2007 in Review

In 2007, SEARCH served 759 individuals via four core programs summarized below. Characteristics of those served include the following:

• 53% East African, 39% Southeast Asians and 8% Other (Burmese, West African, etc)
• 57% female and 43% male
• 83% over the age of 21 and 17% under age 21
• 89% Hennepin County (mostly inner-city Minneapolis) residents and 11% Ramsey County residents
• 97% low-income

A brief summary of SEARCH’s four core programs includes:

Education Services

• 310 people were placed into jobs paying an average hourly wage of $9.50 with 90- and 180-day retention rates of 90% and 84%.
• 102 people participated in two distinct training activities including: (a) 83 participating in a 40-hour Childcare Provider Training; and (b) 19 participating in 20-, 30- and 40-hour Computer Literacy Training.
• 44 of the 68 graduates of our Childcare Provider Training are providing home-based childcare to 119 children.

Refugee Social Services

• 65 of 65 (100%) people referred to and served by SEARCH’s Refugee Social Service Advocate were connected to at least one supportive resource to resolve presenting issues/basic needs. With the assistance of the SEARCH Advocate, 15 secured unsubsidized housing and 4 received significant legal and immigration assistance.

Immigrant Youth Intervention Services

• Of 114 youth served, 74 (or 65%) were connected to at least one internal or external resource to support positive youth development. Resources included: job placements, tutorial support programming, counseling, treatment, alternative school settings and culturally-specific programming.

Health Services

• SEARCH’s Tobacco Cessation Counselor helped 30 mostly Cambodian adults quit smoking.