Field Placement: Filipino American Service Group, Incorporated (FASGI)
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Preceptor: Maria Lourdes Nocedal, Educational Outreach Coordinator
Student Name: Melissa Hilario
Year: 2003

My internship took place at Filipino American Service Group, Incorporated (FASGI), located in Historic Filipinotown, from June 30, 2003 to September 9, 2003. I was placed under the Educational Outreach department. My supervisor was Maria Lourdes Nocedal, Educational Outreach Coordinator. I was assigned four main projects within the Educational Outreach department.

My first project was under the Cervical Cancer Program. Many Pilipinas are affected by cervical cancer, but often do not have access to Pap smears or face cultural, socioeconomic, and linguistic barriers in accessing Pap smears. I coordinated one Cervical Cancer Awareness forum and one free health screenings (Pap smears, clinical breast exams, diabetes, blood pressure, and cholesterol screenings) event for uninsured women at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church, in North Hills, California. This church was selected as the site for the forum and event because many of its parishioners are low-income and uninsured Pilipinos. This church also has many uninsured Latino parishioners. Forty six women attended the screenings, but unfortunately, due to time constraints, 35 women received the screenings. Fifteen women attended the forum.

My second project consisted of assisting the Educational Outreach Coordinator on implementing the Fish Contamination project. My main duties included distributing educational brochures to community members and market owners and conducting educational forums with other Fish Contamination Education Collaborative members. I was responsible for presenting healthier ways to prepare fish to reduce exposure to contaminants. This material was part of the Fish Contamination Education Collaborative’s curriculum.

My third project was to conduct a community needs assessment because FASGI does not yet have a compiled assessment about its community, District 13. I was responsible for assessing the health needs of community members. Some of my duties included gathering data from Census 2000 and Los Angeles Department of Health and conducting a survey.

My final project was to assist the Educational Outreach Coordinator with the Filipino Veterans Health Benefits Project. FASGI advocates for the passing of a bill that would grant health benefits to Filipino Veterans. I was responsible for conducting outreach to Veterans to inform them about the bill and the importance of these benefits.

Through these projects, I developed many skills in program planning and program implementation. I gained many skills in producing brochures and flyers, and gained experience in delegating tasks and coordinating a staff of volunteers. More importantly, I gained more knowledge of issues faced by low-income Filipino adults and seniors in Los Angeles.

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