Program content
Citizenship
CAI's staff and volunteer tutors prepare clients to properly complete their Immigration and Naturalization Service application forms, successfully graduate from citizenship classes, pass practice and actual citizenship interviews and tests, and recognize important changes to citizenship procedures.
Seniors
CAI's home care staff assists homebound seniors with a variety of household tasks, personal care, cleaning, and companionship. CAI also provides seniors with counseling and translation services, health screenings, recreational and social activities, and transportation to doctors, hospitals, and local government offices.Our Senior Health, Advocacy, Recreation and Enrichment (SHARE) program offers health intervention, counseling, meditation, nutrition, and social supports for the elderly. Generously supported by the Retirement Research Foundation , the program offers weekly activities, reducing the effects of isolation, depression and loss for seniors.
Employment Assistance
Employment Training & Development helps 200 adults each year interview, gain and maintain employment via assessments, computer training, bi-lingual translations, literacy instruction, job-readiness preparation, placement and on-going assistance. Last year, we reached two important milestones - we built a new computer learning center so that unemployed adults can obtain computer and literacy skills. Secondly, we provided employment services to 150 adults, and placed 115 adults in permanent, full-time jobs earning at least $8.00 per hour with benefits. Click here for a list of participating employers.
Family Health Outreach
Family Health Outreach improves the long-term health of Cambodian Americans through educational workshops, health fairs and home visits to prevent medical risks and ensure family well-being. During the past two years, we have formed a partnership with the Heartland Alliance in order to care for the uninsured. In addition, staff provide bi-lingual interpretation for 8-12 adults each week as they accompany them to physician and hospital visits.
Strengthening Families
Strengthening Cambodian American Families serves 24 families (at-risk youth and parents) each year through counseling, support groups, and after-school enrichment that promote self-confidence and alternatives to truancy and poor academic performance. In 2006, we led a nationwide organizing effort and health summit to establish the National Cambodian American Health Initiative (NCAHI), which now involves a 12 state effort to address trauma, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as diabetes and health disease that have reached epidemic proportions in the Cambodian-American community.
Children and Youth
Our children and youth programs consist of a Cambodian Cultural Dance Troupe enabling young people to serve as cultural ambassadors, learn intricate folk and Cambodian dance and preserve the unique Cambodian culture nearly obliterated by the Khmer Rouge. "Reach for the Stars" tutoring program pairs youth with volunteer tutors for homework help and positive interaction with supportive adults. A summer day camp program for 25 children, as well as a summer internship program for high school students round out our youth programs. We participate in Chinese Mutual Aid Association's Multi-Cultural Youth Project, a collaboration between Cambodian, Chinese, Vietnamese, Bosnian, Hispanic and African American youth, which has fostered leadership development among different cultures and ethnic groups.