ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REPORT
Introduction
The Somali Community Development of Utah (SCDU) was founded and established as a non-profit organization in June 2003 with a general goal of serving low-income refugees from Africa and other countries.
This report outlines programs and other successful activities that SCDU has undertaken during the second Year of its inception (June 2004-June 2005). The report concludes with a plan of activities to undertaken in the next four years ending June 2009.
SCDU conducted a community survey last year to assess the challenges that Somali Refugees have been experiencing while they resettle in their new lives in Utah. The Survey revealed that culture differences are the most profound differences among Somali Students, parents and local School system officials.
Parents are resisting from having their children participate in school activities such as choir, Music Classes, sports and after school programs. Lack of cultural understanding and communication barriers between parent and teachers were some of the reasons why there exists poor school attendance or unable to catch up academic system by refugee youth and also why parents do not participate in their children’s education such as parent – teacher conferences.
The survey also revealed that though the school districts hire interpreters to resolve language and culture misunderstandings, there still need to be some bridge and on-going support especially for the parents to understand how the school system works. Therefore, as a result the SCDU has developed a program to help parents understand the America education system this program we will expand to Mountain –View Elementary School and Riley Elementary School In August 2005 and the benefits of getting involved with their children’s schools and education in general.
Since June 2004, more Somali Bantus and Other tribes Somali Refugees Come to live in Utah some of them move from other states.
The number of Somali refugee’s population’s more than ever before. Plus the newly arriving refugees coming in the future need proper assistance.
In Utah, refugees who are new to the country are received through International Rescue Committees (IRC) and The Catholic Community Services.
Beside receiving services from these organizations and other Organizations (for employment, housing, education, etc) we realized the newly arriving refugees feel more comfortable with the support from other refugees from their respective countries who have been here longer periods of time. SCDU has been able to offer that support by mobilizing Other Country folk to help out these newly arriving refugees. In addition to newly arriving refugees, these has been an increasing influx of other Somali refugees who moving from other parts of the country into Utah to be closer to their friends and relatives as per stated above
Daily SCDU help these people proper Authorities for their welfare assistance, Housing Issues, Furniture, and referral to food bank, Interpreting Issues, Culture Orientations, Doctor Appointments, etc.
PROGRAME OFFERED BY THE ORGANIZATION:
Though Programming in the first of SCDU has Concentrated on the Somali Refugees Community, it is the now organization expand its services to refugees from other countries.
Since June 2004- 2005 SCDU has Conducted 15 Sessions, to educate parents on the American educational System. The Sessions were run as part of general culture Orientation Classes that the organization conducts which include topics such as how to ride a bus or Trax, shopping, home safety, sanitation, etc. Since June 2004, a total of parent’s 75 parents have attended these sessions. These classes are run using teachers who volunteer their free time and Intern student from Salt Lake Community Collage. SCD-Utah plans to conduct more of these classes if we could get more funding. Now we run as more Volunteers are found. Participants favor classes offered by SCD-Utah because they feel more comfortable learning about these topics in company of their fellow countryman and also in an environment where they do not feel intimidated.
- Education- English as a
Second Language (ESL) Classes
English as a second language (ESL) classes began with 30 individuals and one volunteer teacher meeting twice a week. Today, the class is held everyday with over 65 individuals per week lead by three volunteer teachers at the SCD-Utah Offices and additional five volunteers and Seven intern Students from Salt Lake Community collage working together at the three different apartment complex’s (Riverview apartments, area and North Redwood apartments area) tutoring families in their homes.
The Challenges and Needs:
Many west side families, including those at two apartments, do not have ready access to services due to lack of transportation, childcare, or long work hours. By offering a comprehensive set of Services such as employment services, English as a second language, Intensive case management, Cultural orientation, Health education, Citizenship class, Family Counseling, Substance Abuse prevention, Interpreting Services, Financial literacy, and promoting youth leadership and other Social services related issues, etc. at the place of residence itself, SCD-Utah hops to overcome these barriers and increase family Self-sufficiency over the long term.
