Chinese Mutual Aid Association Inc

PROUDLY FOUNDED BY ETHNIC CHINESE REFUGEES, CHINESE MUTUAL AID ASSOCIATION (CMAA) IS LED BY MANY PROMINENT INDIVIDUALS FROM THE ASIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY. OUR PURPOSE IS TO SERVE THE NEEDS, PROMOTE THE INTERESTS, AND ENHANCE THE WELL-BEING OF LOW-INCOME, DIVERSE IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE COMMUNITIES ACROSS METROPOLITAN CHICAGO THROUGH SOCIAL SERVICES, ADVOCACY, AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING, AND ASSISTANCE FOR YOUTH, ADULTS, THE ELDERLY, AND SMALL BUSINESSES.

CITIZENSHIP EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENTADULT EDUCATION: THROUGH A GRANT FROM THE ILLINOIS COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD (ICCB), CMAA AND ITS PARTNER AGENCIESREPRESENTING THE LARGEST AND MOST DIVERSE CONSORTIUM IN THE STATE OF ILLINOISPROVIDED ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE (ESL) AND CIVICS CLASSES TO OVER 900 LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENT (LEP) IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES ACROSS CHICAGO IN FISCAL YEAR 2024. OUR PARTNERS INCLUDE THE BOSNIAN HERZEGOVINIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY CENTER, CHINESE AMERICAN SERVICE LEAGUE, ETHIOPIAN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION OF CHICAGO, ERIE NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE, HANA CENTER, HANUL FAMILY ALLIANCE, INDO-AMERICAN CENTER, AND ROHINGYA CULTURE CENTER. IN ADDITION TO ESL CLASSES, WE ALSO OFFERED ADULT BASIC EDUCATION (ABE) CLASSES TO HELP CLIENTS ENHANCE THEIR READING AND MATH SKILLS. WE PROVIDED BRIDGE AND INTEGRATED EDUCATION AND TRAINING CLASSES TO SUPPORT CLIENTS TRANSITIONING FROM EDUCATION TO EMPLOYMENT.CMAA SPECIFICALLY CONTINUED ITS HEALTHCARE EMPLOYMENT PREPARATION PROGRAM (HEPP), WHICH COMBINES CONTEXTUALIZED HEALTHCARE LITERACY CLASSES WITH HOLISTIC CASE MANAGEMENT TO ASSIST INDIVIDUALS PURSUING CAREERS IN HEALTHCARE. WE ALSO LAID THE GROUNDWORK FOR A SIMILAR OFFICE AND ADMINISTRATIVE TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM IN FISCAL YEAR 2023. HEPP, ALONG WITH ESL AND ABE CLASSES, IS AVAILABLE AT CMAA'S SATELLITE OFFICE IN ELGIN, IL, PRIMARILY FUNDED THROUGH ICCB.OUR ADULT EDUCATION CLASSES AIM TO EMPOWER STUDENTS TO ENGAGE FULLY IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, COVERING ESSENTIAL COMPETENCIES REQUIRED FOR CERTAIN ICCB-FUNDED COURSES. THESE TOPICS INCLUDE THE RIGHTS OF IMMIGRANTS AND U.S. CITIZENS, U.S. HISTORY AND GOVERNANCE, ACCESSING COMMUNITY RESOURCES, CONSUMER ECONOMICS, AND WORKFORCE READINESS SKILLS. ADDITIONALLY, THE IL SECRETARY OF STATE FUNDS CMAA'S TUTORING PROGRAM AS AN ALTERNATIVE OR SUPPLEMENT TO OUR ESL OFFERINGS, AS WELL AS OUR FAMILY LITERACY PROGRAMMING, WHERE PARENTS INVOLVED IN CMAA'S YOUTH PROGRAMS CAN PARTICIPATE IN ESL CLASSES.EMPLOYMENT:THROUGH A VARIETY OF FUNDING SOURCES, INCLUDING A GRANT FROM THE CITY OF CHICAGO'S DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES' COMMUNITY BLOCK DEVELOPMENT GRANT FOR THE EMPLOYMENT PREPARATION PROGRAM, AS WELL AS PRIVATE AND CORPORATE CONTRIBUTIONS, CMAA CAREER COACHES OFFER TAILORED EMPLOYMENT PREPARATION, REFERRALS, AND JOB PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED OR UNDEREMPLOYED. OUR CLIENTS COME FROM A WIDE RANGE OF PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUNDS, INCLUDING HEALTHCARE, HOSPITALITY, AND INDUSTRIAL SECTORS, AND POSSESS DIVERSE LEVELS OF EDUCATION. WHILE CMAA PRIMARILY SERVES IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES, OUR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IS ALSO WELCOMING TO U.S.