In an effort to address the most significant issues facing Idaho’s Latino communities, the Center for Community and Justice has identified Education, Immigrant Rights, and Health Education and Research. The following goals have been developed for each of these focus areas based on input from the Latinos families we serve.

Educational Equity

The major goal of CCJ's educational equity efforts is to promote policy efforts to address the academic and English language acquisition needs of Latino students. Since the mid-1970’s, our staff and board members have played a part in almost every educational policy decision affecting Latino and English language learner students (ELL’s) in the state.

• To reduce the disproportionate drop-out/push-out rate that persists in the Latino Community.
• To improve the academic achievement and success of Latino students.
• To increase the number of Hispanic students who enter colleges and universities.
• To increase the multicultural and multilingual education opportunities for all students in Idaho.
• To establish a scholarship fund for immigrant students.

Community-based Health Education and Research

The overall goal of Centro’s Community-based Health Education and Research Project is to address health problems experienced by Idaho Hispanics, by helping to document factors contributing to these health issues, and to recommend culturally appropriate interventions for eliminating and/or reducing Idaho Hispanic’s health risks. The Center works to promote, prepare and disseminate health research and briefing papers regarding Latino health issues; address health care disparities within the Latino community; to advocate for equitable access to health care for Latino families in Idaho, and to promote cross-cultural proficiency in health care.

• To promote, prepare, and disseminate health research and briefing papers regarding Latino health issues.
• To address heath care disparities within the Latino community.
• To advocate for equitable access to health care for Latino families in Idaho.
• To promote cross-culture proficiency in health care.

Immigrant Rights

Centro works in collaboration with other human rights and community-based non-profit organizations to provide access to information and resources for Idaho large Spanish-speaking immigrant community. Our goal is to provide outreach and information to immigrants and refugees, and to promote just immigration practices at the local, state, and federal level.

• To distribute an immigrant orientation guide and other community resource information to immigrants and refugees.
• To provide family and employment based immigration counseling services.
• To work for and promote just immigration and refugee policies and practices.

Social Justice

The primary goal of our social justice efforts is to defend the civil and human rights of Latino families in Idaho, and to work against discrimination and unjust treatment of the families we serve.

• To defend the civil and human rights of Latino families in Idaho.
• To work against discrimination and unjust treatment.
• To defend the rights of immigrants and refugees.
• To work towards economic justice and fairness in employment.