Arab-American Family Support Center Inc

THE ARAB-AMERICAN FAMILY SUPPORT CENTER'S MISSION IS TO EMPOWER IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES WITH THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO SUCCESSFULLY ACCLIMATE TO THE WORLD AROUND THEM AND BECOME ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. AAFSC PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE SOCIAL SERVICES TO STRENGTHEN FAMILIES AND SUPPORT THEIR WELL-BEING.

PREVENT - AAFSC STRENGTHENS FAMILIES, PREVENTS CHILD ABUSE, AND WORKS TO END DOMESTIC AND GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE. AAFSC IS CONTRACTED BY THE NYC ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN'S SERVICES (ACS) TO PROVIDE EARLY INTERVENTION, COUNSELING, PARENTING CLASSES, AND REFERRALS WITH A STRENGTHS-BASED APPROACH TO HELP FAMILIES BUILD HAPPY, HEALTHY HOMES. AAFSC USES TWO EVIDENCE-BASED MODELS TO CONDUCT OUR WORK SOLUTION-BASED CASEWORK (SBC), THROUGH WHICH WE ENHANCE PARTNERSHIP WITH FAMILIES, AND FAMILY FUNCTIONAL THERAPY (FFT), A THERAPEUTIC TREATMENT PROGRAM TO SUPPORT HIGHER-RISK CASES.AAFSC ALSO EMPOWERS SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, STALKING, AND ALL FORMS OF GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE THROUGH CRISIS INTERVENTION, INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING, SAFETY PLANNING, AND REFERRALS. WE WORK WITH YOUNG ADULTS ON BUILDING HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP HABITS. TO MAXIMIZE IMPACT, AAFSC CONDUCTS COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND CULTURAL COMPETENCY TRAININGS FOR EXTERNAL AGENCIES AND SERVICE PROVIDERS.

PROMOTE - AAFSC PROMOTES WELLNESS, FAMILY REUNIFICATION, RESTORATIVE JUSTICE, EQUITY, AND FAIR POLICIES. THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY HEALTH & WELL-BEING UNIT, WE PROVIDE INDIVIDUAL MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING SERVICES AND WRAPAROUND SUPPORT TO REDUCE STIGMA. AAFSC ENROLLS INDIVIDUALS IN HEALTH INSURANCE, SNAP ENROLLMENT, HELPS FAMILIES NAVIGATE EMERGING CHALLENGES, AND OFFERS EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO VULNERABLE CLIENTS FROM ACROSS AAFSC PROGRAMS. DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, OUR TEAM HAS PROVIDED LINGUISTICALLY ACCESSIBLE HEALTH GUIDES, VACCINE ENROLLMENT ASSISTANCE, HELP COMPLETING RENTAL ARREAR FORGIVENESS APPLICATIONS, AND EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. THROUGH OUR LEGAL SERVICES, WE PROVIDE FREE IMMIGRATION-BASED LEGAL SUPPORT TO REUNITE FAMILIES AND OFFER KNOW-YOUR-RIGHTS TRAININGS.

GET READY - AAFSC PREPARES FAMILIES TO LEARN, WORK, SUCCEED, GIVE BACK, AND LEAD HEALTHY, PRODUCTIVE LIVES. THROUGH OUR ADULT EDUCATION AND LITERACY PROGRAM, WE PROVIDE ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND CIVICS COURSES, CITIZENSHIP PREP, JOB READINESS SUPPORT, AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES. THROUGH OUR CAREGIVER-CHILD BONDING CIRCLES, WE PROMOTE SOCIO-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR CHILDREN 0-3 YEARS OLD AND THEIR PARENTS. THROUGH OUR YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULT PROGRAM, WE OFFER ACADEMIC TUTORING, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS, INDIVIDUAL MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING, AND ARTS ENRICHMENT TO DEVELOP YOUNG ADULTS' SKILLS AND SELF-RELIANCE AND HELP THEM SUCCEED.

COMMUNICATE - AAFSC EDUCATES COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABOUT THE POLICIES THAT AFFECT THEIR LIVES AND UPLIFTS THE EXPERIENCES OF IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE COMMUNITIES TO PARTNERS AND POLICY MAKERS. AS AN ADVOCATE FOR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, THE ARAB-AMERICAN FAMILY SUPPORT CENTER HAS LAUNCHED A RESEARCH INSTITUTE, WHICH WILL ENHANCE THE FIELD OF CULTURALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY COMPETENT DATA AND EVALUATION PRACTICES. WE ARE PARTNERING WITH ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS ON CRITICAL RESEARCH PURSUITS THAT HIGHLIGHT COMMUNITY NEEDS, INFORM CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE INTERVENTIONS, AND ELEVATE THE VOICES OF IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE COMMUNITIES IN THE RESEARCH SPACE.