AMISTAD MONTHLY

“Almost all (97.6%)

clients were satisfied

with the overall experi-

ence with (the) Medical

Transportation Pro-

gram (MTP) provided

by Amistad and its sub-

contractors. “

In This Issue

Amistad Board Re-

elects Officers

Board Profile: Justice

Yvonne Rodriguez

ACA Enrollments

Rise

Transportation Man-

ager Profile

The Amistad Transportation

Program has again exceeded

the threshold for overall cli-

ent satisfaction of its trans-

portation services as set by

the Texas Health and Hu-

man Services Commission

(HHSC), according to a re-

port from the University of

Texas at El Paso.

“The 95%

threshold for

overall satis-

faction estab-

lished as a

goal by the

HHSC has

been achieved

this quarter,” said Amistad

Chief Operation Officer of

Transportation Programs

Rosario Fernandez.

According to the survey,

almost all (97.6%) clients

were satisfied with the over-

all experience with Medical

Transportation Program

(MTP) provided by Amistad

and its sub-contractors. The

report was prepared by the

College of Health Sciences

under the direction of João

Batista Ferreira-Pinto,

Ph.D.

Associate Research Profes-

sor Director of Research and

Special Projects.

Amistad clients who use the

agency’s transportation ser-

vices were also asked about

their future transportation

plans and almost all clients

(98.8%) remarked that they

probably would continue to

use Project Amistad’s Medi-

cal Transportation Program

for medical or dental ap-

pointments.

Under a contract with the

HHSC, Amistad currently

transports more than

270,000 Texas Medicaid

patients to their medical ap-

pointments in 23 counties of

West Texas.

Volume 5 Issue 1 January 2017

Poll: Amistad Exceeds Client

Satisfaction Goals

Fernandez

“To advocate, connect and deliver social services to communities

ensuring a dignified and meaningful life for all.”

For Justice Yvonne Rodriguez, serving as a member of the Amistad

Board of Directors is an expression of her concern and compassion for

persons in her community who live with severe disabilities.

Prior to her service on the Amistad Board, Justice Rodriguez served as a

Probate Court Judge and worked closely with Amistad to ensure clients

referred to her court received adequate shelter, food and health care. Her

main concern was their overall health and welfare. She personally di-

rected investigations of abuse, neglect, and physical and financial ex-

ploitation of elderly persons.

“Justice Rodriguez not only brings to our board a particular expertise in

legal matters pertaining to social services for the elderly and persons

with disabilities, she also brings her kind and compassionate guidance in

helping our clients improve their lives,” said Amistad CEO Xavier Ba-

ñales.

For many years, Justice Rodriguez has been a leading figure in El Paso’s

legal community. She was elected to serve on the Eighth Court of Ap-

peals effective January 1, 2013.

Justice Rodriguez earned her law degree from Baylor School of Law and

has been licensed to practice Law since 1993. But her path to success in

the law profession was not entirely conventional. She earned a high

school GED at the age of nineteen and returned to college at the of

twenty eight.

She has been in private practice focusing on family, criminal, guardian-

ship, and civil cases. She has represented clients through initial court

proceeding and resolution.

Previously, she worked for six years as an Assistant County Attorney

and has also worked for the District Attorney’s Office.

From 1993 to 1995, Rodriguez worked for the Attorney General of Tex-

as Child Support Division.

She was born in Wiesbaden, Germany and was raised in a military fami-

ly in various places around the world and lived for many years in Aus-

tralia.

Amistad Board Re-elects Officers

The Amistad Board of Directors

elected a new slate of officers for

2017 during its December 2016

monthly meeting, agency offi-

cials announced. The new offic-

ers are the following:

President - Dan

Olivas. Mr . Oli-

vas is a well-

known real estate

professional in El

Paso and a long

time civic leader.

He is the owner of Dan Olivas

and Associates real estate agency

in El Paso.

Vice President -

Peter Nicolaou.

Mr. Nicolaou is a

retired executive

from HCA Health

Care and former Executive Di-

rector of Lutheran Social Ser-

vices of the South.

Secretary - Lisa

M. Acosta, Ph.D.

Dr. Acosta is a

Licensed Clinical

Psychologist with

the El Paso VA

Health Care system.

Treasurer - Robert

G. Torres. Mr .

Torres is President

and Owner of Rob-

ert G. Torres &

Company, CPA firm in El Paso.

Board Member Profile

Justice Yvonne

Rodriguez

Frank Liaño: More

Than Just Our Big

Brother

By Andrea Ramirez

Every branch of the United States Military has a

code of conduct that outlines standards of integrity

for that particular field of service. Every soldier,

sailor and airman can use that code as a compass

to guide their efforts as they strive towards excel-

lence in service to their country. While each code

is unique, speaking to the different skills required

for that particular branch of service, there is one

line that each and every one has in common -- "I

will never leave behind a fallen comrade".

Frank Liaño, a Veteran who served in the U.S.

Marine Corps now serves in the U.S. Army Re-

serve, is the Amistad Transportation Manager. In

that role he orchestrates our efforts to provide

transportation support to those with the greatest

need in our community. He may be a civilian now,

but he still lives the code of conduct, now swear-

ing to never leave behind a fallen community

member.

The dispatch team he directs will coordinate rides

for indigent clients to dialysis centers for needed

care, or for wounded warriors in wheelchairs who

need a ride to a job interview as they work to re-

build their lives. The drivers he supervises follow

his outstanding example of pride in service - em-

phasizing safety, professionalism and efficiency to

make sure quality support is brought to as many

people in need as possible. His maintenance lead

goes over every inch of our transportation fleet

under his watchful eye to make sure all vehicles

meet or exceed safety standards and are in full op-

eration to ensure we meet the transportation needs

of our clients.

