Capi Usa

CAPI USA'S MISSION IS TO GUIDE REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANTS IN THE JOURNEY TOWARD SELF DETERMINATION.

BASIC NEEDSIN 2023, CAPI'S BASIC NEEDS PROGRAMMING SERVED APPROXIMATELY 10,000 UNDUPLICATED INDIVIDUALS ACROSS 5 PROGRAM AREAS. KEY OUTPUTS AND OUTCOMES OF THIS UNIT'S PROGRAMS INCLUDED: FOOD SHELF & NUTRITION SERVICES: CAPI'S CLIENT CHOICE FOOD SHELF SERVED 921 HOUSEHOLDS AND 6,875 INDIVIDUALS IN 2023. SERVICES DISTRIBUTED 316,776 POUNDS OF FOOD, HOSTED 8 LARGE FRESH PRODUCE DISTRIBUTIONS, PROVIDED MONTHLY HOME DELIVERY SERVICES TO 53 SENIORS, AND OPERATED 23 COMMUNITY GARDENING PLOTS. CAPI ALSO HOSTED 12 ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTIONS (FOOD, BABY SUPPLIES, HOUSEHOLD GOODS, COVID KITS) TO 600 HOUSEHOLDS. BENEFITS ENROLLMENT CENTER: CAPI'S BECC COMPLETED 2,643 SCREENINGS FOR PUBLIC BENEFITS. OUT OF THESE SCREENINGS, 498 CLIENTS ENROLLED IN AT LEAST ONE PUBLIC BENEFIT; 172 ENROLLED IN MNSURE AND 326 ENROLLED IN EITHER SNAP, UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS, ENERGY ASSISTANCE, RENTAL ASSISTANCE, OR ANOTHER PROGRAM. CAPI SUBMITTED A TOTAL OF 774 APPLICATIONS ON BEHALF OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AN AVERAGE OF 1.5 BENEFIT APPLICATIONS PER CLIENT. HMONG SENIOR SUPPORT SERVICES: 97 HMONG SENIORS ACHIEVED AT LEAST ONE INDEPENDENT LIVING GOAL AND 65 HMONG ADULT CAREGIVERS INDICATED THAT THEY HAD ACQUIRED NEW SKILLS AND/OR ACCESSED ASSISTANCE SERVICES. THE MN BOARD ON AGING PROVIDED CAPI WITH A DEMENTIA GRANT IN JULY, ALLOWING US TO LAUNCH A MUSIC THERAPY CHOIR FOR HMONG SENIORS WITH DEMENTIA. THIS FUNDING ALSO ENABLES OUR STAFF TO CONDUCT DEMENTIA-RELATED OUTREACH IN THE COMMUNITY. WE CURRENTLY HAVE 9 CHOIR MEMBERS AND HOST WEEKLY CHOIR SESSIONS WHERE WE DISCUSS THE PREVALENCE OF DEMENTIA IN THE HMONG COMMUNITY, PROVIDE DEMENTIA EDUCATION, AND SING HMONG FOLK SONGS AND CHORUSES. IN 2023, WE ATTENDED THE HMONG NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS TO SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT DEMENTIA AND VISITED THE HMONG CULTURE MUSEUM WITH THE HMONG CHOIR. COMMUNITY HEALTH: CAPI REACHED 4,567 INDIVIDUALS THROUGH EDUCATION/OUTREACH EFFORTS, FACILITATED 59 IN-PERSON OUTREACH EVENTS/VACCINE & TESTING CLINICS, AND VACCINATED 2,090 PERSONS AT 59 VACCINATION CLINICS. WITH FUNDING FROM A HENNEPIN COUNTY COMMUNITY-LED TRAMA & WELLNESS GRANT, WE PARTNERED WITH YOGA SANCTUARY IN AUGUST 2023 TO PROVIDE YOGA CERTIFICATION TO 4 BIPOC INDIVIDUALS WHO WILL TEACH YOGA CLASSES/TRAINING FOR RESIDENTS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. WE HOPE TO HELP RESIDENTS IN LOW INCOME AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES BETTER USE HOLISTIC MEDICINE TO ADDRESS MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, PHYSICAL EXERCISE, AND STRESS REDUCTION. HOUSING STABILITY PROGRAM: THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC, CAPI RECEIVED FUNDS TO SUPPORT HOUSING STABILITY EFFORTS WITH RENTAL SUBSIDIES, RESOURCES TO AVOID HOMELESSNESS, AND EMERGENCY HOUSING ASSISTANCE. THIS PROGRAM ENDED IN MAY 2023. DURING THE LAST FEW MONTHS OF THIS PROGRAM, 11 ADDITIONAL FAMILIES AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS RECEIVED INTENSIVE CASE MANAGED SUPPORT. CAPI PROVIDED 9 OF THESE FAMILIES WITH DIRECT ONE-TIME RENTAL SUBSIDIES DESIGNED TO PREVENT EVICTION OR IDENTIFY EMERGENCY HOUSING RESOURCES FOR AVOIDING HOMELESSNESS. CAPI CONNECTED 12 FAMILIES WITH EMERGENCY HOUSING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.

ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENTIN 2023, CAPI SERVED 851 UNDUPLICATED INDIVIDUALS THROUGH JOBS AND TRAINING PROGRAMMING, FINANCIAL AND HOMEOWNERSHIP SERVICES, AND FREE TAX SERVICES. HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDED: CAREER PLANS 385 MFIP AND CAREER PATHWAYS PARTICIPANTS COMPLETED A WORK READINESS ASSESSMENT AND DEVELOPED A CAREER PLAN. JOB PLACEMENT, INCOME GAINS, & CREDENTIALS EARNED 147 INDIVIDUALS SECURED AND MAINTAINED EMPLOYMENT WITH AN AVERAGE HOURLY WAGE OF $20.03; 79 INDIVIDUALS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED TRAINING; 43 EARNED AT LEAST ONE INDUSTRY-RECOGNIZED CREDENTIAL IN HEALTHCARE MANUFACTURING AND/OR GREEN ENERGY.MINNESOTA FAMILY INVESTMENT PROGRAM (MFIP): SERVED 385 INDIVIDUALS IN 2023 AND OUR EDUCATION & CAREER COUNSELOR EFFECTIVELY PROVIDED INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES TO MFIP PARTICIPANTS SEEKING EMPLOYMENT OR TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES. WHILE MFIP PARTICIPANTS CAN LOSE INTEREST AFTER THE FIRST INFORMATIONAL SESSION DUE TO THE OVERWHELMING AMOUNT OF INFORMATION SHARED WITH THEM, OUR COUNSELOR HELPED THEM PROCESS THE INFORMATION, BREAK IT DOWN, AND SET UP EASY-TO-FOLLOW STEPS TO GET STARTED. CASE MANAGERS PROVIDED ONGOING SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY TO ENSURE SUCCESS. THE COUNSELOR ALSO ASSISTED THOSE SOLELY SEEKING EMPLOYMENT, ASSESSING THEIR SITUATION TO HELP THEM BECOME JOB READY. THIS INCLUDED RESUME BUILDING, COVER LETTER REVIEW, MOCK INTERVIEWS, AND EVEN PHYSICALLY DRIVING INDIVIDUALS TO INTERVIEWS. CAREER PATHWAYS: OUR TEAM SERVED 115 INDIVIDUALS IN 2023 AND CONTINUED ITS SERVICES THROUGH (1) PROPERTY MAINTENANCE TRAINING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CENTURY COLLEGE AND ROBBINSDALE ADULT EDUCATION; (2) GREEN ENERGY TRAINING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CENTER FOR ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT; (3) CERTIFIED NURSING ASSISTANT TRAINING; (4) AFRICAN IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY JOB PLACEMENT AND TRAINING SERVICES (WITH A SUBGRANT TO THE WILLMAR-BASED COMMUNITY INTEGRATION CENTER); (5) SOUTHEAST ASIAN JOB PLACEMENT AND TRAINING SERVICES; AND (6) INTERNATIONALLY TRAINED HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS PROGRAM FOR INDIVIDUALS SEEKING TO ACQUIRE INTERNATIONAL CREDENTIALS/TRANSCRIPTS REVIEWED FROM WORLD EDUCATION SERVICES, CONNECT WITH AND PASS BOARD/NATIONAL CERTIFICATION EXAMS, GAIN CREDIT FOR PRIOR HIGHER LEARNING, AND OBTAIN EQUIVALENT HEALTHCARE CAREERS IN THE UNITED STATES. EMPLOYMENT DEVELOPMENT AND GENERAL JOB SEARCH: GENERAL JOB SEARCH SERVICES SERVED 37 INDIVIDUALS IN 2023, RESULTING IN 21 PARTICIPANTS SECURING GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT. THE ROLE OF THE EMPLOYMENT DEVELOPER HAS LED TO A SIGNIFICANT EXPANSION OF CAPI'S NETWORK OF EMPLOYER PARTNERSHIPS. THIS INCLUDES FORMING NEW PARTNERSHIPS WITH SUCH EMPLOYERS AS: PROPERTY MAINTENANCE: AEON, SHERMAN ASSOCIATES, DOMINIUM AND EBENEZER SENIOR LIVING; AND RECENTLY, HENNEPIN COUNTY FACILITY SERVICES HEALTHCARE: M HEALTH FAIRVIEW, NORTH MEMORIAL, CHILDREN'S MN, EBENEZER SENIOR LIVING, RISEN HOME CARE; AND RECENTLY TOUCHSTONE MENTAL HEALTH, PRESBYTERIAN HOMES, OUR LADY OF