HSC History & Funding Partners
History:
Hispanic Services Council (HSC), formerly known as Hispanic Needs and Services Council, started as a small group of concerned professionals who came together in 1990 to address the issue of accessibility of services related to language and cultural barriers. In mid-1991, these individuals started an informal organization and initiated a translation and referral telephone service, and by 1993, with a newly elected Board of Directors and funding from the Hillsborough County Commission, HSC acquired its own office space, hired staff, and began to offer expanded services and programs that met the needs of the Hispanic community.
HSC is often asked to deal with the total needs of families and individuals because it is the only bilingual/bicultural information and referral service that targets limited English speaking Latinos in Hillsborough County. Limited English-speaking Hispanic individuals will not go to agencies where, even though their needs can be met directly, they may not be able to effectively communicate their needs or they fear they will be misunderstood. HSC's strength is to provide case facilitation for families and individuals, in collaboration with the network of county and city social service entities, to ensure that identified problems are comprehensively addressed. HSC's continuing role is to facilitate necessary linkages to allow for the creation of a coordinated system of services, both formal and informal, for Hispanic families and individuals in Hillsborough County. Through the work of its programs and services, HSC strives to change the lives of vulnerable families and children and help them overcome the barriers of language, poverty and cultural isolation that make access to resources so difficult.
Since the early 1990's, HSC's funding has diversified allowing for continued growth in terms of staff and service capacity. Most notably, HSC became a United Way partner agency in 2000, a status that allowed HSC to enhance its client assistance services offered through the Hispanic Resource Center (HRC). HSC works in collaboration with other agencies in order to avoid duplication of services and promote enhanced and culturally competent delivery of services.
HSC currently has 19 staff members and eight Board members. During its years of operation, Hispanic Services Council is proud to report no contract cancellations, filing of bankruptcy, or lawsuits against it.
Funding Partners:
The Children's Board: www.childrensboard.org
Hillsborough County Board of Commissioners: www.hillsboroughcounty.org
United Way of Tampa Bay: www.uwtb.org
Allegany Franciscan Ministries www.afmfl.org