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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOshkosh Lao/Hmong Association 2/19/1988 AGREEMENT The City of Oshkosh, herein refered to as "CITY", and the Oshkosh Lao/Hmong Association Inc. , herein referred to as "ASSOCIATION", agree as follows: 1. The City shall: A. Provide funding of $20,000.00 to the Association for the purpose of personnel and office expenses for the 12-month period from March 1, 1988 through February 28, 1989. (1) Funding for this period shall be paid with the 1988-89 allocation of Community Development Block Grant funds. Should said funds not be received by the City or should the Federal Housing and Urban Development Department determine this activity or the sub-recipient to be ineligible for funding, this Agreement shall be null and void. (2) Beginning March 1, 1988, funds are to be released monthly upon receipt of proper invoice. B. Seek to encourage other agencies and private organizations to donate and/or coordinate their respective services with the Oshkosh Lao/Hmong Association's Mutual Assistance Center. 2. The Association shall: A. Develop and implement programs to enhance the economic self-sufficiency of refugees living in Oshkosh and to assist in the assimilation of the refugees into the community. (1) Said programming shall be in accordance with the objectives outlined in the Association's proposal to the City. (See Appendix A) B. Provide the City with an operating budget for the time period of this Agreement, and quarterly financial statements. C. Provide a copy of its annual audited financial statement. PAGE TWO D. Provide semi-annually, an assessment to be made internally by the Association, determining if the Mutual Assistance Center is accomplishing its objectives. A comparison will be made between the Mutual Assistance Center's achievements and its proposed objectives as stated in the Association's proposal. A statement of evaluation will be sent to the City within thirty (30) days following the completion of a quarter outlining how the projected program achievements compare to actual achievements (i.e. number of people served) . E. Agrees to and does hereby hold the City harmless and does hereby indemnify the City against any claims or demands of any person arising by reason of the Association's operation of the Mutual Assistance Center or any of said services to be offered. F. Require that any claims arriving from said operations shall be handled by the Association or its insurance carrier and said parties shall defend the City in any litigation arising from such claims, and pay any judgments obtained in any such litigation. 3 . Whenever either the City or the Association are unable to meet their full responsibility under the terms of this Agreement, adjustments to this Agreement may be mutually agreed upon with the written amendments attached to the original Agreement. 4. Funds to be provided by the City are received from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The Association further agrees to provide and maintain any and all documents required by the Federal regulations, and at the request of the City, shall make the documents available for monitoring. 5. Should it be determined by the City that the Association is not performing in accordance with this Agreement and the applicable Department of Housing and Urban Development regulations, the City, at its discretion, can terminate this Agreement, and recover funds allocated under this Agreement. PAGE THREE IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereunto set their hands and seals as of this `9skh day of r btvz-A vl) , 1988. WITNESS: OSHKOS LAO/HMONG ASSOC ATION ee G I BEE LO, PRESI T ©IA 6-� MOUA LOR, SECRETARY WITNESS: CITY OF OSHKOSH CITY MANAGER DONNA C. SERWAS, CITY CLERK APPROVED AS T. • ' : WARREN P. KRAFT ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY APPROVED AS TO FUNDING AVAILABILITY: EDWARD A. NOKES FINANCE DIRECTOR APPENDIX A r:ex `I)• OSHKOSH LikOffirifOiNG ASSOCIATION, INC. 1 "A Non-Profit Orsandation" - ":17,7X - . • -• . . • . . .• • . • . - • -- _ •_ . . . • . • • • . - . • • • • _ . -• • - , • • • • - _ • . . - _ • • WEI< Ra-UME SELF-SUFF IC acY PROJECT - - - • • - _ . - . _ . • • • SUBMITTED TO: The Huran Services Subcormittee Advisory C.armittee City of Cshi:osh 215 church Avenue BY THE Oshkosh LaciHmcng Association, Incorperated 2929 Harrison Street Oshkosh, Wisconsin 54901 TOTAL REQUEST: $20,000 Contact Person: Tony Eeregszazi Director of Comm:hi ty Services r7.----sr:f--.2 .4 ;•' g."' (414) 922-7760 ;1-wa :=.;:.2 tasa, i-1.0",/ 5 19'37 DEPi;i17.iEiT c . INTRCDUCTICN AND UPDATE The Oshkosh Lao/Hmong Association was first formed in November of 1983 to provide assistance to Southeast Asian refugees. During the past four years, Community Development Block Grant Funds have provided very critical support to the Associa- tion in providing needed services to the Lao/Hmong families in Oshkosh. The following is a listing of the accomplishments of the Association to date: • 1 . Development a- capacity to provide needed outreach, information and re- ferral , advocacy, translation/interpretation and counseling services for the 105 families (620 individuals) in a variety of employment, health, home management, housing and other areas . 