PEACE, LIFESPARK, REGIONS HOSPITAL, GILLETTE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL GREEN ENERGY ALLIANCES: CEE, FRANEK CONSTRUCTION, ELEMENT INSULATION, AND CAPRW GENERAL EMPLOYER PARTNERS (NOT RELATED TO TRAINING): MEDTRONIC, MEDLINE, HILTON DOWNTOWN, GREAT WOLF LODGE, AND NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH INTEGER HOLDINGS, SCIENCE MUSEUM OF MINNESOTA, UPS, HYATT REGENCY, FOUR SEASONS MINNEAPOLIS, INDROTEC THROUGHOUT 2023, THE EMPLOYMENT DEVELOPER ORGANIZED SIX JOB FAIRS THAT COVERED BOTH INDUSTRY-SPECIFIC AND GENERAL JOB OPPORTUNITIES. THE EVENTS WERE WELL-RECEIVED, AND EMPLOYERS ACTIVELY PARTICIPATED IN TRAINING COHORTS, PROVIDING INSIGHTS, CONDUCTING MOCK INTERVIEWS, AND SHARING INFORMATION ON JOB OPPORTUNITIES AND PRACTICAL TIPS. LOOKING AHEAD TO 2024, THE EMPLOYMENT DEVELOPER WILL BE LAUNCHING THE RESTAURANT READY PROGRAM ALONGSIDE THE CONTINUATION OF JOB FAIRS AND EXPANDED EMPLOYER PARTNERSHIPS.FINANCIAL COACHING AND FINANCIAL EDUCATION THE INTEGRATED SERVICES OF CAPI'S FINANCIAL OPPORTUNITY CENTER (FOC) PROVIDED 82 NEW INDIVIDUALS WITH 1:1 FINANCIAL COACHING AND 76 EXISTING PARTICIPANTS FOR A TOTAL OF 158. 81% OF PARTICIPANTS INDICATED AT LEAST ONE KEY FINANCIAL OUTCOME. FOC STAFF WORKED WITH 47 INDIVIDUALS TO COMPLETE A FAMILY BUDGET; 41 ACHIEVED AT LEAST ONE GOAL OF THEIR ACTION PLAN, 47 INCREASED THEIR CREDIT SCORES, 9 PARTICIPANTS ESTABLISHED CREDIT FOR THE FIRST TIME, AND 126 CLIENTS COMPLETED FINANCIAL EDUCATION CLASSES (WITH 85% INDICATING ENHANCED KNOWLEDGE).HOMEBUYER SERVICES: IN 2023, 253 CLIENTS COMPLETED 8-HOUR HOMESTRETCH WORKSHOPS; 42 RECEIVED HOMEBUYER FINANCIAL WELLNESS OR HOMEBUYER COUNSELING, WITH 5 PURCHASING HOMES. CAPI HOSTED A MONTHLY HOMESTRETCH WORKSHOP TO ADDRESS LANGUAGE BARRIERS AND PARTNERED WITH HOUSING PROFESSIONALS WHO SPEAK SPANISH, HMONG, AND ARABIC. IN SEPTEMBER, WE APPLIED TO BECOME A HUD-APPROVED HOUSING COUNSELING AGENCY TO GROW OUR HOMEOWNERSHIP EDUCATION PROGRAM AND WE HAVE SINCE RECEIVED POSITIVE IN THE REVIEW PROCESS. FURTHER, WE JOINED SEVERAL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SESSIONS TO STRENGTHEN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT 279 COMMUNITY, INCLUDING THE 2ND HOMEOWNERSHIP DIVERSITY FAIR, FAMILY, & MULTILINGUAL FAMILY NIGHT. OUR AIM WAS TO HAVE MEANINGFUL CONVERSATIONS WITH SPANISH AND HMONG-SPEAKING FAMILIES ABOUT CREDIT BASICS, BANKING SERVICES, AND HOMEOWNERSHIP. WE HAVE OBSERVED THAT CREDIT AND SAVINGS ARE THE MAIN OBSTACLES PREVENTING FAMILIES FROM OWNING A HOME. TO HELP ADDRESS THIS ISSUE, WE ARE PART OF THE FAIR PROGRAM WITH PREPARE & PROSPER THROUGH SUNRISE BANK. THIS PROGRAM HELPS US OPEN CHECKING, SAVINGS, AND CREDIT BUILDER ACCOUNTS. ADDITIONALLY, WE COLLABORATED WITH EXODUS LENDING TO HELP PARTICIPANTS BREAK FREE FROM PREDATORY DEBT/LENDING. UNDERSTANDING THAT MANY PARTICIPANTS ASPIRE TO START NEW VENTURES, WE REFERRED THEM TO NDC, HAP, AND NEON. FINALLY, CAPI PARTNERED WITH SUCH ORGANIZATIONS AS US BANK, BANK OF AMERICA, WELLS FARGO, CROSS COUNTRY MORTGAGE, GUARANTEED RATE, NARHREP, AND AAREA TO PROMOTE ITS SERVICES.TAX CLINIC SERVICES IN 2023, A TOTAL OF 278 HOUSEHOLDS RECEIVED FREE TAX SERVICES THROUGH CAPI. THESE SERVICES RESULTED IN $642,358 IN REFUNDS, AND THE PARTICIPANTS' HOUSEHOLDS SAVED $41,700 ON FEES.