-BORN RESIDENTS SEEKING SUPPORT WITH JOB READINESS TRAINING, RESUME WRITING, AND DIGITAL LITERACY SKILLS.IN FISCAL YEAR 2024, CMAA ASSISTED OVER 100 UNIQUE CLIENTS THROUGH BOTH WORKSHOPS AND INDIVIDUALIZED CASE MANAGEMENT. OUR CAREER COACHES ENGAGE ONE-ON-ONE WITH EACH CLIENT TO IDENTIFY BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT, CONDUCT CAREER SKILLS ASSESSMENTS, AND SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF PERSONALIZED EMPLOYMENT OR EDUCATION PLANS. OVER THE YEARS, OUR COMMITMENT TO QUALITY STAFFING HAS FOSTERED STRONG PARTNERSHIPS WITH EMPLOYERS SUCH AS WEISS MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, MARIANO'S/KROGER, O'HARE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, AND THE PENINSULA CHICAGO, CREATING VALUABLE PATHWAYS FOR OUR CLIENTS TO SECURE MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT.CITIZENSHIP:SINCE 1997, CMAA HAS OFFERED CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES TO LOW-INCOME IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES SEEKING TO APPLY FOR U.S. CITIZENSHIP AND OTHER BENEFITS. OUR DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (DOJ) ACCREDITED STAFF OFFERED INDIVIDUALIZED LEGAL COUNSEL AND CASE ASSISTANCE AT A LOW COST TO CLIENTS AND, OFTEN, IN THEIR NATIVE LANGUAGES OF VIETNAMESE, CANTONESE, OR MANDARIN. IN FY24, CMAA ASSISTED OVER 597 CLIENTS WITH A VARIETY OF SERVICES: OBTAINING OR RENEWING THEIR GREEN CARD, PETITIONING TO REUNITE FAMILIES BY SPONSORING MEMBERS LIVING ABROAD TO IMMIGRATE TO THE US, APPLYING FOR WORK AUTHORIZATION, APPLYING FOR CITIZENSHIP AND PREPARING FOR NATURALIZATION EXAM, AND PROVIDING COUNSEL OR REFERRAL FOR A HOST OF OTHER IMMIGRATION-RELATED ISSUES. IN FY24, CMAA SUBMITTED APPLICATIONS FOR CITIZENSHIP ON BEHALF OF 204 CLIENTS.

SOCIAL SERVICES: CMAA'S SOCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT WORKS WITH THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES (IDHS), ILLINOIS COALITION FOR IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE RIGHTS (ICCIR), THE COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION OF COOK COUNTY, INC. (CEDA), ELGIN TOWNSHIP, AND THE GRANT VICTORIA FOUNDATION TO BREAK DOWN LANGUAGE AND CULTURAL BARRIERS BY HELPING LOW-INCOME CLIENTS AND FAMILIES IDENTIFY AND ACCESS BENEFITS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO THEM THROUGH LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL PROGRAMS. OUR ILLINOIS WELCOMING CENTER (IWC) PROGRAM SERVES MORE THAN 450 ASYLEES, IMMIGRANTS, REFUGEES, AND LIMITED ENGLISH-SPEAKING HOUSEHOLDS WITH VARIOUS NEEDS EVERY YEAR. IN FY24, OUR DIRECT SERVICE STAFF ASSISTED OVER 2,000 FAMILIES IN APPLYING FOR LIHEAP, ALL KIDS, SNAP, MEDICAID APPLICATION, TANF, IFRP, IWC, AND OTHER PUBLIC BENEFITS.