Continued See the needs and plan for next four years in the page (3)
PLANING FOR NEXT FOUR YEAR BEGINNING (JULY 2005-JULY 2006
Team Work: Salt Lake Community Collage (Social Work intern students), Community Volunteers, SCD-Utah workers
|
Tasks, |
Who |
Timeline |
Intermediate
Products |
|
SCD-UTAH |
Yr.1,
2,3,4,5 (June
each year) |
Capacity
Building site centers |
|
Salt
Lake Community Collage Places
intern Student at Riverview, and North Redwood road Utah
State Department Work-Force Services |
Prof: Venezque SLCC Keren
Garner DWS |
Yr.
1, 2, 3 (June
each year) |
AS
Students does field placement at North redwood road and Riverview apartment
each year (100 hrs/year), Unpaid
Intern field placement |
|
Field
placement |
|
|
Tutoring ESL, Financial Literacy, Health
Education site centers partnership |
|
SCD-Utah
Place each site Coordinator |
SCD-Utah |
Yr.1,
2,3,4 |
Full-time
onsite coordinator |
Long-term
outcomes:
the centers accessible locations where to help refugees needs in a long term,
comprehensive set capacity buildings.
3. Substance abuse prevention Activities
Somali Community Development of Utah has formed two soccer teams and one basketball team in the hope of giving youth after-school and weekend activities to prevent deviant behaviors. During the past year, SCD-Utah has actively promoted friendly soccer and basketball tournaments with other teams in the valley. The soccer team also participated in salt lake World refugee day tournament held in June 2005 in Salt Lake City. Regretfully, without any external funding, the Somali Community development of Utah faces a big challenge in the area of substance abuse prevention. New youth arrivals have tripled in the past year.
There are more young people Somali refugees being arrested and placed in state correctional facilities because of drug use and the organization is fervently looking for funding to do more programming to prevent more youth from getting involved with the juvenile justice system.
The Challenges
- Currently with out any external funding, SCD-Utah can only afford to provide parenting education classes to assist families whose children are facing difficulties adjusting to American culture by helping them cope with the changing environment. A third District Juvenile Court Senior probation Officer (Amy Maquet Muti) spoke at the SCD-Utah about Somali refugees in correctional facilities and how Somali community can work together to solve this problem. SCD-Utah challenge has been to find a suitable facility to do more programming to prevent more kids from drug addiction and to provide counseling to educate kids and parents about the consequences and problems of using drugs.
- 75% percent of Somalis refugees in Utah smoke cigarettes, about 1% are alcoholic, about 2% of youth are suspected of using drugs from the parents. Though there are organizations who provide these services, SCD-Utah feels that they could provide or coordinate substance abuse prevention services in a more culturally sensitive manner that would likely have more positive result especially to youth.
- The west side residents emphasized that since Riverview and North redwood apartments area is relatively isolated from the rest of the neighborhood, children often have nothing to do after school and thus are vulnerable to recruitment gangs and other at-risk behaviors. Yet there are soccer fields right next to North site apartment and large city park view mile away from the north side apartment and where a lot Somali Bantus refugees children located. SCD-Utah Youth activities will focus around creating a cohort of young leaders at North west and South Salt Lake areas apartments and then involve them and other activities supervised by SCD-Utah Sport Coordinator, Intern Students, Ethnic Community leader and local youth-serving non-profit Community volunteers
SCDU PLAN FOR YOUTH PROGRAM ACTIVITIES NEXT FOUR YEAR BEGINNING (JULY 2005-JULY 2006
Team work: SCD-Utah Sport Coordinator One of the Ethnic Community leader, community Volunteers
|
Tasks |
Who |
Time line |
Intermediate Products |
|
Teach
1 week course for 15- 25 refugee youth |
Coordinator |
Yr,
123 July
each year |
15-25
refugee youth develop leadership experience |
|
Young
leaders participate in SCDU Youth Programs and activities |
|
Yr.2,
3 (June and July) |
10
North side Refugees youth leaders complete additional Leadership experience
each year. |
|
Young
leaders will work with UFY or other youth programs to conduct activities at
local schools |
Bennett |
Yr.23 (June
and July) |
20
refugees youth participate in after-school activities each year. |
Long-term Outcomes: Reduce entrance into local gangs and vandalism, increase participation of refugee youth in after-school activities; cohorts of young leaders participate regularly in other community-oriented youth activities.
