The Children, Youth, & Family Services Department, known as CYF, is focused on providing activities specialized to children and youth.
CYF provides programming for pre-K through 12th-grade development, acculturation, academic support, and enrichment through a culturally competent lens by creating opportunities for positive peer experiences and leadership building. As ASIA’s oldest social services department, we arrange language-specific peer support groups for women, parenting education, and advocacy for refugee/immigrant parents of children and youth.
Department Overview
Program Goals
CYF prevention programs are funded by the Cuyahoga County ADAMHS and Summit County ADM Boards. One core objective of the programs is to defer the onset of violence, alcohol, tobacco and other drug use (VATOD) among at risk immigrant children and youth as well as their families. With much of the outreach directed to families of limited English proficiency, living in inner-city communities, the program seeks to impact environmental risk factors that influence VATOD. Akron Community Foundation offers additional funding in order to invest in the Greater Akron community to promote quality of life, education, and economic opportunities for its people.
CYF programs also address the socio-emotional challenges confronted by limited English proficient refugee children (ages 14-19) as they transition to American culture. The programs are based in Akron Public Schools, Cuyahoga Falls City Schools District, Lakewood City School District, and Cleveland Metropolitan School District, which have large newcomer populations. They represent a diverse mix of ethnicities including Burmese, Chinese, Vietnamese, Ka'Ren, Nepali, Afghani, Pakistani, Arabic, Hispanic, and Congolese.
Program Means
Certified prevention specialists from the CYF staff educate students on dangers of VATOD along with offering alternative healthy choices.
CYF is staffed with bilingual and bicultural educators who assist students with the following:
· Educational development (e.g., assistance with attendance & parent communication)
· Academic assistance (e.g., homework help & ELL supplemental activities)
· Prevention Strategies (e.g., refusal skills)
· Acculturation and enrichment (social-emotional-behavioral assistance, holistic development, & co-curricular activities)
The program uses an adjusted Botvin Life Skills curriculum, a highly interactive, skills-based program designed to promote positive health and personal development for youth. The Life Skills program utilizes developmentally appropriate, collaborative learning strategies to help students identify stressors, achieve competency in skills that have been shown to prevent substance use, violence, and build protective factors.
CYF programs also address the socio-emotional challenges confronted by limited English proficient refugee children (ages 14-19) as they transition to American culture. The programs are based in Akron Public Schools, Cuyahoga Falls City Schools District, Lakewood City School District, and Cleveland Metropolitan School District, which have large newcomer populations. They represent a diverse mix of ethnicities including Burmese, Chinese, Vietnamese, Ka'Ren, Nepali, Afghani, Pakistani, Arabic, Hispanic, and Congolese.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
ICEP
International Community Empowerment Project
Over the years, ICEP has served over 700 children grades kindergarten through 12th from over a dozen ethnic communities.
Since its inception in 1995, the International Community Empowerment Project (ICEP) remains ASIA’s longest-running program. We offer after-school programming, summer camps, tutoring, and mentorship during the school day. In its two-plus decades of existence, the program has helped thousands of children, and today the after school program serves 200-230 inner-city students in Summit County. They represent a diverse mix of ethnicities.
For more information about ICEP, email Emily Grad.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
CAM
Community Adult Mentoring
PROGRAM
The Community Adult Mentoring Program provides peer and adult mentoring to refugee and immigrant youth in grades K through 12.
The program is for youth in grades K through 12 and is based in Lakewood City Schools. This program provides peer and adult mentoring to refugee and immigrant children in Cuyahoga County. Activities include tutoring and homework assistance, prevention education, enrichment, and referral services. The program runs throughout the school year and includes a summer camp.
CAM is funded by the Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) Board of Cleveland. The after-school program runs during the school year Mondays thru Thursdays.
For more information about CAM, email Jeff Panik.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
ASIA and JHC's Co-Generational Magazine
Asian Services in Action and Jin Huo Community (JHC) partnered together to publish two editions of a co-generational magazine from the refugee and immigrant communities of Summit County. The magazine includes voices from participants between the ages of 5 and 95, across many cultures that make up Summit County.
2024
2025
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