Casa Central

Casa Central has offered a broad range of support programs in Chicago since 1954, especially helping Hispanic and Latino families, but anyone can come for help, and the organization sits at 1343 North California Avenue on the third floor, working as the Midwest's largest Hispanic social service agency, and when you talk about aging or older folks needing care, you find that Casa Central runs the Adult Wellness Center where seniors spend their days, join group activities, and find ways to support their mental, physical, and emotional well-being, and if someone can't leave home, then Home Care Services will send care staff to houses to help older adults with daily needs, allowing these folks to stay safe and independent where they live, and sometimes you see their Adult Wellness Center offering door-to-door transportation, making it easier for seniors to get out and about for the activities, and alongside all this, Casa Central has many family programs like the Intact Family Services Program aiming to help with child safety, family stability, and keeping everyone together, and for those who find themselves struggling with violence or trauma, the Violence Prevention & Intervention Program stands out because they serve everyone from children to seniors, offering resources for people impacted by domestic violence, community violence, or abuse, and when a family faces homelessness, the La Posada Transitional Housing Program provides apartment-style housing, bilingual caseworkers for Spanish-speaking families, and support as they work toward stability, and while Casa Central spends much effort on adults and seniors, they also care for children through places like Casa Infantil and the Early Learning Academy, running Head Start and daycare for very young kids, and giving school-age children a place to go after school or during out-of-school times, so youth can keep learning and stay busy, and then there are programs like Creciendo Juntos and a School Age Program offering support, celebrations, and ties to culture. Casa Central believes in being welcoming to Spanish-speaking people, making sure services are bilingual and culturally sensitive, and you'll find staff who understand the families' backgrounds. People in need of job training, community support, or domestic violence prevention will also find social workers here, and families or seniors can get connected to many services under one roof, with the organization relying on community volunteers and partnerships, and its CEO Ann Alvarez leading the efforts to lift and strengthen the surrounding neighborhoods through programs that aim to foster self-sufficiency and a better quality of life for every age, always aiming to respect family ties and culture.