PROGRAM AND SERVICES

We provide a broad array of services to people from Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Mainland China, and other parts of Southeast Asia residing in the New York metropolitan area. Occupying over five thousand square feet, the Center includes offices, various recreation and education rooms, storage rooms, and a Buddhist sanctuary.

A Board of Directors governs the Center. General elections are held every two years. Our funds stem from membership dues, private donations, corporate, and government funding. Following are some of the on-going services and activities that the Center offers to the community:

• Citizenship and Immigration Services:

• NYC ESOL/Citizenship Project:

Funded by the City of New York, several mult-level ESOL classes and Citizenship classes in English, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Vietnamese are offered to immigrants. Evening and weekend classes are also provided to meet increasing demands from the community.

• Employment Training for Refugess/Immigrants:

In this joint project with Pace University's AmeriCorps Program, we offer Practical English Conversation classes, Computer classes and Job Development classes to refugee and immigrant works in the community. These classes are designed to help indivduals improve their prospects for career change or career development.

• Community Emergency Response Team (CERT):

To educate our community members about disaster preparedness for hazards, ISACC provides space for training in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help.

• Joint Program with Pace University:

ISACC works with Pace University to offer various computer classes to improve new immigrants' techonlogy skills, so that they have a better chance to succeed in this competitive job market. In addition, these classes can be a bridge for the immigrants and their families to achieve financial independence, and to stimulate our community's economy.

• Accounting Classes with St. Joseph's College:

To help community memebers improve their job prospects, ISACC is setting up accounting classes with St. Joseph's College for those who are interested in the field. Graduates will get a certificate from college.

• Health Case Access Program:

Working with the Children's Aid Society, this program helps children and families overcome logistical and language barriers to successfully enroll in New York's principal government sponsored health insurance programs: Medicaid, Child Health Plus and Fmaily Health Plus. The program guides families in the community through the application process and provides feedback to the policiymaking process.

• NYC Managed Care Consumer Assistance Program:

The MCCAP helps guide individuals through the healthcare system with information, advice and advocacy on all types of health insurance. Services range from finding the right health coverage, doctors, and specialists, to resolving bill problems, and questioning or appealing treatment decisions by health plan managers.

• New York Medicaid Choice Education Project:

We have trained staff to provide periodical Medicaid Choice workshops and walk-in services to the community. These services include educating the beneficiaries on the changes of Medicaid policy, how to select a health plan that suits their needs, the rights and responsibilites as a health plan member, plus assistance on registering for health plans.

• Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP):

Partially funded by the U.S. Department of Labor via sponsorship by the National Asian Pacific Center on Aging (NAPCA), this program has helped older, economically disadvantaged participants acquire English language proficiency, job skills and employment through both classroom and on-site training since 1994.

• Services for Seniors and Religious Sanctuary:

Though our members come from various places in Southeast Asia, they share similar cultural background and needs. The Center offers many kinds of activiites, such as entertainment programs, field trips, parties, and workshops (from physical exercies to social benefits appliations). Since many of our members are Buddhists, we provide a Buddhist sanctuary for personal reflection and prayers, religious ceremonies, and celebrations of religious events.

• Cemetery Service:

Being concerned with the needs of our senior members, the Center owns a burial site with one thousand slots in East Brunswick, New Jersey. They are reserved to be used by the memebers.

• Scholarship Program:

To ensure that the youth in our community are recognized and rewarded for academic excellence, awards have been granted to outstanding students from elementary school to college.