The Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers (MAPS) has launched a survey to find and address important service gaps/needs for the Portuguese-speaking communities of Framingham and surrounding areas. The survey, according to MAPS, will help the nonprofit health and social services organization evaluate existing programs at its Framingham office.

“This survey will give us a clearer picture of what programs need to be added or improved,” said

Dulce Ferreira, MA, Director of the MAPS Immigrant Integration Services Program. “Portuguese-speakers in the Metrowest area can take the survey online, or contact our Framingham office for assistance.”

The brief survey – which should take no longer than 10 minutes to complete – was put together by Nonprofit Solutions Associates in collaboration with MAPS, and is available in English and Portuguese at the organization’s Framingham office, or online at www.surveymonkey.com/r/MAPSCommunitySurvey. MAPS’ Framingham staff members will also be reaching out to local community businesses and organizations to gather as much information as possible.

MAPS’ Framingham office, located at 24 Union Avenue

“MAPS’ mission is to help as many community members as possible overcome linguistic, cultural and other barriers to leading healthy, successful lives,” said MAPS Executive Director Paulo Pinto, MPA. “Hopefully, in the near future, we will be able to expand the range of free services we provide out of our Framingham office, which currently offers U.S. Citizenship assistance, support for victims and survivors of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, and HIV/ STI Prevention and Screening services.”

MAPS also provides a variety of services through its other offices in Cambridge, Somerville, Dorchester, Brighton and Lowell. MAPS has served the Portuguese-speaking communities of eastern Massachusetts since 1970. For more information, please visit www.maps-inc.org.