LUNA Offers Education, Emotional Support to Latino Patients and Families
The mission of Latinos Unidos por un Nuevo Amanecer, or LUNA, is to provide health education and emotional support to Spanish-speaking cancer patients, survivors and their families in the Latino communities in the Tampa Bay and Central Florida area.
LUNA offers free support groups, health navigation, emotional counseling, cancer camps and educational support. Considering the needs of Latino patients, the purpose is to fill the gaps in the provision of health services in our communities.
LUNA transforms lives by empowering patients to develop strengthened knowledge and a positive attitude. This will help them make confident, educated and hopeful decisions.
We embrace the new findings of science without forgetting the emotional aspect of the cancer journey.
Our support groups are designed to implement unique supportive teachings with two important components: an educational session and a personal, heart-to-heart session.
Patients often do not know where to begin in the cancer journey process. The health navigation we offer is designed to guide patients who need personalized care.
Through our counseling and coaching sessions, we address emotional health, anxiety and depression and offer self-management tools so patients can continue the path of treatment with their emotions under control.
We also hold Camp Alegría, our biannual, three-day retreat for survivors and patients under cancer care, where they can make new connections and lasting bonds with other patients and survivors. At Camp
Alegria, we offer up-to-date scientific educational information, emotional support groups, entertainment and self-care and pampering.
Our organization is run by volunteers, including our executive director of 10 years, Viviam Sifontes. Viviam and the board of directors serve our community with passion, professionalism and dedication.
For additional information about our services, call Viviam Sifontes at 813-956-2978.
This story was originally published in the PARTNERS newsletter. Visit Moffitt.org/PARTNERS for more stories and to learn more.