REFUGEE SERVICESIN 2023, THE REFUGEE SERVICES DEPARTMENT WAS CREATED AND SERVED 266 UNDUPLICATED INDIVIDUALS ACROSS 3 PROGRAM AREAS. KEY OUTPUTS AND OUTCOMES OF THIS UNIT'S PROGRAMS INCLUDED:AFGHAN HOUSING STABILITY PROGRAM IN 2023, 48 FAMILIES IN UNSTABLE HOUSING SITUATIONS WERE PROVIDED HOLISTIC CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES TO HELP THEM DECREASE LIVING EXPENSES, INCREASE THEIR INCOME, AND WORK TOWARD SUSTAINABLE HOUSING SOLUTIONS AND FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE. 100% OF THESE FAMILIES RECEIVED RENTAL SUBSIDIES FOR 3-MONTH INCREMENTS TO FURTHER HELP STABILIZE THEIR LIVING SITUATION. A TOTAL OF 256 INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN SUPPORTED THROUGH THIS PROGRAM IN 2023. AFGHAN CAREER COACHING PROGRAM THROUGH THE FEDERAL OFFICE OF REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT'S EMPLOYER ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM, CAPI'S AFGHAN CAREER COACHING TEAM HAS BEEN WORKING TO BUILD PARTNERSHIPS WITH EMPLOYERS TO FURTHER SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AND CAREER ADVANCEMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR AFGHAN EMPLOYEES. IN 2023, WE SECURED 4 NEW EMPLOYER PARTNERS WHO ARE COMMITTED TO PROVIDING ACCESSIBLE CAREER ADVANCEMENT PATHWAYS, JOB SKILLS TRAINING, AND WORK-BASED ELL COURSES. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LITERACY MN, WE DEVELOPED AN ENGLISH FOR CAREER ADVANCEMENT TRAINING, WHICH HAS SERVED 15 AFGHAN INDIVIDUALS THUS FAR. WE ALSO LAUNCHED A WOMEN'S WORK EXPLORATION & SUPPORT GROUP, ENROLLING 15 AFGHAN WOMEN WITH THE GOAL OF ENTERING THE WORKFORCE FOR THE FIRST TIME. THIS PROGRAM AIMS TO MEET WOMEN WHERE THEY'RE AT THROUGH PROVIDING A SAFE, SUPPORTIVE INTRODUCTION TO BASIC WORKPLACE ENGLISH AND US WORKPLACE CULTURE. THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS AND TRAINING, THE ACC PROGRAM SERVED A TOTAL OF 41 INDIVIDUALS IN 2023.COMMUNITY FRIEND VOLUNTEER PROGRAM FUNDED BY WELCOME.US, THE COMMUNITY FRIEND PROGRAM MATCHES VOLUNTEERS WITH AFGHAN FAMILIES WHO WERE EVACUATED TO THE US. VOLUNTEERS FACILITATE THIS CONNECTION OVER 6 MONTHS TO PROVIDE WORKFORCE AND SOCIAL SUPPORT AS FAMILIES ACCLIMATE TO LIFE IN MINNESOTA. IN 2023, VOLUNTEERS WERE MATCHED WITH 7 FAMILIES, SERVING A TOTAL OF 40 INDIVIDUALS.