2. Established a "Key State Initiative Project" that provides employment and training to the Southeast Asian community with funding from the State Department of Health and Social Services (Wisconsin Refugee As- sistance Office) . To date, 35 refugees have obtained employment. In addition, another 28 Hmong people have obtained self-employment in- come from participating in this project . 3. Established close working relationships with other resources in the community including Job Services , Fox Valley Technical College, ADVCCAP and other agencies in efforts to promote the self-sufficiency and employment of the Lao,/Hmong people. 4. Expanded the base of support to the Association and its endeavors by broadening the Board of Directors. All 6 Southeast Asian clans have equal representation on the Board. In addition 12 American representa- tives serve on the Board representing a variety of supportive constitu- encies . 5. Program administration and management have been subcontracted to ADVCCAP, Inc. A functional management information system and book- keeping system were implemented. 6. An audit has been successfully completed. 7. Planning is underway to develop a housing project to meet the needs of • large Lao/Hmong families involving the Housing Authority, City of Osh- kosh and ADVCCAP, Inc. 8. Admission to the Oshkosh Area United Way has been secured. Two Thou- sand Dollars was allocated for 1987. The 1988 allocation is unknown at this time. • 9. Planning has begun to explore the feasibility of all employee-owned business venture for the Hmong. The Wisconsin cooperative Development Council will conduct a feasibility study and provide a • business plan for this venture when a particular venture has been identified by the CLHAA Board of Directors . 10. The Association is now represented on the Oshkosh Community Housing Re- source Board. The following chart provides a quatitative report on all CL.HAA activities in the past year . GENERAL INSTRUCTICN Year-to Date Number of Refugee Households 105 Number of Refugee Persons 620 AFDC Dependent Household (78%) 82 SERVICES Emergency Services 28 Health and Related Services Home Management Services 43 Information, Referral and Outreach 2,564 Translation and Interpretation Services 361 Orientation Services 76 Employment Services 32 Advocacy 96 Counseling 178 Diagnosis/Evaluation Housing 42 ENPL OYNENT TRAINING REPORT Industrial Sewing Classes 4 Industrial Sewing Participants 12 Persons Placed in Full-Time Employment 18 Persons Placed in Part-Time Employment 17 Referral for Employment and Training 77 Follow-up Services 87 F CBLEM STATEVENT In order to insure the CLHAA' s services continue to remain responsive to local needs and resources , a comprehensive needs assessment survey was completed in August, 1984 which identified refugee demographics and characteristics and pro- vided a current profile of unmet refugee needs. The assessment has since been used constructively within the community to establish a service and information sharing network with other agencies and to rethink and readjust OLHAA' s service objectives for the future program year. In Oshkosh there are approximately 620 or more Lao/Hrmng refugee comprising 105 families . A very high percent of the Lao/Hmong population in Oshkosh are receiv- ing public assistance. The reasons for the welfare dependency among the local refugee population seems to be: 1. Limited educational levels. 2. Limited English speaking ability. 3. Lack of previous work experience and skills . 4. Large family size. 5. Welfare disincentives . 6. A depressed local economy. 7. Cultural beliefs which limit employment opportunities for certain groups . Women do not traditionally work outside the home in many re- fugee cultures . A shorter life span and early retirement means that many people over 40 do not expect to have to work. Early marriage and childbearing customs often limit the educational and employment oppor- tunities for youth. 8. Transportation difficulties . OVERVIEW Based upon the problems that were identified in the August, 1984 needs assess- ment the Association chose to concentrate initially on the development of a com- prehensive refugee employment, training and placement program. The program in a nutshell involved the hiring of a Job Service Specialist to work full time seek- ing jobs for the primary wage earner of a refugee family and the establishment of an industrial sewing machine training and placement program for secondary refugee wage earners . This year as part of the Key States Initiative, employment train- ing will focus on the self-sufficiency of the entire family unit . The priority will be to work with fewer families but the goal will be complete independence from AFDC. OLHAA believes these programs will provide employment for refugees; however , sustained employment and social self-sufficiency cannot be achieved • without the removal of certain