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BPSOS -
GULF COAST
ABOUT BPSOS-Gulf Coast
Boat People SOS-Biloxi (BPSOS-Biloxi) and Boat People SOS-Bayou La Batre (BPSOS-BLB) are the Gulf Coast branches of a national Vietnamese-American nonprofit community-based organization with over 40-year of services. We have been in operation for the last 15 years providing direct services to the Vietnamese Americans in Harrison, Jackson and Hancock counties in Mississippi and Mobile County in Alabama. Through culturally and linguistically appropriate services, we make our services available to all community members regardless of ethnic background.
 Youth Group Christmas Party |  Senior Participate in Water quality Testing |  Senior Participate in Water quality Testing |
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 Senior International Festival Fieldtrip |  Senior International Festival FieldtripOur Senior is having little fun at the International Festival. |  Seniors - Thanksgiving Dinner |
 Celebrating Lunar New Year. |  Celebrating Lunar New Year. |  Celebrating Lunar New Year. |
 Celebrating Lunar New Year.Our local IRS/VITA partner came and enjoying the celebration of our Lunar New Year. |  Celebrating Lunar New Year. |  Celebrating Lunar New Year.Two Senior enjoyed their catching up time. |
 Celebrating Lunar New Year. |  Annual Health FairDoor prizes raffle off. |  Annual Health FairOur Lucky 1st Prize Winner at the Health Fair. |
 Annual Taste of the BayouStaffs are distributing the food at the Taste of the Bayou event. |  Annual Taste of the BayouOur Senior are prepping the food for the event. |  Annual Taste of the BayouOur Senior and staffs are getting ready for the event |
 Annual Taste of the BayouOur Seniors comes together and making our Vietnamese Crab Soup for the event. |  Annual Taste of the Bayou |  Annual Flu-Vaccination ClinicLocal Walgreen providing FREE flu vaccine to our local community members. |
OUR PROGRAMS
Meet the unmet needs of our Community
Programs and Other Social Services available to assists and promotes to our community members with their needs and empower them in their everyday life.
SNAP/Food Stamp is a program that assists qualified individuals to received a monthly benefits to help pay for the cost of groceries. We assist individuals and families throughout Gulf-Coast to apply.
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Annually we provides FREE income tax assistance to low– to moderate-income families who cannot prepare their own tax returns. Our IRS-certified and trained volunteers can help prepare the basic tax returns and E-file the return. Our VITA Program is available during tax season and through the extended months to October 15.
Senior Services assist those over the age of 60. Gulf-coast senior services provides a full range of linguistically and culturally competent services including:
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Monthly Support Group gatherings at the BPSOS office;
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Field Trips to attractions, museums, outlet malls, etc.
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Volunteer opportunities at cultural festivals, health fairs, and etc.;
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Health awareness and prevention services through our many HAPP programs
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Legal education, information, and representation
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Any public benefit application process; Medicare/Medicaid, SSI, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Low Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP), and more..
For more information, please contact us;
BPSOS-AL (251) 517-3011 or BPSOS-MS 228-436-9999
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Health Awareness and Prevention Program (HAPP) Our current HAPP Program aims to ensure that all Vietnamese Americans overcome barriers to healthcare access and decrease their health disparities by accessing preventative care. Housed at the BPSOS-Bayou La Batre office, the HAPP Coordinator navigates community members toward healthcare services available at the local Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC). They coordinate with the local FQHC to identify services that meet the needs of the clients, provide interpretation/translation and accompany them to doctor visits as needed. The HAPP Coordinators also provides educational health workshops to community members and follow-up with clients and families to ensure they make future appointments, screenings, and follow-up treatment.
Affordable Generic Rx Program are available to assist our community members that does not have health insurance to cover their medication, we can help and provide referral to agencies that can provide an affordable Generic Rx medication and with can delivered to your door for FREE.
