Asian Association Of Utah

THE REFUGEE AND IMMIGRANT CENTER AT THE ASIAN ASSOCIATION OF UTAH (RIC-AAU) WAS FOUNDED IN 1977 AND IS A PRIVATE, NON-PROFIT, COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATION LOCATED IN SALT LAKE CITY. ORIGINALLY ESTABLISHED TO SUPPORT ASIAN IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES IN THEIR TRANSITION TO LIFE IN THE UNITED STATES, THE ORGANIZATION HAS EXPANDED ITS RESOURCES AND SERVICES OVER THE PAST 37 YEARS TO ASSIST REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD. TODAY, WE SERVE OVER 2,000 REFUGEES, IMMIGRANTS, AND OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS EACH YEAR. WITH OVER 60 STAFF MEMBERS, OUR BACKGROUNDS COVER 17 COUNTRIES AND OVER 30 LANGUAGES. WE ARE DEVOTED TO HELPING CLIENTS BECOME MORE SELF-SUFFICIENT IN THEIR DAILY LIVES, AND AIM TO REDUCE THE BARRIERS THAT REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANTS FACE WHEN ADAPTING TO LIFE IN THE U.S. WITH THE HELP OF STAFF, VOLUNTEERS, AND COMMUNITY LEADERS, WE ARE CONTINUALLY DEVELOPING AND EXPANDING OUR SERVICES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR CLIENTS. WE OFFER COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES IN ONE PHYSICAL LOCATION, RE

SEE SCHEDULE O REFUGEE EMPLOYMENT & SOCIAL SERVICES EMPLOYMENT: DIRECT EMPLOYMENT SERVICES ARE OFFERED THROUGH THE NEW EVIDENCE-BASED EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM, INDIVIDUALIZED PLACEMENT SERVICES (IPS). THE PROGRAM HAS SERVED OVER 40 CLIENTS IN THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2021, PLACING APPROXIMATELY 60% OF THE CLIENTS INTO PART TIME OR FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT. SUNNYVALE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER: THE SUNNYVALE NEIGHBORHOOD OF SALT LAKE COUNTY IS HOME TO MANY REFUGEE, IMMIGRANT, AND LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS. IT IS LOCATED IN WEST MILLCREEK. IN 2012, THE ORGANIZATION RECOGNIZED THE NEED FOR A PROGRAM BASED WITHIN THE SUNNYVALE NEIGHBORHOOD FOLLOWING CONCERNS FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS THAT NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS COULD NOT ACCESS MUCH-NEEDED SUPPORTS AND PROGRAMMING. TODAY, THE SUNNYVALE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER OFFERS AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS, SPORTS, AND AN ACCESS FOR OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBER TO UTILIZE THE SPACE. DURING THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2021, OVER 100 ADULTS AND 75 YOUTH NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS CAME TO THE CENTER FOR ASSISTANCE THROUGH DIRECT PROGRAMMING AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP. SOCIAL SERVICES: THE ORGANIZATION'S SOCIAL SERVICES CASE MANAGERS WORK TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN REFUGEES AND THE RESOURCES NECESSARY FOR INTEGRATION IN THE U.S. THEY PROVIDE ASSISTANCE WITH: LEGAL MATTERS, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, HEALTH COVERAGE, SAFE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING, SCHOOL ENROLLMENT, AND OTHER CRITICAL MATTERS. DURING THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2021, THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED A CLEAR PATH TO INTEGRATION FOR 41 REFUGEES THIS YEAR. YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES: THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES A HOLISTIC APPROACH FOR REFUGEE AND IMMIGRANT YOUTH AND THEIR PARENTS AS THEY ADJUST TO NEW SYSTEMS IN THE U.S. THE ORGANIZATION'S YOUTH AND FAMILY PROGRAM PROVIDES PARENTING CLASSES, AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS, AND YOUTH CASE MANAGEMENT. DURING THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2021, 39 PARENTS LEARNED NEW FAMILY SKILLS THROUGH OUR PARENTING CLASSES, WHICH WAS OFFERED IN THREE DIFFERENT LANGUAGES PROVIDING A TOTAL OF 576 HOURS OF PROGRAMING. THE PROGRAM PROVIDED OVER 2,400 HOURS OF DIRECT SERVICE TO 150+ YOUTH AND PARENTS BY OFFERING AFTERSCHOOL AND MENTORING PROGRAMMING.

SEE SCHEDULE O COMMUNITY WELLNESS THE ORGANIZATION IS LICENSED BY THE UTAH DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES AGES 12 AND ABOVE. THE COMMUNITY WELLNESS PROGRAM IS COMPRISED OF A HIGHLY EXPERIENCED AND CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE TEAM WHO SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS USING EVIDENCE-BASED MODELS WHICH PROMOTE RECOVERY FROM SUBSTANCE ABUSE, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND/OR VARIOUS MENTAL HEALTH ILLNESSES. SERVICES PROVIDED INCLUDE: BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TREATMENT AND THERAPY, MEDICATION MANAGEMENT, OUTPATIENT DRUG AND SUBSTANCE USE COUNSELING, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COUNSELING FOR BOTH VICTIMS AND PERPETRATORS, AND TARGETED BEHAVIORAL CASE MANAGEMENT. DURING THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2021, THE ORGANIZATION SERVED OVER 581 CLIENTS THROUGH THIS PROGRAM.

TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS (TIP) PROGRAM THE TIP PROGRAM IS FUNDED THROUGH MULTIPLE FEDERAL AND STATE GRANTS. THROUGH THESE GRANTS, WE ARE ABLE TO SERVE ALL VICTIMS OF BOTH SEX AND LABOR TRAFFICKING-REGARDLESS OF AGE, GENDER, AND IMMIGRATION STATUS. DURING THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2021, WE SERVED 163 PRIMARY SURVIVORS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING WITH AN ADDITIONAL 82 SECONDARY SURVIVORS FOR A TOTAL OF 245 INDIVIDUALS. CASE MANAGERS UTILIZE A COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES MODEL THAT ADDRESSES 17 COMPONENTS OF VICTIM NEEDS. IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING CASE MANAGEMENT AND WRAP AROUND SERVICES, WE OFFER OUTREACH AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES THROUGH TIP'S WEEKLY -DROP IN" CENTER; PROVIDED A PATHWAY TO SAFE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR 79 SURVIVORS; TRAINED 3905+ COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS; CO-HOSTED A STATEWIDE HUMAN TRAFFICKING CONFERENCE WITH 600 + ATTENDEES; ESTABLISHED 167+ NEW COLLABORATIVE PARTNERS, 10+ NEW/RENEWED FORMALIZED MOUS; AND DEVELOPED A MASTER LEASE CONTRACT, THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN UTAH, WITH THE SALT LAKE CITY HOUSING AUTHORITY TO SET ASIDE 3 HOUSING UNITS (SPACE FOR UP TO 12 SURVIVORS) SPECIFICALLY FOR TRAFFICKING SURVIVORS. THE TIP PROGRAM ALSO LAUNCHED THE STATEWIDE BE THE ONE IN UTAH'S FIGHT AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING CAMPAIGN WHICH INCLUDED A NEW TRAFFICKING SPECIFIC WEBSITE, SOCIAL MEDIA, MEDIA ADVISORIES, NEWS/MEDIA STORIES, BLOG, AND PRINTED AWARENESS MATERIALS DISPLAYED IN OVER 1400 LOCATIONS ACROSS 80 UTAH CITIES. THE CAMPAIGN DIRECTLY REACHED/ENGAGED 17,555 COMMUNITY MEMBERS, WITH AN ADDITIONAL 5.1 MILLION COMMUNITY MEMBERS EXPOSED TO/EDUCATED BY THE PRINTED AWARENESS SIGNAGE. THIS FISCAL YEAR TIP RECEIVED ONE NEW FEDERAL GRANT FOCUSED ON LABOR TRAFFICKING VICTIMS. AS THE LEAD VICTIM SERVICES PARTNER FOR THE UTAH TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS TASK FORCE, AAU'S TIP HAS PARTNERED WITH THE UTAH ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE SINCE 2015 TO CO-FACILITATE THE STATEWIDE TASK FORCE. THIS MULTI-DISCIPLINARY GROUP AIMS TO ENHANCE UTAH'S RESPONSE TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING THROUGH INVESTIGATION, PROSECUTION, AND ONGOING VICTIM SERVICES.

ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE (ESL) & LIFE SKILLS THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES THREE LEVELS OF CLASSES FOR ESL LEARNERS FROM NON-LITERATE TO INTERMEDIATE. THESE CLASSES ARE ALL TAUGHT BY TESOL CERTIFIED TEACHERS. WE FOCUS ON LIFE SKILLS FOR REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANTS WITH THE GOAL OF THE STUDENT BEING ABLE TO GAIN THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO GET A JOB AND BE SELF-SUPPORTING. WE EMPHASIZE DIGITAL SKILLS INCLUDING WRITING A RESUME, APPLYING FOR A JOB AND FINDING JOB RESOURCES ONLINE. ALL OUR CLASSES ARE ACCESSIBLE VIRTUALLY, THUS ALLOWING FLEXIBILITY FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE DEALING WITH JOBS, CHILD-CARE ISSUES, ETC. WE RESTARTED IN-PERSON CLASSES IN APRIL. SINCE THAT TIME, OUR ENROLLMENT HAS INCREASED TO APPROXIMATELY 40 STUDENTS ATTENDING REGULARLY. WE ALSO HAVE ABOUT 40 STUDENTS ATTENDING OUR VIRTUAL CLASSES. ON SEPTEMBER 21ST, WE'RE STARTING AN EVENING CLASS FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO ATTEND AN IN-PERSON CLASS BUT HAVE JOBS OR OTHER COMMITMENTS MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO ATTEND DURING THE DAY. ALL OF THESE OPTIONS ARE DESIGNED TO MAKE OUR ESL CLASSES ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE WHO WANTS TO ATTEND.