4. INTERPRETING SERVICES
SCD-Utah provides interpreting services to facilitate and bridge a communication gap of among those who speaking different languages). The organization uses volunteer who are proficient in English and other languages and also certified professional medical interpreters for on demand on sight translations, simultaneous interpreting and consecutive interpreting for free of charge.
SCD-Utah interpreters are well educated and trained in Medical terminology and Code of ethics, and maintaining, respecting confidential agreement and cultural competence
SCD-Utah interpreting services are free of charge and have assisted about 850 individuals in the Salt Lake valley Clinics.
Somali Community Development of Utah Volunteer Medical Interpreters have been trained through Utah Health Department and we feel that are well prepared in Ethics and HIPAA regulations. At Moment there are 27 Volunteer interpreters who speak different languages and willing to help non-English speaking refugees.
Challenges
SCD-Utah Challenges how to pay mileage reimbursement our volunteers, hire or pay some stipend although our Volunteers willing to help refugees any time.
- Employment Services
Somali Community development of Utah has an employment services program that assists entire refugees get employment through referrals. So far the organization has referred and placed about 97 clients to jobsites and has had about 65 clients now actively working with different companies. 162 clients were placed job training to learn more skills although among of them, which seemed to be barrier those who had no Skill, Communication problems even unable to read and write English that is why SCD-Utah more focus to provide ESL and other Job trainings to all Refugees.
Work-site Program
This program was established in 2004. The Department Work Force Services has referred clients to Somali community development of Utah for Job trainings when our clients when finish or complete the training work site we have been placed and are working with different companies.
OTHER SOCIAL SERVICES RELATED ISSUES
Since June 2004 – 2005 we have been successfully assisted 155 new low-income refugees families with housing issues, food Stamp, Medicaid, financial assistance, legal Issues. Although day after day overloaded case coming daily need case management, and other refugee seeking our services is so more than ever If SCD-Utah Not Receive enough funding to cover needs our volunteer base weakening.
Ethnic Communities Leaders (Elders)
Somali Community Development of Utah has developed an ethnic Community leaders (Elders) Program consisting 15 elders from each refugee community as a advisory council for each SCD-Utah capacity building center working with five Ethnic community leader that will helping us to work better for all refugee needs, Solve families domestic problems, Youth supervision and drug prevention issues and social integration competence, divorce and Healthy marriage, counseling and intercultural activities.
PROMOTION
OF CULTURAL EVENTS WITH LOCAL UTAH COMMUNITY
Somali Community has established a program and cultural programs to promote social interaction between refugees and local Utah Citizens. One of the major events includes annual cultural night. The first annual cultural night was held on October 11th 2003 attracting over 150 individuals. The second annual cultural night was held on July 31, 2004 attracting over 170 individuals this year will be held on July 30th 2005 will be attracting more than ever before. The SCD-Utah hopes to expand this event to include other refugee Communities.
REFUGEE KID ACTION PROGRAM
Somali Community Development of Utah Created this program to help tutoring youth at schools. This program started at Mountain-view Elementary School by offering volunteer tutors as needed by school. Three volunteer tutors helped tutoring kids last academic school. At the moment SCD-Utah feels the need to expand this program to other schools in Salt Lake City area because this program has been successful at mountain-view elementary school.
CHRISMAS GIFTS
Last year we provided Christmas gift to 80 kids from first grade to 6th grade and we anticipate providing gifts to about 90 or more kids this year if the organization gifts enough donations.
HOUSE HOLD SET’S, FURNITURE,
CLOSING AND FOOD
We provided furniture’s and household set’s closing and food to thirty-seven families this year a long. These donations received from charity foundation and Utah dream center.
