PROGRAMS
Refugee and Immigrant Families Mental Health Support
Refugee and migrant families who come to United States often faced war, persecution and extreme hardships in their countries of origin. Many experienced displacement and hardship in transit countries and embarked on dangerous travels. Lack of information, uncertainty about immigration status, potential hostility, changing policies, undignified and protracted detention all add additional stress. Pre-existing social and mental health problems can be exacerbated.
AFIFAT:
- provides up-to date factual information about where and how assistance can be obtained,
- Identifies and protects persons with specific needs,
- helps keep families together and connect them with family reunification services.
- assists families to cope with distress and negative resettlement feelings.
HOUSING PROGRAM
Each year, finding affordable and adequate housing is nominated by many refugees as one of their three key concerns Washington. Among the housing-related concerns raised by immigrant and refugee community members and settlement service providers are:
- Lack of rental history
- Language barriers being significant obstacles when competing for a limited number of affordable rental properties.
- The financial burden of the high cost of housing in the cities’ metropolitan
- Lack of understanding of rental processes and their rights as tenants or the expectations of landlords.
YOUTHS FINANCIAL LITERACY
In rapidly changing world that demands new ideas faster than ever, the integration of immigrant youth has emerged as a pressing yet controversial issue in public debates around the world. Riots and street violence that have been shaking cities may be partially traced back to a growing generation of frustrated immigrant youth wishing to call attention to their daily struggles with discrimination, economic marginalization, and social exclusion. It is from this concept that AFIFAT aims to promote long-term investment in youth so that they can support their families and communities, while contributing to the sustainable development of Washington State overall economy by building immigrant and refugee youth capacity, engaging them in the development of long-term personal plans, and providing the necessary support for them to implement such plans.
An important first step in building youth capacity is enabling to think and act as entrepreneurs and provide them with or connect them with appropriate business training so that they can build or contribute to environmentally and economically sustainable enterprises. With this in mind, AFIFAT believes that an idea can start at any age and proposes to conduct Eco-entrepreneurial training in each immigrant and refugee community during the summer times and place them on employment during school free-times.
The objectives of this program is:
- To provide youth with training and information that empowers them to develop an individual plan for pursuing a means of supporting themselves and their
- To provide youth with entrepreneurial and business planning training, using innovative Business simulation training
- To assist youth in gaining skills required to succeed in the work
- To provide information about livelihood opportunities, with a focus on providing environmental products and services to enhance and protect local resources and meet the demands of the marketplace.
Family Empowernment
Family Programs help Texas's immigrants and refugees build healthy working families through workshops, education, outreach, and intervention. With a multilingual multicultural staff, IAFIFAT is able to offer culturally, and linguistically specific services designed to empower families, including case management, life skills training, relationship building, health education, and anti-poverty assistance.
EMPLOYMENT
Refugees resettled in the U.S. face cultural, language and religious barriers. They worry about the loved ones and friends they’ve left behind. There is often a disconnection between their idyllic views of America and the difficulties they encounter finding good-paying jobs. It is not
uncommon for them to be dealing with high levels of anxiety, stress, and the lingering effects of trauma.
AFIFAT recognizes that, on top of experiences lived prior to arrival in addition to resettlement, starting a business in a new environment can be a stressful and overwhelming process too.
The Employment program enables families increase their earned income and reduce their dependency on welfare assistance and rental subsidies through job placement and career development. Under this program, immigrant and refugee families are provided opportunities for vocational education, job training, counseling and other forms of social service assistance, while living in assisted housing, so they can obtain skills necessary to achieve self-sufficiency through starting, running and growing a business to create jobs. Participants will first start with an Intake and an Oritentation.
MICRO-ENTREPRISE AND ENTREPNEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT
AFIFAT Microenterprise program is suited to those aspiring to start their own businesses. The program is designed to help Refugees and Immigrants who are considering starting their own business to obtain and/or develop the necessary skills and knowledge to assess the marketing and financial viability of their business idea/project.
AFIFAT will also take a look at the entrepreneurial skills and tools necessary for any successful startup. The program will focus on providing necessary technical assistance for businesses and assist, in financial planning. Individuals looking to start their own business will receive practical advice such as the “do’s” and “don’ts” of a successful startup as well as looking at the core elements of a business plan. The failure rate for immigrant and refugee business owners emphasizes the planning aspect of new startups.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Community Development Programs address disparities and equity issues for our newest Oregonians. Our culturally specific leadership projects empower communities of color to identify and understand governance structures, develop leadership opportunities, and foster effective representation on boards, committees, and commissions. We also strengthen the health of our communities through programs designed to increase community engagement, access to and navigation of the health care system.