Affordable Care Act (ACA) Outreach and Education we are certified navigators to assist community members to obtain health insurance by educating them about the Marketplace, advise on selection of a Qualified Plans, and providing other navigation services.
Healthy Eating, Healthy Lives Cooking and Nutrition
Immigration Services provides low-income families and individuals with immigration services and family reunification needs through translations and application assistance.
Community Against Domestic Violence (CADV) offers a full range of culturally-sensitive, linguistically-appropriate services including:
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24-hour crisis response hotline;
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crisis counseling;
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safety-planning and ongoing emotional support;
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accompaniments in court, police stations, medical facilities, and etc.;
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translation and/or interpretation assistance;
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public benefits application assistance;
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connections to counseling;
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crime victim compensation assistance; and
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shelter and/or housing relocation.
The CADV Team also provide representation in family, immigration, or other civil matters. If you or someone you know needs help, please call (228) 229-7129.
Survivor Trauma Empowerment Program (STEP) Designed to address the specific needs and barriers faced by the Vietnamese population. STEP’s primary modalities are self-help and peer support. This reflects the Vietnamese culture’s focus on the strength of the family unit and emphasis on the communal system of support. In this context, being singled out for mental health services may be traumatizing and even stigmatizing for the individual and family. Thus, group-focused activities such as workshops led by the bilingual psychologist and peer companion-led support groups are essential element parts of this program.
Community Awareness Campaign on Occupational Safety (CACOS) was established in 2000 and the Community Awareness Campaign on Occupational Safety (CACOS) has developed a track record of success in informing and training Vietnamese Americans on OSHA-related issues. BPSOS has developed Vietnamese-language materials, trained Vietnamese-speaking trainers, provided training and technical assistance to Vietnamese workers and employers, and disseminated information among Vietnamese communities. All existing OSHA materials in Vietnamese were developed by BPSOS in various formats. Our ongoing project focuses on the safety and health of nail salon workers and owners including recognizing chemical hazards, eliminating hazards, preventing aches and pains, Personal Protected Equipment (PPE), infectious diseases, and rights as a workers and employers.
Funded by: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
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Workforce Development Our Workforce Development Program targets Vietnamese American fishermen who lack the language and technical skills needed to secure stable employment and achieve financial independence. This target population disproportionately suffers from the impacts of the Deep-water Horizon BP Oil Spill and their inability to obtain other convention employments due to limited English proficiency, lack of transferable job skills, and lack of training and support services. Furthermore, the availability of workforce development programs tailored to the particular needs of this targeted population in the MS Gulf Coast is nonexistent. Replicating the Workforce Development model that has been successfully implemented by other BPSOS branches across the U.S.; BPSOS-Biloxi will implement this program through a multi-level strategy of recruitment, training and support that accommodate the unique bilingual, multicultural needs of the targeted population.
Test to Protect Family and Self- Hepatitis B in the Vietnamese Community In collaboration with Mississippi Health Department, the former Office of Health Elimination Disparity, we disseminate and distribute education materials in the community, coordinate structured awareness and education events that are culturally and linguistically appropriate. We also organize Hepatitis B screenings along the three counties and refer and link those that tested positive to healthcare providers for treatment.
MEET OUR STAFF
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Daniel Q. Le - Branch Manager of Gulf-Coast
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Kiet T. Nguyen - Program Coordinator
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Jane Nguyen - Community Health Worker
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Linh T. Nguyen - Program Coordinator
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Mandy Thuong - Program Coordinator / CHW
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Tuan (Dave) Do - Program Coordinator
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Kim Lien Tran - Community Health Worker
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Kim Thao Le - Community Health Worker
LOCATION
160 Porter Avenue
Biloxi, MS 39530
Phone: 228 - 436 - 9999
Fax: 228 - 436 - 9909
13835 S. Wintzell Avenue
Bayou La Batre, AL 36509
Phone: 251 - 517 - 3011
Fax: 251 - 824 - 7016
UPCOMING EVENTS
MESSAGE US
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