About Us
✿ Mission
Our Purpose
To serve the Latino community through culturally specific substance use recovery support services, harm reduction interventions and professional development programs for Latino behavioral health professionals.
✿ Values
What Matters To Us
Trust
We believe that the Latino community has the qualities and determination to bring autonomy to their lives with the right support.
Love
Our work is based on the conviction of the intrinsic worth of every human being, thus deserving to be supported with love.
Empathy
As part of the community we suffer when one of us is struggling, similarly, we rejoice when one of us is healthy and thriving.
Humility
At the core of all our work is a deep understanding for the transformative power of recovery and our Latino culture in all its unique and diverse expressions. As such we welcome into recovery all Latinos, Latinas and Latinx people without regard of what country or region they may be from, what generation they may be a part of, what race they are or what language they may speak.
✿ History
How We Started
NW Instituto Latino (NWIL) was founded in 2001 by Bernardino De La Torre and Eric Martin to increase the pool of Latino substance use disorder recovery professionals. Together, NWIL and the Mental Health & Addiction Certification Board of Oregon (MHACBO) developed the first culturally and linguistically specific Certified Alcohol and Drug Certification (CADC I) training program in the state of Oregon. Shortly after completion of the first training cohort, Bernardino realized the need for new Latinx counselors to receive continuing education and technical support.
Bernardino traveled to Guadalajara and Michoacan in Mexico to build relationships with other Spanish-speaking recovery professionals who would come to Oregon to provide training at the first culturally specific, outcomes-based addiction prevention conference in Spanish in the state. In its 21st year, the conference has grown in size and reach to include Latino recovery and behavioral health professionals across The Americas.
In 2021, with a small grant from the Oregon Health Authority, NWIL’s leadership achieved a long-held dream; It opened Oregon’s first culturally and linguistically specific Latino Recovery Community Organization. The NWIL Recovery Drop-In Center supports Latinos in the Portland Metro area with low-barrier, no-cost substance use recovery peer mentoring, case management services, harm reduction support, and outreach services. In addition to the above accomplishments, NWIL has advocated for improved grant standards to support culturally specific programs and expand culturally and linguistically specific Gambling support services.
In 2023, with community and staff feedback, NWIL restructured its identity to better represent its mission. Today we proudly shine as El Jardin Recovery Centers, a symbol of our commitment to fostering a community rooted in recovery and grounded culture.
✿ Accomplishments
What We’ve Done
Advocated for improving grant standards to support culturally specific programs.
Advocated for state gambling services to recognize that the Latino community also has a gambling problem.
2016 – First Certified Recovery Mentor (CRM) training in Spanish in 2016. Now in its fifth year.
2018 – NARCAN Training in Spanish in Spanish (Training of the Training)
In June 2020 – The NWIL board of directors decided to begin the process for NWIL to become a non-profit agency
2020 – Opened the first Spanish-speaking transitional housing program for Latina women and mothers in recovery in partnership with 4th Dimension, Bridges to Change, & Central City Concern Puentes Program.
✿ Fun Fact
What Sets Us Apart
To date, El Jardin operates the only drop-in centers and facilitates the only Peer Wellness Specialist training for the Latinx community in Oregon. Additionally, El Jardin provides culturally and linguistically specific direct street outreach, technical assistance, and community training on harm reduction interventions as well as mentor services tied to substance-use transitional housing in partnership with local community partners.
✿ Vision
What We See For The Future
A thriving Latino community rooted in recovery and grounded in culture.