CHILDREN
Children Programs ensure that students (ages 6+) receive a quality education to overcome the obstacles that perpetuate inequality and poverty. From one-on-one mentoring, tutoring, academic advocacy and after school activities, to gang prevention and intervention for at-risk youth,AFIFAT provides culturally and linguistically specific support to help close the achievement gap, improve 3rd grade reading, ease middle school transitions, and increase the number of youths graduating from high school and pursuing college or career opportunities.
Integration To America
( ITA Program)
Mission: Facilitating Integration
Through Guidance and support, ITA program assists newly arrived African immigrant to the US, in properly navigating resources to facilitate integration to the new culture. This service will be provided by AFIFAT team members through support groups and individual coaching.
Through Guidance and support, ITA program assists newly arrived African immigrant to the US, in properly navigating resources to facilitate integration to the new culture. This service will be provided by AFIFAT team members through support groups and individual coaching.
English Literacy Skills Program (ELS Program)
Mission: Effective English Communication
AFIFAT believes that effective communication is crucial to a successful integration. One of the major challenges some African Immigrant face is Language Barrier. ELS program resolves this challenge by offering English classes unlimited to speaking and writing, designed to promote effective communication in facilitating reintegration.
AFIFAT believes that effective communication is crucial to a successful integration. One of the major challenges some African Immigrant face is Language Barrier. ELS program resolves this challenge by offering English classes unlimited to speaking and writing, designed to promote effective communication in facilitating reintegration.
Mediation Program
Mission: Resolving Marital Conflicts
Our primary mission is to prevent divorce. The African Culture believes in seeking advice from elders or professionals on the subject. AFIFAT understands many couples face challenges based on issues of communication, financial matters, raising children, faithfulness, and trust. AFIFAT engages in the role of liaison in mediating conflicts between couples to promote unity and stability.
Our primary mission is to prevent divorce. The African Culture believes in seeking advice from elders or professionals on the subject. AFIFAT understands many couples face challenges based on issues of communication, financial matters, raising children, faithfulness, and trust. AFIFAT engages in the role of liaison in mediating conflicts between couples to promote unity and stability.
Welfare Assistance Program (WAP Program)
Mission: Eradicating Poverty
AFIFAT understands that poverty can have a negative effect in families. Through the WAP program, AFIFAT takes upon the responsibilities of assisting African Immigrant Families in financial struggles, by conducting fundraisings and connecting them to appropriate welfare resources.
AFIFAT understands that poverty can have a negative effect in families. Through the WAP program, AFIFAT takes upon the responsibilities of assisting African Immigrant Families in financial struggles, by conducting fundraisings and connecting them to appropriate welfare resources.
Financial Mentorship Program
Mission: Thriving in America
African Immigrants travel to America not to survive but thrive. AFIFAT mentorship program provides one on one assistance to assist individuals and families to achieve their financial goals and build wealth through investment and entrepreneurship.
African Immigrants travel to America not to survive but thrive. AFIFAT mentorship program provides one on one assistance to assist individuals and families to achieve their financial goals and build wealth through investment and entrepreneurship.
Women’s Support Group (WSG Program)
Mission: To Empower African Women
Women continue to struggle with gender inequality, abuse, and domestic violence. WSP program is designed to assist women to build and support each other, to better cope with issues of gender inequality in society, as well as some of the challenges they face in their household in areas of parenting, marriage, raising children and more.
Women continue to struggle with gender inequality, abuse, and domestic violence. WSP program is designed to assist women to build and support each other, to better cope with issues of gender inequality in society, as well as some of the challenges they face in their household in areas of parenting, marriage, raising children and more.
Men’s Support Group
( MSG Program)
Mission: Empowering African Men
The African Culture obliges men to carry the role of Head of the Household. This heavy responsibility can often be burdensome and create high level of stress in men, which often have negative effects such as verbally/physically/emotionally abusing spouses, alcoholism, abusing children with excessive beating and more. MSG program is designed for men to share, discuss issues and coming up with solutions with the goal of maintaining a safe and healthy home.
The African Culture obliges men to carry the role of Head of the Household. This heavy responsibility can often be burdensome and create high level of stress in men, which often have negative effects such as verbally/physically/emotionally abusing spouses, alcoholism, abusing children with excessive beating and more. MSG program is designed for men to share, discuss issues and coming up with solutions with the goal of maintaining a safe and healthy home.