He provides all these services with loyalty, duty

and respect, and to each staff and client encounter

adds a touch of humor that lifts spirits and enhanc-

es morale. While he is the epitome of professional-

ism, he is also a compassionate, caring individual

who brings a personal touch to all he does. This

has earned him the nickname "Big Brother Frank".

Whenever a concern comes up - a staff member is

stranded on the side of the road because her car

broke down, someone has a cough and he just hap-

pens to have a cough drop, acts as a stop guard to

the water pouring into our garage, or maybe just

struggling to carry heavy boxes of client files, we

can count on Big Brother Frank.

In the Social Service Programs, every day seems

to be challenging and overwhelming at times, be-

cause we are dealing with life and death situations

that depend on life or death decisions. No matter

how our days are going or what crisis we are fac-

ing, Big Brother Frank really knows how to put a

smile on our face. It can be as simple as teasing us

about not being a Cowboys fan, or just using sim-

ple humor enough to brighten up the moment.

Frank, this article was written for you as an

acknowledgement for your team member mentali-

ty and for going out of your way to assist the So-

cial Service Programs. Thank you Frank!

Andrea Ramirez is the Chief Operating Officer of

Amistad’s Social Service Programs.

The number of healthcare plans selected under the Affordable

Care Act increased by 400,000 during the first month of the open

enrollment period compared to a year ago, officials of the U.S. De-

partment of Health and Human Services reported in late Decem-

ber. The total number of consumers who purchased Health Insur-

ance Marketplace plans surpassed 6.4 million between November

1 and December 19, 2016, the agency reported.

“With a record 6.4 million consumers selecting plans for January 1,

Americans are once again proving that Marketplace coverage is

vital to them and their families,” said Department of Health and

Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell.

More Texans Now Enrolled In Texas, 775,000 consumers have signed up for health coverage

during the current enrollment period. In far West Texas, nearly

80,000 persons have obtained plans through the Health Insurance

Marketplace including more than 70,000 in El Paso County. Hou-

ston leads the state in new enrollments with 240,263 followed by

Dallas-Ft. Worth at 215,430 enrollments, according to HHS.

Enrollment Continues Open enrollment will continue through January 31, 2017. Members

of the Enroll El Paso Coalition say they will be working diligently

during the period to enroll as many local residents as possible.

Prior to the implementation of the Affordable Care Act in the fall of

2013, there were an estimated 178,000 people uninsured in El

Paso County. Coalition members expressed a goal of reducing the

number of persons without insurance to well below 100,000. How-

ever, persons who earn below the federal poverty guideline levels

are not required to obtain healthcare plans under the ACA.

Where to Enroll Persons who still need to obtain health coverage may enroll

through healthcare.gov or by calling Amistad at

915-298-6997 or dropping by at 12100 Esther

Lama Drive in East El Paso. They may also

visit any agency in the Enroll El Paso Coalition.

http://www.unitedwayelpaso.org/enroll-el-paso

The Enroll El Paso Coalition with Marjorie McColl Petty, Regional Director, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

ACA Enrollment Levels Increase

Petty

Photo Gallery

The annual Amistad Client Holiday Party brings a few moments of joy to more than 300 elderly persons and persons with disabili-

ties in El Paso. Most of the clients no longer have families to care for them and welcome the opportunity to spend holiday time

with persons who care about their health and welfare.

The Amistad Staff and Management would like to extend their sincerest thanks and gratitude to the following organizations who

participated in this year’s Holiday Party by generously offering their support and donating hundreds of gifts to our clients:

Amistad Grateful for Community Support

Target Store on Joe Battle Blvd.

The Amistad Board of Directors

Altr'd State Volunteers

ADP Volunteers

Walmart Stores on Saul Kleinfeld and Gateway

Helen of Troy

Hilton DoubleTree Hotel

State Farm Insurance

Albertsons Stores on Yarbrough and Desert Blvd.

EPCC

Quality Fruit & Veg. Co.

Olive Gardens at Cielo Vista and Sunland Park

Hinduja Global Solutions

Chick-fil-A

STAFF NEWS Anniversaries

Alicia Figueroa 3 yrs

Frank Aguilera, 3 yrs

Jaime Duenas, 3 yrs

Leonardo Grajeda, 3 yrs

Liza Zaragoza, 3 yrs

Alma Cortez, 4 yrs

Roy Ortega 4 yrs

Claudia Tarango, 6 yrs

Pablo Estrada, 8 yrs

Birthdays

Roberto Gutierrez, 1/1

Maria Ruiz, 1/2

Brisa Aguilera, 1/7

Edith Bermudez, 1/7

Mirna Rivera, 1/8

Julia Gutierrez, 1/9

Sandra Romero, 1/16

Sergio Hurtado, 1/16

Jennifer Rivera, 1/19

Hector Cadena, 1/22

Elizabeth Ibarra, 1/25

Rudy Zanudo 1/29

Alfredo Dorado, 1/31

New Staff

Marie Borrego, Guardianship Case

Manager

David Gomez, Guardianship Case

Manager

Employee of the Month

Contact Us

915-532-3790

12100 Esther Lama

Drive, El Paso, Texas

79936

Midland:

432-218-9266

208 S. Marienfeld,

Midland, Texas 79701

www.projectamistad.org

Long Time Staffers Lauded for their

Years of Service to Amistad

Arturo

Hernandez

5 Years

Connie Portillo

5 Years

Norma Carrasco

5 Years

Simon Ortega

5 Years Antonio Macias

5 Years