Interfaith Works Of Central New York Inc

TO AFFIRM FAITH AND RELATIONSHIPS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY THROUGH EDUCATION, SERVICE AND DIALOGUE.

CENTER FOR NEW AMERICANS: DESPITE CHALLENGES THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC CREATED FOR EMPLOYMENT, EMPLOYMENT SERVICES PLACED 163 CLIENTS IN JOBS. THIRTY-EIGHT CLIENTS PARTICIPATED IN JOB READINESS CLASSES. THROUGH THE MATCHING GRANT EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM, 38 INDIVIDUALS WERE PROVIDED ALTERNATIVES TO PUBLIC ASSISTANCE BENEFITS AND REACHED SELF-SUFFICIENCY WITHIN SIX MONTHS AFTER ARRIVAL. THE INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM DELIVERED SUPPORT TO REFUGEE CLIENTS WHO NEEDED ASSISTANCE NAVIGATING THROUGH THE AMERICAN MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEMS. ADDITIONALLY, THE PROGRAM CONTINUED TO PROVIDE TOPS GIFT CARDS, CASH CARDS, GROCERIES, PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, TRANSPORTATION SUPPORT, AND EMERGENCY HOUSING ASSISTANCE AS PART OF ITS COVID-19 RESPONSE TO VULNERABLE REFUGEES. THE PATH TO CITIZENSHIP PROGRAM PROVIDED 40 HOURS OF FREE CITIZENSHIP PREPARATION CLASSES TO INDIVIDUALS TO PREPARE THEM FOR THEIR INTERVIEWS AND TESTS. ADDITIONALLY, CNA'S U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ACCREDITED STAFF ASSISTED INDIVIDUALS WORKING TO COMPLETE THEIR NATURALIZATION APPLICATIONS AND GREEN CARD APPLICATIONS. CNA CONTRACTED WITH ONONDAGA COUNTY TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR THE RENTAL RELIEF PROGRAM THAT BECAME AVAILABLE THROUGH THE COUNTY OF ONONDAGA'S FEDERAL COVID STIMULUS FUND. AS A RESULT, 113 FAMILIES WERE ASSISTED IN SUBMITTING FULLY COMPLETED APPLICATIONS FOR ASSISTANCE. A STUDENT INTERN STARTED A MONTHLY PERIOD PRODUCT DISTRIBUTION INITIATIVE TO DISSEMINATE COSTLY FEMININE HYGIENE PRODUCTS TO REFUGEE AND IMMIGRANT WOMEN AND GIRLS AT NO COST. THIS INITIATIVE IS NOW A PERMANENT MONTHLY PROGRAM. CNA'S MONTHLY DIAPER DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM CONTINUED TO SERVE FAMILIES THROUGH THE PANDEMIC. IN 2021, THE PROGRAM DISTRIBUTED 103,490 DIAPERS SAVING NEW AMERICAN FAMILIES $32,034. REFUGEES PLACED IN JOBS : 144 IN 2019 | 138 IN 2020 | 163 IN 2021

INTERFAITH INITIATIVES/ CENTER FOR DIALOGUE: BUILDING UNITED COMMUNITIES (BUC) WAS DEVELOPED TO CREATE DELIBERATE DIALOGUE AND INTENTIONAL DECISION-MAKING AMONG NEW AMERICANS/REFUGEES WITH TRADITIONALLY WHITE CONGREGATIONS. THE BUC PROCESS RESULTED IN THE CREATION OF A "RESOURCE MANUAL FOR FACILITATING CONGREGATIONAL UNITY WITH NEW AMERICANS." THE MANUAL IS NOW A PUBLIC OFFERING DOWNLOADABLE ON THE IFW WEBSITE. CDA LAUNCHED TWO NEW DIALOGUE INITIATIVES: 1.) DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, ACCESSIBILITY (DEIA) ROUNDTABLE, WHICH BRINGS TOGETHER DEIA PROFESSIONALS FOR THE PURPOSES OF NETWORKING, PROBLEM-SOLVING, SHARING OF INFORMATION, AND CONNECTION ACROSS INDUSTRIES AND 2.) FACILITATOR OUTREACH CDA HELD ITS FIRST "FACILITATOR GATHERING" TO RECRUIT, RETAIN AND ATTRACT A CADRE OF FACILITATORS FOR ITS DIALOGUE PROGRAMS. THE CHAPLAINCY, ALSO KNOWN AS OUR "SPIRITUAL CARE" PROGRAM, PROVIDED CARE TO JAMESVILLE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY, HUTCHINGS PSYCHIATRIC FACILITY, THE JUSTICE CENTER, ELDERWOOD NURSING HOME, CROUSE HOSPITAL, AND HILLBROOK DETENTION CENTER. THE PROGRAM SUCCESSFULLY PIVOTED FROM IN-PERSON TO "TELE-CHAPLAINCY AND BACK TO IN-PERSON AGAIN IN 2021. THE ONE EXCEPTION WAS CROUSE HOSPITAL WHICH CONTINUED TO REMAIN OPEN THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC. THE