Hispanic Assistance

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Education

Fremont Public Schools has expanded its staff to accommodate the diverse needs of an increasing number of English Language Learners. This year there are more than 250 students, grades kindergarten through 12th, who are learning English.

The school district has five full-time teachers who provide English language instruction to language minority students through the district’s English Language Learning (ELL) program.

The ELL Newcomer Center is located at Davenport School. This program provides English instruction to students grades kindergarten through fifth who are considered non-English proficient and who are usually new arrivals to the United States from their native countries. Students receive basic English instruction so they can learn to read and write in English as quickly as possible, thus improving their achievement in the mainstream classroom setting. Students who attend the Newcomer Center also participate in a mainstream classroom for one half of their school day. The Newcomer Center also serves as the central registration, orientation and English proficiency testing site for elementary students who come to the Fremont Public School district with a home language other than English.

Students receive intense individual and group English language instruction as well as participating in the general education classes and whole-school programs.

The Fremont Public Schools’ migrant education bilingual liaison is Christina Campbell. She can be reached at 727-3976.

There are also classes available for adult immigrants who are interested in learning English. Classes at First United Methodist Church, 815 N. Broad St., are on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. For information, call 727-3974. Classes at Metropolitan Community College, 835 N. Broad St., are on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon and 6 to 9 p.m. For information, contact Metro at 721-2507.

Inquiries about any of these programs may be directed to the Fremont Public Schools Office of Student Services at 727-3084.

Community Services

Crisis Center for Domestic Abuse/Sexual Assault, 321 E. Military Ave., offers help to victims of domestic abuse and sexual assault. The center has Spanish speaking advocates daily during business hours and can be reached at 721-4340. Spanish speaking advocates also are available after hours through a 24-hour crisis line at 1-877-215-0167. The Crisis Center also offers a weekly Spanish speaking support group. For more information, contact Christy or Margarita at 721-4340.
Keene Memorial Library, 1030 N. Broad St., has Spanish books and other materials available, provides instructional tapes for English-speaking people who want to learn Spanish, and has a computer with a Spanish keyboard and software programs. The library also hosts an annual Hispanic Family Night. Call 727-2694 for more information. Web site: www.keene.lib.ne.us.
The Fremont Area Chamber of Commerce, in cooperation with Metropolitan Community College, has been offering Command Spanish Language Training courses that provide immediate access to functional language skills for non-Spanish speaking employees and supervisors. Contact Todd Hanson at 721-2507 for upcoming classes.

In response to employers’ questions about hiring Hispanic workers, the chamber’s Diversity Task Force sponsored workshops, providing a better understanding of the many cultures in Fremont. Plans are to continue sponsoring those workshops.
The Hispanic Multi-Cultural Education and Assistance Program Foundation for Fremont and Dodge County is a council that has been set-up to assist the Hispanic community with their needs for education, human resources and assistance programs. For more information, contact Al Martinez at 721-8303.
The Fremont Area Chamber of Commerce is compiling a directory of interpreters to help local businesses overcome the language barriers with employees. If you are an interpreter and would like to be included in this new list, please contact Allan Hale at 721-2641.
There are weekly AA meetings in Spanish at 8 p.m. on Mondays and Fridays at Chapter Five, 136 N. Main St. (Junta de Alcoholicos Anonimos en Espanol, Capitulo 5, 8 pm, Calle Main, Norte Numero 136, Fremont: Fecha: Cada viernes y lunes a las 8 pm.)
Pathfinder Support Services Inc., Eighth and Main streets, offers recovery services to Spanish-speaking people in Fremont and the surrounding area. Call 721-1414, or 1-888-944-5080; fax: 753-9914; e-mail: path9914@alltel.net.
The Fremont Police Department maintains an on call list of Spanish interpreters. Additionally, some of the officers have taken “Survival Spanish” to assist them in day-to-day calls with the Hispanic community.
Local courts hire interpreters to better serve Spanish-speaking individuals in the courtroom.
Fremont’s cable company has a Spanish-speaking network, Univision, as part of its basic cable service.
Many new and existing businesses in the Fremont area have added bilingual staff members.

Religion

St. Patrick’s Catholic Church offers services for Hispanic people in the Fremont area. Church offices are at 422 E. Fourth St., 721-6611, where the old church is located. The new church is at 3400 E. 16th St.

St. Patrick’s offers a Spanish Mass at 12:30 p.m. each Sunday. (Misa en Espanol cada Domingo a las 12:30 p.m. en la Eglesia nueva que esta en la calle 16th. Direccion: 3400 E. 16th St.)

Sister M. Wilfred Ontiveros is the church Hispanic minister and can be reached at 721-6611. If she is unavailable, persons can leave a message in either Spanish or English. The Reverend Mario Rapose, assistant pastor, offers the Spanish Mass and other pastoral services in Spanish.

Medical Care

Fremont Area Medical Center hosts the annual Feria de la Salud (Hispanic Health Fair) for Spanish-speaking residents of Fremont, Dodge County and the area. The fair features health screenings for free or at a reduced price and a wealth of information on health topics in a family-friendly atmosphere. Call 727-3404 for more information.
North East Nebraska Family Health Services, 230 E. 22nd St., which includes the Fremont WIC Program, the Family Planning/Reproductive Health Program and the Dodge County Immunization Clinic, now have Spanish-speaking staff members in the offices almost every day.

For questions regarding office hours, eligibility requirements or to make an appointment, call the Fremont WIC Program at 727-9008, the Family Planning/Reproductive Health Program at 727-5336, or the Dodge County Immunization Clinic at 727-5860.
Dr. Greg Haskins, a Fremont eye doctor, speaks some Spanish. Haskins is with Fremont Eye Associates, 2827 N. Clarkson St., 721-7222.
Dr. Terry Wooldridge, at Fremont Pediatric & Adolescent Care, 220 E. 22nd St., has interpreters on staff and his physician’s assistant, Thomas Homan, also can converse with Hispanic patients. They can be reached at 727-5500, and are open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Fremont Family Care, located at 710 Reynolds Rd., phone, 727-1091, provides Spanish-speaking interpreters for appointments, insurance and billing and medical care.