Our Mission

The Somali Family Care Network is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to helping all Somali groups in the United States work together to improve social and economic opportunities for the Somali community.

Who We Serve

SFCN strives to empower Somali Community-Based Organizations (SCBO) and other refugees through capacity building and social mobilization activities that will aid refugees in their transition from dependency to self-sufficiency and integration into American society. SFCN aims to act as a national resource for the growing Somali immigrant community as well as for the refugee and mainstream service providers who interface with Somali communities in the U.S. Additionally, SFCN acts as a technical assistance organization, providing training to strengthen institution building, resource development and leadership development. Experts and technical working groups are available in areas such as education, health, organizational and community development, job skills training, parent education, cross-cultural training, crime prevention and conflict resolution.

What We Do

SFCN's primary program at present is Project Himilo. “Himilo” in Somali means "to aspire". Through this project, SFCN will establish a strong national network of Somali Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), which will work together with other refugee service providers to foster and ensure the health and social well-being of Somali refugees resettled in the United States.

Project Himilo is made possible through a series is grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Refugee Resettlement, initially in conjunction with the Immigration and Refugee Services of America (IRSA). SFCN has developed a Somali Community Advisory Committee, comprised primarily of Somali community leaders, to provide credibility to the project process and help raise its visibility within the Somali community. SFCN has also established a Management Advisory Group comprised of leaders and consultants in non-profit management who have pledged their support and expertise to the project. SFCN, Inc. is establishing increased communication and networking capabilities among the Somali communities in the United States through: community consultations, consultation with experts in ethnic community development projects; Somali community advisory committee and a non-profit management advisory group; a Somali Community-Based Organization (CBO) Directory of Information and contact database; a referral network service to link Somali CBO requests with technical advisors and experts; semi-annual newsletter; a website (www.somalifamily.org); regional trainings; peer-to-peer mentorships; seed-money grants; continued consultation; and ongoing partnership within Somali CBOs and other community organizations and development agencies.

SFCN's mission is to serve as a national resource center and referral network for the Somali immigrant community in the United States, as well as for the U.S. refugee and mainstream service providers who interface with the Somali communities in the U.S. SFCN acts as a technical assistance organization providing training to strengthen local communities' institution building, resource and leadership development. Among the SFCN offerings are training opportunities, training materials, capacity building resources and a website with links to many other resources.

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