Program areas at SACOO
1. WASHINGTON COUNTY - EMERGENCY RENT ASSISTANCE (ERA) 2.0 This contract was specifically to pay rent to the underserved communities from Africans, Latinas and Afghani refugee communities who meet Federal Poverty guidelines and requirements set by ERA 2 contracts.
1. OREGON HEALTH AUTHORITY: 1. OHA - TOBACOO $296,699.00: The primary goal of the Tobacco Prevention Program is to raise awareness about the dangers of tobacco use, particularly among youth and adults in the community. We have made significant strides, with events attendance consistently exceeding 100 participants. This program includes student education support. With Current partnership with School District level. 2024, the highest attendance reached 200 people at an event in Southwest (SW). This demonstrates the growing impact of our efforts in raising awareness and engaging the community in tobacco prevention. We've hosted 12 events within 2024. Our partnerships with government agencies such as OHA, Clackamas County Health, Lines for Life, and Washington County Health have been vital to our success. 2. OHA - OHP $115,079.00: Outreach and signing of OHP. Partnered with OHA/OHP team to sign immigrant community at refugee serving locations. 3. OHA - AC & FILTER DISTRIBUTION $18,238.00: During the intense heat wave of 2023/2024, providing air conditioning (AC) to the community became a critical initiative to ensure public health and safety. This offered a refuge for those without access to AC at home, particularly vulnerable populations like the elderly, individual living alone, and individuals with health conditions. From April to September 2024, SACOO provided and installed/Distributed 192 portable AC units. One unit per household. 4. OHA - SHIP GRANT $3,000.00: Used to make two videos that are culturally specific in Fentanyl and other opioid prevention. One of the videos also covered how to use of Narcan in saving the lives of someone who overdosed with Fentanyl.
2. TRILLIUM - PROJECT GURI This project helped rental and utility assistance for 1315 members of the Somali community who meet the standard guidelines for rental assistance. This fund also supported our health services including Healthy Heart program and bi-monthly clinic in partnership with Providence Health.
CITY OF PORTLAND DIGITAL NAVIGATOR PROJECT: Digital use training for the community members who don't have access to computers. We were able to help use computers and create emails. These classes are still available today.
MULTNOMAH COUNTY AFRICAN COALITION: We promoted African health thru nutrition education and tested for High Blood pressure and diabetes as part of Healthy Heart, Racial and Ethnic Approach to Community Health (REACH) Program.
HEALTH SHARE OREGON: This grant was used to support our Oregon Health Plan staff and staffing for our bi-monthly health clinic.
PORTLAND OIC: The Youth Gang Violence Prevention Project works to support youth who are at risk of gang affiliation, crime, and substance abuse in high-risk areas within the Somali and African Community. The initiatives in this program include community engagement through educational workshops for parents, support groups, and youth on topics such as youth crime, gang involvement, substance abuse, effective communication, and positive parenting strategies. The project initiatives also include case management and mentorship, and sports programs (which is currently being facilitated at East Port Community Center and Southwest Community Center two times a week). In the case management, we work directly with at-risk youth, which include middle school, high school, college students, youth who dropped out high school, youths who have recently been released from jail or prison, and youth who are currently on probation from previous criminal convictions. Each week, we work on-on-one with each of these youth through office and home visits. We have supported several of these youth to create resumes and secure employment, apply and guide with the process to get into GED programs, support with college admission applications and FAFSA, provide tutoring, and creating social and academic success plan to maintain self-sufficiency while making positive life choices. Overall, we are currently serving 58 youths between the ages 14 to 24 years old and 48 parents through the different program initiatives in the Youth Gang Violence Prevention project.