 |
|
A Message
Message from SFCN President
It has been my goal that Somali community-based organizations serving Somali refugees in the United States obtain the essential information, knowledge and skills necessary to be competent and effective in their crucial community-building work. SFCN is an organization dedicated to significantly improving the social and economic opportunities of Somali refugees in the United States.
SFCN assesses the needs of Somali refugee families and the organizations that serve them across the country. It builds the capacity of Somali community-based organizations’ (SCBO) leaders and staff by providing them technical assistance and training on organizational development, advocacy and nonprofit management. It strengthens and enhances the capacities of SCBOs in order to create effective refugee self-help groups, expand the community’s civic knowledge and increase general education and skills to enable individuals to play a role in the socio-economic development of their communities and that of their adopted country.
SFCN has established an excellent track record over the last decade. It has developed a nationwide network of over 40 SCBOs, organized leadership and management training workshops for approximately 250 community leaders and strategically disbursed nearly $180,000 in small seed grants to 24 SCBOs on a competitive basis to support their organizational development and project activities. The organization has provided more than $10,000 in peer exchange grants to leaders of emerging SCBOs, giving them an opportunity to visit other well-established organizations, develop collaborative relations and learn best practices. In FY2011, SFCN dispersed over $24,000 to two partner organizations to support the activities of Project Gargaar, a unique and innovative youth leadership and empowerment project.
SFCN has developed valuable relationships with Somali CBOs across the country. Understanding the psychology and history of Somalis and the dynamics of how each organization has evolved gives SFCN a unique ability to make informed, culturally attuned recommendations on program development and partnerships. SCBO leaders contact SFCN for information, referrals and advice on a wide range of issues.
I look forward to guiding the important work of SFCN for many years to come. The organization is uniquely positioned to play a critical role in uniting Somali agencies across the country to work together to help realize their communities’ aspirations. SFCN is also committed to bridging the gap between Somali community-based organizations and mainstream service providers and to help SCBOs better integrate Somali refugees and immigrants into American society. It is my hope that within this decade, Somali CBOs will be in a stronger position to positively impact the communities they serve and to enable them to become economically independent, self-sufficient and civically engaged.
Raqiya D. Abdalla
Core Values
Commitment to Excellence. SFCN is committed to ensuring that all participating SCBOs obtain the essential tools and information necessary to provide exceptional services to their communities.
Collaborative Spirit. SFCN encourages all SCBOs to develop a cooperative and collaborative spirit in tackling fundamental social concerns facing their communities.
Unified Community. SFCN believes strong and committed organizations are best suited to help unify the Somali community and its interests.
|
 |
Annual Report The Somali Family Care Network annual report is available for download as a PDF.
|