MAJOR CHALLENGES
- Since July 2003 organization applied grants the good news one application, under the Salt Lake city Community Block Grant, Has been awarded this year beginning from July 2005- July 2006 Amount of
$ 5000.00 Still not enough the needs.
- The major challenge of the Somali community development of Utah has worked so hard during past years to moment with every one contributing their own time and money. It will advantageous for morale of all if some external resources would be available to assist in daily operations of the organization for the coming years.
ORGANIZATIONAL MEETINGS
Somali Community Development of Utah Board and Advisory meetings are held twice a month. The Committee meets to discuss current and future services and plan any future needs.
Staff meetings are held every Monday. The purpose of meetings is to coordinate and plan the week’s activities.
ORGANIZATION FINANCIAL STRUCTURE
100% of the office operating cost comes from contribution donated by individuals and families within the community. A large portion of SCD-Utah’s Funding in coming directly from the Somali community itself and from individuals who were once refugees and want give back to the community to ensure other refugees will be successful in America.
INCOME AND EXPENSES JUNE 2004 to JUNE 2005
|
Total Revenue |
$5231.18 |
|
|
Total Expenses |
$5231.18 |
|
|
Surplus/(Deficit) |
- |
|
|
Program Services |
$0.00 |
0% |
|
Office Operating Cost |
$5231.18 |
100% |
|
Fundraising |
$0.00 |
0% |
MAJOR SOUCES OF REVENUE % of TOTAL INCOME
Contributions 100%
Government Grants 0%
Sales (Supplies, Assets) 0%
United Way 0%
Program Services fees 0%
Investment, Interest 0%
IN-KIND CONTRIBUTION
Somali Community Development of Utah has established partnerships with other organizations who have kindly providing volunteers to assist with programming Volunteers came from Salt Lake Community Collage, Utah Dream Center, University Neighborhood Partner (University of Utah) (Americorps Vista) Part time, Unpaid Intern From Department Work-force Services, High School Students, Local Families, Social Workers, Mental Health Counselors.
OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS AND IN-KIND DONATION
|
(U.S.F.S) |
Fax machine |
|
Mountain-View Elementary School |
Space of Parenting Education |
|
Jubilee Center |
Space for Culture Night |
|
Utah Dream Center |
Space for English as a second language |
|
Salt Lake Community Collage |
Student placement and Volunteer recruitments |
|
Riley Elementary School |
Space for parent education |
|
State of Utah Department of Work-Force Services |
Unpaid Interns |
|
Utah Department of Health |
Health Education Facilitator |
|
University Neighborhood partner |
AmricorpsVista Volunteer |
SCD-UTAH’S PLAN OF ACTIVITIES TO JUNE 2009
The Somali Community Development of Utah hopes to continue and improve on the programs that it is engaged in.
As mentioned in body of this report, there are some impediments to the maintenance and growth to program offerings but SCDU will continue to look for external resources to continue its mission. Major objectives of the organization over the next four years will include:
- Expand on existing programs by:
A. Seeking partnership with other local organization
B. Expanding on the volunteer base to help with programming
- Continue to seek external funding for a new facility and to diversify programming to other communities and refugees from other countries.
- Be involved with the local community
Organizational Capacity
Currently, all funding provided to keep SCD-Utah up and individuals and families within the Community are donating running. A large portion of SCD-Utah’s funding is coming directly from the Somali community itself, from individuals who were once refugees and want to give back to the community to ensure other refugees will be successful in America. It is anticipated that requests for local and federal grants will actively pursued by SCD-Utah. Donations from the community will be accepted as well as community events sponsored by SCD-Utah that will generate funding. Securing funding from sister agencies is currently being pursued as well. It is the organization’s intent to provide the necessary matching requirements and charitable funds to support the Somali Community Development of Utah.
Somali Community Development of Utah (SCD-UTAH) made significant progress last and will continue to do so in the coming years.
For more detail please Visit
our website
Or
Our Office is located at:
3331 South 900 East Suite # 130
Salt Lake City, Utah 84106
Tel: (801) 433-0448 or (801)
974-0451