“A Community Based Approach for Serving Our New American Families”
The refugees and immigrants who settle in Central Minnesota arrive from countries of violence and discrimination. Most of our families are war refugees or economic refugees. As members of our global community they held within their hearts the same dreams for themselves and their children as we do. They worked hard to make their homeland a safe and prosperous place where their dreams could come true. Tragically, through no fault of their own, those dreams became nightmares of violence and poverty. So, they did what courageous people have done for thousands of years, they sacrificed their dreams of living in the land of their ancestors and moved their spouses and children to America - to Central Minnesota - away from violence, away from poverty. HAW is their first contact offering a place of safety. It is a place where hope lives. Where nightmares fade and where, once again, dreaming begins.
from hands to hearts to minds towards peace
FIRST STAGE:
SETTLEMENT - CULTURAL
HANDS:
HAW'S first responsibility is to provide a safe place for families to gather and share their stories, their concerns, their questions. HAW offers a place to learn and a place to socialize. It is a time to serve the essential needs of our new families. It begins with a smile and a hug. Then, some basic information. What is an apartment lease? Where can I go to buy food I can eat and clothes I can wear? How do I enroll my children in school? How will they be treated in school? Is there public transportation? Am I safe at night in my new apartment home? Can I trust the police? And most importantly is to recognize the suffering and trauma experienced by every refugee while acknowledging that the term refugee defines a condition and not the person.
SECOND STAGE:
HAW'S second responsibility is to assist families in moving from settlement to adaptation. During this period of time, we assist each person in reconciling their culture of origin with the status quo culture of their new home land. Where are the critical conflicts? How do I practice my faith among conflicting faiths? Why should I become a citizen? Will how I dress set me apart from others? What is my responsibility as a parent and as a student? What are the social mores? What traditions might I have to give up? What traditions might I need to accept? What skills do I bring with me that will be a benefit to my new country?
THIRD STAGE:
ADJUSTMENT - ECONOMIC
MINDS:
HAW'S third responsibility is to assist in bringing all that has been learned in stages 1 & 2 together in a systemic way in order to define and clarify short term job opportunities and long term career paths. What do I need to learn? How does businesses work in my new country? What are my civil and human rights in relationship to my place of work? What are the rights of the business?
FOURTH STAGE
INTEGRATION - POLITICAL
TOWARDS PEACE...
HAW'S final responsibility is to assist in the seamless integration in to the new American Culture that ensures the acceptance of the New American families Culture of Origin as they accept their new American culture. The understanding of the American Constitution and the rule off law as necessary to take full advantage of living in the USA. Why it is important to vote. The role community organizations play in influencing policy change. Understanding the two party system. What "Freedom" means. What "Rights & Responsibilities" mean.
The following is a representative list of educational curricula that begin as early as the first stage.
the ESL Education: We offer four levels of English language classes that are integrated with life skill components including: math, food and health, basic computer skills on Microsoft Word and Excel, and job readiness skills. Population served: 1,250 refugees and 285 immigrants.
School System: An extended description of the School System in America. How new Americans need to communicate with the schools and the expectations from the schools. This information is essential so that the children of our students have all of the proper resources to thrive within the Government's public schools.
Career Consulting: Upon registration, each adult student discusses their previous career, interests, and ambitions for their new life with a volunteer career consultant, a social worker and an interpreter. With this information, they are able to guide the student on the career path of his or her choice.
Citizenship and Civics: An instructor provides students with the opportunity to prepare for and pass the Citizenship test. Through the civics sessions, the students learn about the history of our country, how our political system works and its importance in their role as active community members. They also learn the responsibilities and obligations that come with being an American citizen. In 2007- 20010 60 students became American citizens.
Sewing and Arts: Once a week, community members and our students have the opportunity to interact while building community relationships through a common interest in either sewing or cultural arts and crafts.
Learning Together: The HAW Family Service Worker coordinate the development and implementation of a culturally and linguistically responsive curriculum that will equip new American parents with the skills and knowledge to support their children's development and education at home and school. Funded by the Woman's Fund.
Building Educated Leaders for Life: HAW is partnering with the Youth Institute of the University of Minnesota to convene immigrant and refugee parents, counselors from School District 742, students at the high school level, and St. Cloud Police officers to engage in an open, monthly dialogue. These dialogues will afford an opportunity to collectively identify issues and assess needs or gaps relative to the growing occurrence of misconduct among immigrant and refugee youth at home, school, and in the community. Parents, students, counselors, and police officers will develop action steps in response to the dialogues and then disseminate the information in a larger community-wide meeting to broaden this network and encourage further teamwork and solidarity among families, school staff and police officers. Funded by Central MN Community Foundation.
ESL Early Childhood Education: We engage the children of our adult ESL students, 6 mo. - preschool age with a structured program which includes the learning of basic commands in English and their first exposure to the English language. This prepares them for kindergarten and promotes a healthy social and emotional well-being. Sixty children served in 2006- 2007. In 2007- 2008, sixty-five children attended our sessions.
Basic Childcare Training: In partnership with Child Care Choices, Head Start and SCTC and four experts in Early Childhood Education, we educate and inform students interested in seeking employment in child care centers or establishing their own licensed home daycare. 46 Women received the training in 2007- 2009. The cohorts of 20 women receive mentoring for three years after the training. Head Start is hiring our trainees based on their good skills and ability to communicate with the children, parents and staff.