throughout the country. We are proud to celebrate the dedication of organizations that are working to better their communities.    

SHIELDS for Families – California

Through MolinaCares’ support, SHIELDS for Families developed an 8-week virtual Parent Support Group aimed at reducing perinatal depression among Latina mothers and other mothers of color in South Los Angeles. The program served 40 parents across four groups, with sessions offered in both English and Spanish to ensure culturally relevant care for the predominantly Hispanic community. SHIELDS achieved significant outcomes, with nearly 90% of participants experiencing a reduction in depression, as measured by PHQ-9 scores. The bilingual approach ensured that both English and Spanish-speaking mothers received tailored support. This initiative successfully improved maternal mental health, addressing critical behavioral health needs in underserved Hispanic and diverse communities.

Many Mothers – New Mexico

In New Mexico, MolinaCares is partnering with Many Mothers to support pregnant and new moms through pre- and post-natal wraparound services. Grant funding is increasing the organization’s capacity to provide direct services to more Spanish-speaking families. Through their home visitor program, Many Mothers connects new moms with trained, Spanish-speaking volunteers to ensure families have the guidance, support, and extra help they need when caring for new babies. Learn more by watching a short video highlighting the services provided through the grant and the impact this partnership will have on families in the Santa Fe area.

MolinaCares is also partnering with Many Mothers to support pregnant and new moms in New Mexico by incorporating the SHIELDS for Families perinatal support toolkit into their mindfulness and stress reduction sessions. The toolkit, which has demonstrated success in reducing stress and improving mood among mothers in South Los Angeles, is now helping mothers in New Mexico, including those in the Hispanic community, through bilingual sessions in English and Spanish. By providing culturally relevant tools like breath work, journaling, and meditation exercises, Many Mothers is ensuring that Hispanic families receive the support they need during the critical perinatal period.

Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Broward County – Florida

MolinaCares is partnering with Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Broward County to improve maternal and infant health outcomes, with a focus on serving Hispanic communities in high-risk areas. Central to this effort is the M.O.M.S. (Mothers Overcoming Maternal Stress) program, which offers bilingual support for mothers experiencing depression, anxiety, and bonding challenges. Through home visits, counseling, and parenting education, the program ensures Hispanic mothers have access to critical resources such as baby supplies, transportation assistance, and mental health support, helping them navigate pregnancy and early motherhood with confidence and care.

Latino Pride Alliance – Arizona

MolinaCares partnered with Latino Pride Alliance to engage and educate more than 50,000 Arizonans on the Medicaid redetermination process, focusing on Glendale’s 85301 zip code. With a bilingual approach, the program featured two telephonic town halls—one in English and one in Spanish—designed to inform participants about maintaining their Medicaid coverage. The outreach effort also included a door-to-door campaign to distribute educational materials and invite residents to a Back-to-School Health Fair. This initiative worked to ensure vulnerable Hispanic families in high-needs areas were able to maintain access to essential healthcare coverage.

El Centro – Kansas

MolinaCares is partnering with El Centro to support its Promotoras de Salud (Health Promotors) program, which empowers local Latino community leaders to promote healthier lifestyles and improve access to essential services in Wyandotte and Johnson Counties. Promotoras undergo an 8-week training to learn about healthy eating, leadership skills, and Medicaid eligibility. They use this knowledge to host weekly classes at local grocery stores, churches, and outreach events, teaching participants how to incorporate healthier foods into their traditional diets through the Comprando Rico y Sano curriculum. Promotoras also assist families in navigating SNAP and Medicaid enrollment, helping to reduce barriers to health care and food access. This program fosters a culture of preventative health and connects Latino families to critical resources.

Latino Center for Health – Washington

MolinaCares is partnering with the Latino Center for Health at the University of Washington to support the Nueva Vista: CBT Growing Your Own program. This initiative addresses the critical shortage of bilingual, culturally responsive mental health providers serving Latinx communities across Washington State. Through this grant, the program will train 20 paraprofessionals in evidence-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for depression, specifically tailored for Latinx patients. These trainees will provide depression care to hundreds of individuals across underserved areas, including Wenatchee, Yakima, and King County. This partnership helps ensure that Washington’s Latinx families have access to vital, culturally relevant mental health services.

Consejo Counseling and Referral Service – Washington

MolinaCares is partnering with Consejo Counseling and Referral Service to support its Identifying and Supporting social determinants of health (SDOH) for Latinx Communities initiative. This program focuses on improving the lives of Latinx individuals in Washington by identifying and addressing SDOH through the implementation of the Daily Living Activities (DLA-20) screening tool. The DLA-20 assesses various factors such as housing stability, nutrition, health practices, and relationships, helping Consejo provide tailored interventions or referrals to culturally responsive services. This initiative ensures that Latinx individuals receive comprehensive, whole-person care and are connected to vital resources, improving their overall health.

Progresso Latino – Rhode Island

MolinaCares partnered with Progresso Latino to support its Quality Health Home initiative, which helps Latino community members navigate health systems and achieve their health goals. Through this grant, Progresso Latino provides critical services, including staffing for their food pantry, which serves thousands of low-income immigrant families each year. The program also offers community health worker (CHW) support, addressing social determinants of health and providing nutrition education. The food pantry distributes over half a million pounds of food annually and offers additional resources like diapers and baby formula to families in need. This partnership strengthens access to essential health and wellness resources for Rhode Island’s Hispanic community.

Reach Out West End Mamás y Bebés – California

As part of the MolinaCares California Equity and Accessibility Initiative, we have partnered with Reach Out to support their Mamás y Bebés program. This program provides new and expecting mothers in the Inland Empire area with mental health services and support to improve maternal and infant health outcomes. Learn more about the Mamás y Bebés program by watching a short video featuring some of the moms who participated in the program.

Southeast Georgia Communities Project – Georgia

Through this partnership, Southeast Georgia Communities Project is providing transportation and translation services to clients in need of medical services. This grant addresses the great need for transportation services to major medical facilities for chemotherapy, radiation, surgeries and or other necessary specialized procedures. Language services to non-English speaking clients as well as document translation will be provided by trained, Spanish-speaking medical interpreters.

Latino Leadership – Florida

MolinaCares is partnering with Latino Leadership, Inc., a nonprofit organization facilitating access to resources for those in the Hispanic community. The grant funded an additional four exam rooms at the organization’s Clinica Mi Salud, a facility providing primary and mental health care to those without medical insurance and whose income is at or below the 200% poverty level. Currently serving approximately 750 clients, the new exam room will allow Latino Leadership, Inc. to expand offerings to even more people in need.