PANTRY PARTNERS HELD A FOOD DRIVE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE INTERRELIGIOUS FOOD CONSORTIUM AND COLLECTED MORE THAN 8,000 POUNDS OF FOOD THAT WAS DELIVERED TO OUR NETWORK OF 31 FOOD PANTRIES THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY. PANTRY PARTNERS ALSO COLLABORATED WITH THE NAACP TO HOLD A TURKEY AND GIFT CARD GIVEAWAY, RESULTING IN 100 TURKEYS AND GIFT CARDS BEING DISTRIBUTED TO SYRACUSE RESIDENTS FOR THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY. THE VACCINE PROMOTION PROJECT (IT STARTS HERE) RAISED AWARENESS, EDUCATED THE PUBLIC, AND FACILITATED REGISTRATIONS FOR COVID VACCINATION. THE BACKDROP OF THE PROJECT WAS TO DECREASE HESITANCY WITHIN BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES. THE ENGINE BEHIND THE SUCCESS OF THIS PROJECT WERE THE "COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS" WHO WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR GRASSROOTS OUTREACH IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. CDA EVENTSCDA HELD ITS MAJOR EVENTS VIRTUALLY IN 2021 DUE TO THE ON-GOING COVID-19 PANDEMIC.THIS WAS THE FIRST YEAR THAT THE ANNUAL DUCK RACE AND THE RACIAL JUSTICE AWARDS WERE COMBINED TO BECOME UNITED WE END RACISM. THE EVENT WAS ATTENDED ONLINE BY OVER 100 PEOPLE. FOR SPIRITUAL CARE DAY, THE THEME WAS "SPIRITUAL CARE FOR AFRICAN-AMERICANS IN THE AGE OF COVID-19 AND FEATURED GUEST SPEAKER DR. DANIELLE J. BUHURO, AN ACPE CERTIFIED CHAPLAIN AND AUTHOR OF "SPIRITUAL CARE IN AN AGE OF #BLACKLIVES MATTER," ADDRESSED NEARLY 100 PEOPLE VIRTUALLY.

SENIOR COMPANION: FORTY-TWO SENIOR COMPANION VOLUNTEERS PROVIDED COMPANIONSHIP SERVICES TO 97 ISOLATED OLDER ADULTS AND CAREGIVERS, DESPITE THE CHALLENGES OF THE PANDEMIC. AT TIMES, SENIOR COMPANIONS AND CLIENTS HALTED IN-PERSON VISITS, IN FAVOR OF PHONE CALLS, ZOOM MEETINGS, AND PORCH VISITS. FOR MOST OF THE YEAR, HOWEVER, SENIOR COMPANIONS CONTINUED WITH IN-PERSON VISITS, HELPING THEIR CLIENTS OVERCOME THE EXTREME ISOLATION, ANXIETY AND UNCERTAINTY OF THE ONGOING PANDEMIC. STAFF WORKED WITH CLIENTS AND VOLUNTEERS TO SHARE FACTUAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE VACCINE AND TO HELP THEM SIGN UP FOR VACCINATION APPOINTMENTS. WHEN POSSIBLE, STAFF HELPED VOLUNTEERS AND CLIENTS WITH TRANSPORTATION TO COMMUNITY VACCINATION CLINICS. ADDITIONAL FUNDING FROM AMERICORPS SENIORS, SENATOR RACHEL MAY, UNITED WAY OF CNY AND THE NYS CAREGIVER AND RESPITE COALITION MADE IT POSSIBLE TO EXPAND SERVICES TO OSWEGO COUNTY. COMPANIONS WILL PROVIDE IN-HOME COMPANIONSHIP AND RESPITE TO FAMILY CAREGIVERS, SUPPORT FOOD SECURITY BY DELIVERING FOOD AND MEALS, AND OFFER TRANSPORTATION TO ISOLATED SENIORS IN THIS HIGHLY RURAL COMMUNITY.ONE TO ONE PROGRAM: THE ONE TO ONE PROGRAM USES THE POWER OF VOLUNTEERS TO SPARK JOY AND CONNECTION FOR NURSING HOME RESIDENTS IN ONONDAGA COUNTY. WE SERVED 81 RESIDENTS THROUGH WEEKLY FRIENDLY CALLS AND IN-PERSON VISITS, AND MORE RESIDENTS WERE CONNECTED THROUGH REMOTE SOCIAL EVENTS, GIVEAWAYS AND DIGITAL PROGRAMMING. SIGNIFICANT FUNDING FROM THE MOTHER CABRINI HEALTH FOUNDATION AND UNITED WAY SUPPORTED THE EXPANSION OF PROGRAMMING IN 2021; THIS INCLUDED THE CREATION OF A NEW ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR POSITION, TO IMPROVE VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT, COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND STRATEGIC COLLABORATION WITH NURSING HOME FACILITIES.MUSIC & MEMORY PILOT: WORKING WITH THE NOTTINGHAM'S MEMORY CARE UNIT, A MUSIC & MEMORY PROGRAM WAS CREATED. USING