Literacy Advocate Award Recipient Honored

From left to right: Ines Elizondo, Sue Gillison, Denise Felix, Irene Rubio, Jessica Duran, Advocate Award Winner Doris Flores, Alma Landeros, Jackie Whitney and Donna Ortiz.

Doris Flores, Self Sufficiency Counselor III for HHSA’s Visalia’s District Office, received the Literacy Advocate award today. Sue Gillison, Tulare County Literacy Program Manager, presented the quarterly award on behalf of the Library’s Read to Succeed Literacy program. In making the award, Ms. Gillison said, “Doris has been active and supportive in encouraging her clients to take advantage of the literacy program’s services. Her efforts show that she cares about those she serves and is committed to making a difference in their lives.”

Donna Ortiz, TulareWORKS Division Manager, expressed her appreciation to Doris for the hard work and dedicated efforts she makes in serving her clients.

The honor was designed for HHSA counselors and specialists who have referred their clients to a joint program developed by HHSA and the Library Literacy Center. The program is designed to better equip HHSA clients in finding and keeping employment. It is unique in its focus. The Literacy Center provides one-on-one tutoring, which is particularly successful with individuals who do poorly in a classroom setting. At the same time, HHSA counselors like Ms. Flores make sure clients have the practical necessities, such as child care or bus tokens, to ensure their participation.

In addition to Ms Gillison and Ms Ortiz, the presentation today was attended by HHSA administration representatives Jackie Whitney, HHSA Visalia Office Unit Manager, Program Specialist Irene Rubio, and Win Doyle, HHSA/Literacy Program Coordinator. The staff of Ms. Flores’ unit also attending the ceremony were Supervisor Jessica Duran and Self Sufficiency Counselors Ines Elizondo, Denis Felix, and Alma Landeros.

More than 250 referrals have been made to the program by HHSA staff from the five TulareWORKS offices in Tulare County.