GOLDEN AGE CLUB: CMAA HOSTS THE GOLDEN AGE CLUB IN OUR CHICAGO AND ELGIN OFFICES. THE GOAL OF THE GOLDEN AGE CLUB IS TO PROVIDE OLDER ADULTS WITH A SAFE ENVIRONMENT TO GATHER TOGETHER FOR SOCIAL ACTIVITIES SUCH AS KARAOKE, DANCING, AND BINGO TO COMBAT SOCIAL ISOLATION. THE EXPANSION OF THE GOLDEN AGE CLUB INTO ELGIN BEGAN IN SEPTEMBER OF 2022 WITH THE FUNDING OF THE LEGISLATIVE ADD-ON PROVIDED BY THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES. EACH YEAR, CMAA HOSTS A PARENT'S DAY EVENT IN JUNE AND A WINTER HOLIDAYS LUNCHEON IN DECEMBER FOR OUR MEMBERS. CURRENTLY, CMAA'S GOLDEN AGE CLUB HAS 130-150 ACTIVE MEMBERS FOR BOTH THE CHICAGO AND ELGIN LOCATIONS. CMAA ALSO ENDEAVORS TO COACH OUR IMMIGRANT OLDER ADULTS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF BECOMING MORE CIVICALLY INVOLVED AND ANNUALLY BRINGS A GROUP OF SENIORS TO CHICAGO'S CITY HALL AND TO THE ILLINOIS STATE CAPITOL IN SPRINGFIELD.IN HOME SERVICES: CMAA CONTRACTED WITH THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT ON AGING'S COMMUNITY CARE PROGRAM (CCP) AND PARTNERED WITH MANAGED CARE ORGANIZATIONS (MCOS), INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD, AETNA BETTER HEALTH, AETNA BETTER HEALTH OF ILLINOIS, MERIDIAN HEALTH, MERIDIAN COMPLETE, MOLINA, COUNTYCARE, AND HUMANA IN PROVIDING VITAL SERVICES FOR OLDER ADULTS LIVING IN CHICAGO AND THE SUBURBS. THE CCP, IN-HOME SERVICES AIMS TO FACILITATE AND SUPPORT OLDER ADULTS LIVING IN THEIR OWN HOMES WHILE AGING IN PLACE. AS A PROVIDER OF IN-HOME SERVICES, WE ALSO WORK WITH CARE COORDINATION UNITS (CCU) I.E., THE CATHOLIC CHARITIES, PREMIER HEALTH, AND CCSI IN PROVIDING PERSON-CENTERED ASSESSMENTS AND DESIGNING CARE PLANS FOR PARTICIPANTS. OUR DEDICATED TEAM OF OVER 300 HOME CARE AIDES AND ADMIN STAFF OFFERS QUALITY CARE TO A DIVERSE OLDER ADULT POPULATION, OVER 395 SENIORS, SPEAKING LANGUAGES THAT INCLUDE CANTONESE, MANDARIN, TAISHANESE, VIETNAMESE, BURMESE, BOSNIAN, SERBIAN, CROATIAN, LAO, THAI, NEPALESE, SPANISH, TAGALOG, KHMER, ROMANIAN, TIBETAN, TEOCHEW, TIGRINYA, HINDI, AND KOREAN. OUR CAREGIVING TEAM COMPRISES MORE THAN 290 EXPERIENCED HOME CARE AIDES AND 10 STAFF MEMBERS. CMAA IS A MEMBER OF THE ILLINOIS ASSOCIATION OF THE COMMUNITY CARE PROGRAM HOMECARE PROVIDERS (IACCPHP) AND A MEMBER OF THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT ON AGING'S (IDOA) COMMUNITY CARE PROGRAM ADVISORY COMMITTEE (CCPAC). OUR DIRECTOR OF ELDERLY CARE AND SOCIAL SERVICES SERVES ON THE CCPAC AND IACCPHP BOARD TO ADVOCATE FOR THE OLDER ADULTS SERVED, HOME CARE AIDES, AND PROVIDERS. TOGETHER AS AN ORGANIZATION, OUR DIRECTOR OF ELDERLY CARE AND SOCIAL SERVICES AND THE CCP STAFF CONSISTENTLY ENGAGE IN EVALUATING AND PROVIDING RECOMMENDATIONS TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF THE COMMUNITY CARE PROGRAM STATE-WIDE THROUGH ADVOCACY. WE PARTNERED AND HOUSED THE BOSNIAN HERZEGOVINIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY CENTER (BHACC) ON THE GOLDEN AGE CLUB, SOCIAL SERVICES, AND CCP.

