New Immigrant Services

Our New Immigrant Program is committed to providing services designed to help the new continental African immigrants to adjust meaningfully, lead normal lives and become productive member of the society in the United States.

We deliver an integrated array of direct services such as: information awareness, referral and advocacy services to the clients; as we ll as community awareness, partner organization education and training, and policy advocacy.

Raising Awareness/Outreach: We conduct enhanced community outreach and education campaigns targeted towards specific communities in order to raise awareness about social issues (e.g., human trafficking and social support services for the victims). The campaign is supplemented with educational sessions in community forums (e.g., churches and civic centers, immigrant community newspapers, local immigrant community events, etc.).

We also make efforts to educate other services providers and agencies including the local law enforcement organizations.

The purpose is to let the community understand some of the myriad and complex issues the new immigrant African are facing - such as human trafficking, help people to recognize potential victims, help the community to understand the complex issues associated with human trafficking and provide the community with information regarding available resources for helping the victims.

Direct services include: information awareness and referral services, support, socio-cultural counseling, civil rights awareness, enhanced case management, accompaniment, translation, advocacy and follow-up.

Informational referral services: When internal resources are not sufficient to meet the extensive needs of clients, they may be referred to other community-based service providers. Information and referral services include referrals to other social service organizations and pro-bono law firms for legal adjustment of immigration status and civil rights, ESL classes, vocational training and jobs, healthcare including HIV/AIDS and mental health, food and nutrition, housing, childcare and other services.

Partner organization Education and Training: We conduct educational awareness sessions for other social service providers, government agencies and local law enforcement to help these organizations to better understand the needs of the African communities and how to meet those needs.

Policy Advocacy: We also raise the general awareness government officials and policy makers on the myriad needs of new African immigrants and the ways the larger society greater could benefit when those needs are addressed.

Research/Studies: We participate in research and studies, conduct surveys to develop data, participate in seminars, develop case studies and material valuable to influence informed policy decisions.

Fact-finding trips: We have the ability to organize and coordinate fact-finding trips to African countries for activists and donors to see the problems on the ground.