cultural barriers and the provision of necessary support. By having funding limited almost exclusively to employment and train- ing, CLHAA may fail to address existing critical needs and thereby reduce the value of the services it does provide. The CLHAA proposes the following in order to continue to provide the critical linkages and supportive services to the Lao/ Hm ng people in Oshkosh. • Over the past four years , the Oshkosh Lao/Hmong Association has been able to establish an organizational basis for providing ongoing support services for Hmong refugees living in Oshkosh. This has been accomplished in large part due to the assistance provided by the City of Oshkosh thrw gh the Came nity Develop- ment Block Grant Program. While a base for meeting the immediate needs of the refugee community has been established, there continues to be a need to overcome critical barriers to the long term self-sufficiency of the refugee community. The needs and problems of the refugee community are escalating and becoming deep- rooted. At the same time, the refugee community continues to grow in the Oshkosh area. Services currently provided, while they are critical to meeting the ir�<oe- diate needs of refugees , are not adequate to overcome these changing and growing needs of the Hmong people. Cantiru ed need exists for assistance from the City of Oshkosh. PRccR M SJ M ARY This proposal identifies targeted problem areas that have been identified over the past year , and proposes a new project to address the long term self-suffi- ciency needs of the refugee community. The primary goal of the Association con- tinues to be self-sufficiency for refugee families . United Way funding in 1988 will enable the Association to provide basic services such as translation and outreach. DEG funding will enable the Association to strike out in a new direc- tion thrw gh the "Self-Sufficiency" Project proposed herein. The- Self-Sufficiency Project goes beyond basic services and attempts to establish new solutions to problems which have prohibited many refugee families from becom- ing self-sufficient . Independence from welfare will require targeted effort at barriers in the following areas: 1 . Language Training One key to overcoming a variety of barriers to full participation in the com- munity is the whole problem of English language skills . English as a Second Language Training is available through the VTAE school ; however , the acquisi- tion of adequate interactive language skills takes a very long time. It has been demonstrated that special language programs can have a quick and lasting impact on community integration. 2. Health and Mental Health A variety of problems have surfaced regarding the ability of refugees to ob- tain and utilize health services . The Interagency Committee on Hmong refugees has identified several problems which must be addressed if refugees are to obtain the services they need in the area of health and mental health. These problems are listed below. • Children sent to school without breakfast ; • Problems with forms for free hot lunch, so had no noon meal ; o Parents do not understand illness and send students to school when ill ; • Lack of knowledge of growth and development ; • Poor hygiene practices; • Problems with medication compliance; • Lack of knowledge on body parts , menstrual hygiene, pregnancy prevention; • Lack of perinatal knowledge; • Need to address mental health needs . 3. Employment Generating Activities For the past three years , the Association has provided employment training services for the Hmong funded through the Wisconsin Office of Refugee Assis- tance. These services have lead to successful job placements for some of the refugees especially for female refugees working at Oshkosh B'Gosh as indus- trial sewers. This approach has not been targeted to enable families to leave welfare dependency and since the refugees have very large families and lack high-wage, marketable skills , it is necessary to launch employment and income generating activities to augment the training activities . Several potential job creation and income generating alternatives have been discussed including: • Truck Farming • Restaurant • Auto Service Station • Industrial Sewing • Residential and Ccmnercial Cleaning • Day Care Center • Laundromat • Hmong Crafts Marketing Over the next twelvemonths , with the assistance of the City of Oshkosh, the Hmong Association and ADVOCgP, Inc. will undertake initiatives in each of these areas as described in the objectives section of this proposal . SELF-SUFFICIENCY PROJECT - 1988 - GI_ 1: (CDEG Funded Activities) To enhance the economic self-sufficiency of refugees living in Oshkosh by over- coming targeted barriers to employment and self-sufficiency. LANGUAGE TRAINING CBJECfIVES: To provide additional support and services to Hmong enrolled in English Second Language courses . To explore alternative new methods to increase adult English Language Literacy and to implement an adult literacy training program in cooperation with the Fox Valley Technical College. To expand English Language Training to include