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