SIMPLE MP3 PLAYERS, VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF HELP RESIDENTS LISTEN TO PERSONALIZED PLAYLISTS. LISTENING TO MUSIC IS ESPECIALLY POWERFUL FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING MEMORY LOSS; MUSIC HELPS PEOPLE CONNECT WITH "LOST" MEMORIES, IMPROVES MOOD, DECREASES ANXIETY AND SPARKS JOY.SERVICES FOR OLDER REFUGEES: MANY OLDER REFUGEES FACE SIGNIFICANT BARRIERS TO GAINING THEIR CITIZENSHIP, INCLUDING LANGUAGE AND MEMORY CHALLENGES. TO OVERCOME THESE BARRIERS, GATHER AROUND ENROLLED 12 ELDERS IN A PILOT "AGE-FRIENDLY" PRE-CITIZENSHIP CLASS. THIS CONVERSATIONAL ENGLISH CLASS USES U.S. HISTORY, CULTURE AND POLITICS AS A BASIS FOR VOCABULARY AND LEARNING ACTIVITIES. THROUGH THIS CLASS, OLDER REFUGEES GAINED CONFIDENCE USING THEIR ENGLISH SKILLS AND BUILDING A FOUNDATION FOR THEIR PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP. PARTICIPANTS LOGGED ON TO THE REMOTE CLASS TWICE WEEKLY FOR INSTRUCTION, CONVERSATION AND SOCIALIZATION. NEIGHBORHOOD ADVISOR: NEW FUNDING IN 2021 CREATED A NEIGHBORHOOD ADVISOR POSITION IN SENIOR SERVICES. A NEIGHBORHOOD ADVISOR IS A RESOURCE AND REFERRAL SPECIALIST WHO PROVIDES ONE-ON-ONE COUNSELING TO ADULTS 60 YEARS OLD AND OVER AND TO CAREGIVERS. THE GOAL OF THE PROGRAM IS TO SUPPORT 800 OLDER PEOPLE AND CAREGIVERS ANNUALLY, CONNECTING THEM WITH THE INFORMATION AND SERVICES THEY NEED TO LIVE AT HOME FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE AND AGE WITH DIGNITY. THE ADVISOR SERVES OLDER ADULTS AND CAREGIVERS THROUGHOUT ONONDAGA COUNTY, WITH A FOCUS ON REACHING OLDER ADULTS WITH LIMITED ENGLISH AND ELDERS FROM BLACK, BROWN AND INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES. THIS PROGRAM IS FUNDED BY THE ONONDAGA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF ADULT AND LONG-TERM CARE.DIGITAL INCLUSION: THE COVID PANDEMIC HIGHLIGHTED AND EXACERBATED DIGITAL INEQUITIES IN OUR COMMUNITY. OLDER ADULTS ARE MORE LIKELY THAN OTHER AGE GROUPS TO BE WITHOUT BROADBAND INTERNET, AND TO NOT HAVE THE DIGITAL LITERACY NEEDED TO SAFELY AND EFFECTIVELY USE TECHNOLOGY TO ACCOMPLISH THINGS THEY WANT AND NEED TO DO. TO ADDRESS THESE CHALLENGES, THE DIGITAL INCLUSION PROGRAM WORKED WITH 50 OLDER ADULTS MOST OF WHOM ARE LOW-INCOME TO TEACH THEM DIGITAL LITERACY SKILLS, INCLUDING HOW TO NAVIGATE WEBSITES, USE EMAIL, LAUNCH A ZOOM MEETING, AND FIND RECREATION ACTIVITIES ONLINE. THIS PROGRAM INCLUDES A BASIC SKILLS DIGITAL LITERACY COURSE, WORKSHOPS, AND ONE-ON-ONE COACHING WITH DIGITAL NAVIGATORS. PARTICIPANTS LEARN ABOUT LOW-COST INTERNET OPTIONS AND ARE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE TABLETS AND OTHER DEVICES.THE GREATER SYRACUSE AGING SERVICES COALITION: TOGETHER WITH AGING SERVICE PROVIDERS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND ANYONE WHO CARES ABOUT AGING, THE SENIOR SERVICES DEPARTMENT CONVENES THE GREATER SYRACUSE AGING SERVICES COALITION. THE COALITION WORKS TO INCREASE SOCIAL CONNECTEDNESS AND ADVANCE RACIAL EQUITY AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE FOR OLDER ADULTS IN ONONDAGA COUNTY. THROUGH A SERIES OF COMMUNITY CONVENINGS, OLDER ADULTS EXPRESSED A NEED FOR BETTER ACCESS TO SERVICES, MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT, AND AN INCREASE IN CULTURALLY SENSITIVE PROVIDERS. TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS, THE COALITION IS DESIGNING A "ONE STOP SHOP" PROGRAM MODEL; A ONE STOP SHOP IS A SINGLE, EASY-TO-ACCESS, RELIABLE PLACE FOR OLDER ADULTS AND CAREGIVERS TO GET THE HELP THEY NEED TO STAY SOCIALLY CONNECTED AND AGE WELL.