 Programs
 ECSHI (Ethnic
Community Self Help Initiative)
Post Resettlement Community Service Program
Preventive Health Program
Interpreting and Translating
 Citizenship Program
 Volunteer Program
Heritage Program
Massachusetts Behavioral Health Partnership (MBHP)
Services
 Assessment of
Needs
Case Management Services
Referrals for Victims of Domestic Violence
Space for Community Dialogue and Meetings
Education and
Outreach in the Areas of Social Services and Health Related Issues
 Cultural
Orientation and Activities
Supportive Counseling
Interpreting and Translating
Legal Assistance
and Referrals
Tutoring for High School Students
ECSHI (Ethnic
Community Self Help Initiative)
ESHI, fully funded by ORI, is a
program designed to help refugees assimilate to their new surrounding by
removing barriers to their integration and cross-cultural understanding. ESHI
services provide assistance in filling out applications, understanding bills,
letters and notices, as well as providing escorts for medical and other
important appointments.
Post
Resettlement Community Service Program
This program allows BCCRD, Inc. to provide case management services for new
arrivals up to 5 years upon entrance into the United States. This program is
also a link with Voluntary Agencies in the area who are crucial in the process
of resettlement.
It offers assistance with concrete services—housing, SSI, DTA, school links,
health care needs, etc.
Preventive Health Program
BCCRD, Inc., as a member of Massachusetts Assistance Association (MAA) Coalition, has received a grant from Office Of
Refugees and Immigrants (ORI) to
provide services in the area of preventive health education to the Bosnian
Community in and around Lynn. Our agency has committed itself to establish
on-going assistance to clients as they navigate the health care system and helps
them overcome barriers in access to quality health care.
Our team helps
clients register for health insurance and make medical appointments. An outreach
worker is available to escort clients to health centers, SSA offices and serves
as their advocate and liaison to community health centers.
At BCCRD, Inc.
we utilize Community forums to distribute translated brochures and fliers full
of practical and useful information. We host interactive workshops in
collaboration with experts from various health fields.
Some of our past community forums have covered the following topics:
Women’s health
Family planning
Children’s health
Immunizations
Substance Abuse
HIV/AIDS and
STD risk reduction
Domestic Violence
MASS Health
Interpreting and Translating
This Program started in November 2004. BCCRD, Inc. provides bilingual and
bicultural assistance to our clients for addressing needs in medical, legal or
educational settings.
We will create brochures and flyers in native language about issues which will
help our members better understand the system in their new country.
In addition to Bosnian, Croatian, and Serbian, we offer Albanian and
Arabic interpreting and translating.
United States citizenship
The U.S. Constitution invites newcomers to participate in the democratic
process.
BCCRD’s citizenship program responds to a continuing demand for citizenship
services in the North Shore and the greater Boston area, and the particular
needs of refugees who will be reaching seven years in the U.S. and are
vulnerable to the loss SSI benefits.
Services:
Reach and contact possible clients eligible for citizenship
Complete and file citizenship application
Provide translation and interpretation as part of filing process
Follow up on pending cases in a timely manner
Track all cases and maintain complete and accurate records and reports
Volunteer Program
BCCRD, Inc. has a group of dedicated volunteers. Our goal is to provide high
school graduates and college students from our community with a place where they
can learn about and practice the delivery of services to refugee groups.
Heritage Program
Our Heritage program helps members sustain ties to Bosnian
culture.
It consists of KUD “Boston
Sevdah” and “Izvor.”
KUD “Boston Sevdah”:
folk
dancing and music group that has over eighty active members who through dance
and singing nourish the values of their homeland. Within KUD we have developed a
music group “Meraklije” with 6-8 permanent members who play traditional Bosnian
music “Sevdalinka.”
KUD”Boston Sevdah” has performed in traditional EID
celebrations for the community, at B, Balkan Nights festival and Lynn
International Culture Day. KUD had a very well received performance at Cambridge
Community Center
which was a result of our collaboration with AIC.
“Izvor”:
quarterly bilingual
newsletter that serves as a psycho-educational tool for our community as well as
other similar ethnic groups from the Balkans, and provides an opportunity for
small business to advertise for the larger community.
Massachusetts
Behavioral Health Partnership (MBHP)
This Program is a result of our leadership role within
MAA Coalition in collaborating with major Mental
Health Service Providers in Massachusetts. This program provides case management
services to people in need of in-depth socially and culturally sensitive
services.
| 