YOUTH SERVICES: CMAA'S YOUTH DEPARTMENT SERVES IMMIGRANT-ORIGIN, REFUGEE, AND BIPOC YOUTH RESIDING IN CHICAGO'S NORTHSIDE NEIGHBORHOODS. CMAA FOUNDED OUR YOUTH DEPARTMENT TO ADDRESS THE LACK OF SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR THE IMMIGRANT-ORIGIN YOUNG PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY, WHO ARE OFTEN UNDER-RESOURCED, MARGINALIZED, AND AT HIGH RISK FOR SOCIAL ISOLATION. OUR PROGRAMMING CELEBRATES THE ASSETS OF IMMIGRANT-ORIGIN STUDENTS, DEVELOPS YOUTH LEADERS, AND SUPPORTS THE ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF OUR STUDENTS. ACROSS OUR OFFERINGS, CMAA SERVED 201 YOUNG PEOPLE, OFFERING OVER 1,200 HOURS OF PROGRAMMING IN FISCAL YEAR 2024. CMAA'S FLAGSHIP YOUTH PROGRAM, DIVERSE YOUNG LEADERS (DYL) IS AN OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME (OST) ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT PROGRAM THAT SERVES IMMIGRANT ORIGIN, REFUGEE, AND BIPOC IN KINDERGARTEN-8TH GRADE STUDENTS RESIDING IN CHICAGO'S NORTHSIDE NEIGHBORHOODS. FOCUSING ON HOLISTIC YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, OUR STUDENTS BUILD CRITICAL ACADEMIC SKILLS AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL COMPETENCIES. TOGETHER, THESE SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES CARRY STUDENTS THROUGH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, HIGH SCHOOL, AND HIGHER EDUCATION. DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS, DYL TRANSITIONS TO OFFER SIX WEEKS OF FULL-DAY SUMMER CAMP.FOR DYL STUDENTS, DAILY TUTORING IS BENEFICIAL BECAUSE, FOR A MAJORITY OF OUR STUDENTS, THEIR PARENT(S) OR CAREGIVER(S) ARE NOT AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE REGULAR ACADEMIC SUPPORT. ACCORDING TO END-OF-YEAR SURVEY RESULTS, 87% OF STUDENTS FELT THAT CMAA HELPED THEM ACADEMICALLY, AND A HANDFUL OF STUDENTS EVEN INDICATED THEY ENROLLED IN CMAA'S DYL PROGRAM FOR TUTORING AND ACADEMIC SUPPORT. SAFE AND HEALTHY ADULT RELATIONSHIPS CONTINUE TO BE A CORNERSTONE OF OUR PROGRAM, AND IN FY24, CMAA MADE KEY PROGRAM ENHANCEMENTS TO SUPPORT THE SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF OUR STUDENTS. SPECIFICALLY, WE IMPLEMENTED RESTORATIVE JUSTICE INTO OUR PROGRAM'S CURRICULUM, FOSTERED OPPORTUNITIES FOR CULTURAL CONNECTION THROUGH OUR DANCE PROGRAMS, AND CONNECTED STUDENTS TO RESOURCES BEYOND CMAA'S PROGRAMS THROUGH PARTNER WORKSHOPS HOSTED ON-SITE AND OFF. AT THE END OF THE ACADEMIC YEAR, 94% OF DYL STUDENTS INDICATED THEY FELT THEY HAD A POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH DYL STAFF, INDICATING CMAA INSTRUCTORS WERE HELPFUL, SAFE TO TALK TO, OR ENJOYABLE TO WORK WITH. FURTHERMORE, 76% OF DYL STUDENTS REPORTED FEELING HAPPIER AND LESS STRESSED SINCE ATTENDING PROGRAMMING AT CMAA.IN FY24, CMAA'S FAMILY LITERACY PROGRAM RESPONDED TO THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY, CHANGING THE PROGRAM STRUCTURE TO SERVE NEW ARRIVAL MIGRANT FAMILIES HOUSED AT A NEARBY COMMUNITY CENTER TURNED INTO AN AD-HOC SHELTER. CMAA PARTNERED WITH CHICAGO'S 48TH WARD TO PROVIDE HOLISTIC SUPPORT TO FAMILIES WHILE THEY WERE STAYING IN THE SHELTER. CMAA SERVED OVER 20 FAMILIES, OFFERING ESL CLASS AND CHILDCARE ON-SITE AT THE CHICAGO FRIENDS SCHOOL, JUST A BLOCK AWAY FROM THE SHELTER. CMAA PROVIDED OVER 100 HOURS OF ADULT EDUCATION SERVICES, 32 HOURS OF LIBRARY SERVICES, 31 HOURS OF PARENT RESOURCE SERVICES, AND 30 HOURS OF PARENT AND CHILD TOGETHER (PACT) ACTIVITIES. ALL PARTICIPATING FAMILIES RECEIVED LIBRARY CARDS AND ENGAGED IN MONTHLY LITERACY-THEMED ACTIVITIES WITH THE CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY BRANCH CLOSEST TO THE SHELTER, THE EDGEWATER BRANCH. CMAA'S COHORT-BASED MENTORING PROGRAMS, YOUNG WOMEN WARRIORS (YWW) AND YOUNG MEN MAKING MOVES (YMMM) SERVE IMMIGRANT-ORIGIN MENTEES AGES 12-22. DUE TO LANGUAGE, CULTURE, AND TECHNOLOGY BARRIERS, THEY OFTEN NAVIGATE ECONOMIC, EDUCATIONAL, AND SOCIAL SYSTEMS ALONE, INCLUDING HIGH SCHOOL, HIGHER EDUCATION, AND THE PROFESSIONAL WORKPLACE. YWW AND YMMM CONNECT ADOLESCENT MENTEES WITH A SUPPORTIVE NETWORK OF ADULTS AND FACILITATE PROGRAM ACTIVITIES THAT BUILD LEADERSHIP SKILLS, SUPPORT COLLEGE ACCESS, AND PROVIDE CAREER PATHWAY EXPLORATION TO GUIDE MENTEES THROUGH THE TRANSITIONAL STAGES OF ADOLESCENCE AND BEYOND. TO ACHIEVE THIS, CMAA FACILITATES REGULAR BIMONTHLY PROGRAM OFFERINGS. FIRST, MENTORS AND MENTEES JOIN TOGETHER FOR A SKILL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP (SDW), WHICH SUPPORTS MENTEE CAREER EXPLORATION. EACH SDW FOCUSES ON EXPOSURE TO CAREER FIELDS, INTERESTS, AND HOBBIES. PREVIOUS TOPICS INCLUDE POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT, FINANCIAL LITERACY, AND MENTAL HEALTH. FOR THE SECOND MEETING, MENTORS AND MENTEES ENJOY A RECREATIONAL ACTIVITY (RA). RAS PROVIDE EXPOSURE TO NEW ACTIVITIES AND A SPACE FOR MENTEES AND MENTORS TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS AND EXPERIENCE JOY TOGETHER. PAST ACTIVITIES INCLUDE ROLLER SKATING, COOKING, AND JEWELRY-MAKING. AT THE END OF FY24, 90% OF MENTEES REPORTED SAFE AND POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH PROGRAM MENTORS, AND 85% REPORTED HAVING POSITIVE PEER CONNECTIONS WITH OTHER MENTEES. SKILL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS CONTRIBUTED TO THE GROWTH OF OUR MENTEES, WITH 87% OF MENTEES EXPRESSING CONFIDENCE IN THE PRACTICALITY OF THESE SKILLS FOR THEIR FUTURE.IN FY24, CMAA EXPANDED OUR INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT OF MENTEES, DESIGNING AND LAUNCHING OUR "PIVOTAL TRANSITIONS" CURRICULUM TO SUPPORT MENTEES DURING KEY STAGES OF ADOLESCENCE. IN OUR FIRST YEAR OF THE CURRICULUM, CMAA OFFERED SUPPORT TO 8TH GRADERS, INCLUDING TUTORING FOR THE CPS HSAT AND HIGH SCHOOL PREPARATION WORKSHOPS. CMAA SUPPORTED HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS PREPARING FOR COLLEGE, OFFERING SAT TUTORING, SCHOLARSHIP RESOURCES, AND APPLICATION SUPPORT. FINALLY, CMAA ASSISTED MENTEES IN PREPARING FOR THEIR CAREERS BY INTRODUCING INTERNSHIP STIPENDS DESIGNED TO ALLOW MENTEES TO SEEK AND SECURE UNPAID INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCES IN THEIR FIELDS OF INTEREST WITH FUNDING PROVIDED BY CMAA. THESE STIPENDS PROVIDE MENTEES WITH CAREER EXPOSURE EXPERIENCES WITHOUT THE FINANCIAL BURDEN OF ENGAGING IN UNPAID LABOR DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR OR SUMMER.FINALLY, CMAA'S YOUTH DEPARTMENT OVERSEES TIGER TUTOR, OUR AGENCY'S FIRST SOCIAL ENTERPRISE INITIATIVE. A TEST PREPARATION AND TUTORING PROGRAM, TIGER TUTOR FOCUSES ON INDIVIDUALIZED, HIGH-QUALITY INSTRUCTION TO HELP STUDENTS ACHIEVE THEIR ACADEMIC AND COLLEGIATE GOALS AND CURRENTLY PROVIDES SMALL GROUP TUTORING AND ONE-ON-ONE INSTRUCTION. TIGER TUTOR HELPS STUDENTS WHILE SUCCESSFULLY HELPING CMAA DIVERSIFY ITS REVENUE STREAMS, ENSURING OUR AGENCY CAN CONTINUE TO PROVIDE VITAL SOCIAL SERVICES TO OUR COMMUNITY.