Family Counseling Clinic - In early 2000, HAO started the HAO Counseling Service. This is a bilingual counseling service staffed by a qualified Psychiatrist, Psychologists and Counselors available to the general public as well as HAO clients and students. Serves 3,000 clients per year in individualized and family counseling. Accepts all insurance including Access. Opened Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Link to HAO Counseling Service
Housing Services - HAO’s housing referral service places hundreds of families into affordable, decent housing every year. Last year HAO served 2,425 individuals with Housing Case Management Services. Extensive counseling on budgeting accompanies the service so that people can maintain their homes once they are moved in. Limited funds are available to offer rent assistance to families. Link to Housing Program
Day Care - HAO operates a state licensed Day Care Facility (Los Niños Learning Center) at 136 S. 4th Street, Allentown. The program is opened from 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. It offers bilingual child care services for inner-city children. Curriculum is designed to promote physical growth, emotional and social development, and education. Breakfast, lunch, and snacks are provided. Parenting information is distributed through a monthly newsletter sent to all Los Niños parents. Accepts Title XX, welfare, and private pay clients. Link to Los Ninos
English as a Second Language (ESL) - Offered in both day and evening classes. Members of the community come to class to learn English. Clients gain a better grasp of the English language and college students gain teaching experience. Curriculum is real-world based conversational English taught in a life-skills context. Two levels are offered, beginner, intermediate. Link to Adult Education
GED - Teaches students required skills for taking the High School Equivalency Test. Subject areas include writing skills, essay writing, social studies, science, interpreting literature and the arts, and mathematics. Offered in English and Spanish. Link to Adult Education
Nutrition Awareness - A component of the welfare projects department is the NutritionAwareness Program. This is an outreach effort designed to acquaint people with the benefits available to them under the food stamp program. Over 300 people a year apply for food stamps under this program. Link to NutritionAwareness
Intake, Information and Referral Services - HAO offers free services to the general public for information and referral. Last year we served 11,000 people through phone (4,000) and walk-ins (7,000). Referrals are made for housing assistance and emergency housing; food banks; Lehigh County Agencies for Adult Services, Children & Youth, Drug & Alcohol Intake, Mental Health/Mental Retardation, Aging, & Housing Authority; Red Cross; Catholic Social Agency; Social Security; Private Industry Council; Allentown Literacy Council; Casa Guadalupe; Turning Point; Pathways; County Assistance Office; and the Job Center. Applications for Birth Certificates, Social Security Cards and Welfare are handed out and, if necessary, clients are aided in filling out the forms. Translation services are offered for citizens who need help reading documents such as utility bills and legal papers. Driver’s manuals are supplied to customers in both English and Spanish. Clients are given assistance in finding employment and writing resumes.
Partners with the Roberto Clemente Charter School - In September 2000, the first charter school approved for the Lehigh Valley opened under the sponsorship of HAO. As of September 2007 there are 320 students in grades 6 through 12. The School’s vision is to provide a meaningful and motivating academic environment that emphasizes the dignity of the individual and builds the confidence of all students. RCCS was conceived in order to address the individual needs of all inner city students whose needs cannot be met in a traditional environment. The staff provides individualized attention, counseling, customized education and training to allow students to succeed in post-secondary education and the workforce. www.myrccs.com
HAO was founded in 1976 with it goal being “to provide high quality bilingual job training, life skills, and support programs for an increasing number of Lehigh Valley residents who are striving to become productive members of society.” HAO seeks to assure the success of the student by understanding and embracing the needs of the family. Parenting, financial management, and responsible home ownership are among the life skills included in the curriculum. Day care is available for the children of students and graduates in the work force. Parents and children learn the importance of continuing education and a strong work ethic by working together toward a common goal.