Multicultural Senior Center Receives National Recognition, Accreditation
Image credit: Josiah Hazel
BY JUNIOR CONTRIBUTOR, DAN MAGrudEr
Omaha’s Intercultural Senior Center (ISC) has gained accreditation from the National Council on Aging’s National Institute. This makes the ISC Nebraska’s first accredited senior center. Located at 55th and Center Street, the ISC’s mission statement reads, “Our mission is to improve the dignity, quality of life and physical well-being of seniors from around the world through advocacy, education, access to social services, and cultural enrichment activities that benefit the entire community.”
ISC Director of Development, Sarah Gilbert who spoke to NOISE gave examples of the services offered by the ISC.
“Our mission is to improve the dignity, quality of life and physical well-being of seniors from around the world through advocacy, education, access to social services, and cultural enrichment activities that benefit the entire community.”
“Every day there are two exercise classes, english classes, citizenship classes,” Gilbert said. “We do a lot of health education, there’s opportunities to work in the arts, music and sewing- and there’s recreation areas as well- such as pool and puzzles. We are a meal site for the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging, so every day there’s a nutritious meal through that program. We start each day with a breakfast.”
The center opened in 2009 serving mostly Latino seniors. But in 2013 they began offering services specifically for refugee seniors from Sudan, Somalia, Bhutan, Nepal and Burma (Karen community). Their new accreditation opens the door to serve more seniors through their cultural enrichment programs.
Process to Accreditation
Gilbert outlined the process ISC went through to gain this accreditation.
“ISC had to submit documentation along nine areas of nonprofit management,” Gilbert said. Because the center “ had to develop policies, and talk about how to improve how ISC operates,” she emphasized that “ the process of accreditation helped strengthen the organization itself as we went through it.” Gilbert also said that the final review process was complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic. “We had to do the site visit via zoom. We walked the reviewers through our facility and could describe what was going on. They looked at exits, the fire extinguishers, and all of that.” Gilbert said.
Gilbert also detailed ISC’s case management. “We also offer case management with social workers, and we have one who specializes in healthcare coordination. So that can really help participants who come to ISC and have some unresolved issues of food insecurity, or they need help managing their prescriptions.”
ISC’s Executive Director Carolina, Padilla told NOISE with their new accreditation the ISC plans to grow. “[Accreditation required] A lot of policies, and a lot of showing the structure of the organization,” Padilla said. “Moving forward, we are taking into consideration that our programs, services and partnerships will have to grow- so that way, other people can come to ISC and feel comfortable.”
You can read ISC’s full press release on the accreditation here .