February has been a successful month filled with new programs at Arab American Family Services.
A partnership has been formed with Burbank School District 111, which will help strengthen the Parent Mentor Program. Rosa G. Maddock and Luther Burbank School are participating in hopes to allow immigrant parents to serve as tutors for English Language Learners. Each school that participates in the Parent Mentor Program pairs an Arabic speaking parent with a classroom teacher. The parent helps tutor students in reading and math to help them catch up to their English speaking classmates. This program does not require the parent to speak English.
AAFS, in partnership with the American Cancer Society, teamed up to help combat cancer. This partnership will help put cancer screenings at reach for Arab-Americans throughout the community. Through leadership, education, support and resources, AAFS will help to empower the community by promoting and educating the community on living a healthy lifestyle. Screening for breast cancer, cervical cancer and colon cancer will be easily provided for those who may have been afraid or uneasy to be tested for this horrific disease.
Also in February, AAFS members met with leaders from the Chicago Commission on Human Relations to get an in depth look on how to combat discrimination. The staff of AAFS were given the knowledge and information on where to refer their clients, in the event that clients felt they have been discriminated against. They discussed the different forms of discrimination, ranging from age, race, religion, ancestry, disability or source of income. Meetings like this give the staff of AAFS a stronger understanding on handling situations with clients.
The Student Success Tutoring Program, in partnership with VISTA and AmeriCorps, was developed to help tutor children in grades 3rd to 8th, who might need that extra push to get them through homework assignments and test preparation. The purpose of this program is to give Arab American students the help they need to successfully complete their assigned homework.
Beginning in February and continuing until further notice, CEDA home weatherization program for low income residents has begun. AAFS will be assisting applicants in various weatherization services such as providing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, to air sealing cracks and holes in the home, providing insulation in walls, attics and floors and repairing faulty and non efficient doors and windows.
These are a few positive changes that have taken place in February. For more information on either of these programs or for other services provided by AAFS, give us a call at (708) 599-8229.
(708) 599-2237