intensive training in the follow- ing areas . • English for Employment • English for School and Human Services • English for understanding laws and the legal system • English for medical understanding and treatment HEALTH AND VENTAL HEALTH OBJECTIVES: To provide culturally sensative training for area health care professionals re- garding attitudes , experience and beliefs of refugees on health (and especially mental health) . To provide increased training to Hmong staff in the area of community health services and practices . To provide training and individual instruction to refugee families in the use of American health care services . EVPLOYtVE'rr GENERATING ACT I V I T I ES OBJECTIVES: To establish, at least three, marketing opportunities for Hmong crafts persons . To develop a feasibility study and business plan for Hmpng (employee-owned) coop- erative to provide employment for refugees . To assist in the formation of one Hmong-owned business venture. To coordinate employment generating activities with other community economic de- velopment activities and employment training programs . HOUSING OBJECTIVE: To develop better linkages and communications with landlords to improve access to existing housing. To support the ADVOCAP Housing Project for Hmong refugees by organizing self-help housing activities . To provide tenant training to thong refugees. GOAL 2: (United Way Funded Activities) To provide basic community access services to refugees living in the Oshkosh area. OBJECTIVES: Provide information and referral services in the refugees native language to see that eligible refugees receive the necessary health, education and human services they are entitled to receive. Provide bilingual counseling, advocacy, interpretation for the courts , doctors , schools and other Oshkosh agencies. Establish a Speaker's Bureau to inform the Oshkosh community about refugees. Through this public relations effort , understanding will be promoted, untruths can be clarified and acceptance of the newcomers should be expedited. Bring in speakers to present survival information to the refugees on such topics as utility usage, money management , nutrition, health care, tax filing and food preparation. Bring into the Center isolated refugees , who are hardest hit by "cultural shock" and its resulting isolation and loneliness . Enhance the organizational capability of the Association to effectively adminis- ter and account for public resources . To continue to publish a bilingual newsletter on a quarterly basis . Describe the project objectives and activities in relation to the guidelines established by the Human Services Subcommittee. A. L.M. I. Benefit: 100% Direct Benefit . A survey of the Lao/Hmong population in Oshkosh reveals that more than 7096 of refugee families are receiving some form of public assistance. B. Irmpact: The emphasis of the project is on achieving economic and social self-suffi- ciency through employment and lasting community intergration. Achieving self-sufficiency includes related supportive human services , linkages and improved housing conditions . C. Residency All beneficiaries reside in the City of Oshkosh. D. Alternative Financing: No other funding sources are available to fully support these activities . Other funds and in-kind support from other organization have been mobilized to support the overall goal of integrating the refugee population into the comuun t ty of Oshkosh. E. Operating Support: CDBG support for this activity is an allowable under Federal Rule 570.201 (e) . These funds provide the critical funding of the Association as a focal point for refugee self-sufficiency in our community. DESCRIPTION OF APPLICANT CLEM is a non-profit agency serving all refugees located in the City of Oshkosh. The Association' s office is located at the ADVCCAP, Inc. offices, 2929 Harrison Street in Oshkosh. The basic structure of the Association is illustrated by the following organizational chart. - EXISTING TABLE CF CRCANIZATICN - I I Citizen of Oshkosh I I (Lao/Hmong Families ) 1 t I V Volunteer Committee I I I Federal , State, City Members 1 Board of Members I I & Private Foundation 26 Months I I Civic Organizations 1 — 1—�i Corporate Funding & Churches I Bee Lo, President ) I Regulatory Agencies I I I I r I I I ADVCCAP, Inc. I Contract Agent I I STAFFING Lao/Hmong Community Services Advocate. . . . Full time Pao Yang Job Developer Aide Full time Toukoua Lor Case Manager/Job Developer Full time Nazarine Vackey 1988 GLHAA GL-AA BUDGET CDBG PROPOSAL - . 88hman93 (11/2/87) CTY OF HANDS UNITED ADVOCAF TOTAL OSHKOSH AMERICA WAY SUPPORT ' REVENUES 51110 20000 7500 20000 3610 UNITED WAY 20000 0 ❑ 20000 0 HANDS A1ERICA 7500 ❑ 7500 0 ❑ CITY OF OSHKOSH 20000 20000 0 0 0 ADVGCAF SPORT 3610 0 0 0 3610 EXPENSES 51110 20000 7500 20000 3610 rrx�Ai'1NtL COST 42157 14307 7500 16740 3610 PARTICIPANT COST 0 0 ❑ 0 0 TRAVEL 552 351 0 201 0 CONTRACTUAL 1055 696 0 355 C SPACE COST 2170 1381 0 789 0 T F i FPHC1'E 1236 7E6 0 450 0 OFF ICE/PROGRAM SUPPLIES 2235 1421 0 814 0 IiELRANCE 453 268 0 165 0 EOU1PMENT COST 1147 (L`. 0 418 0 ii-ALNii' 65 4i 0 24 0