La Casa Hogar

LA CASA HOGAR CONNECTS AND EDUCATES LATINA FAMILIES TO TRANSFORM LIVES AND OUR YAKIMA VALLEY. THROUGH CITIZENSHIP, ADULT EDUCATION AND EARLY LEARNING, LA CASA FULFILLS ITS MISSION EACH YEAR WITH 700 FAMILIES ON AVERAGE. SEE SCHEDULE O FOR MORE DETAILS.

CITIZENSHIP EDUCATION AND LEGAL SERVICES LA CASA HOGAR IS A RECOGNIZED DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (BOARD OF IMMIGRATION) APPEALS ORGANIZATION AND EMPLOYS DOJ-ACCREDITED STAFF. THE CITIZENSHIP PROGRAM EDUCATES ELIGIBLE LAWFUL PERMANENT RESIDENTS ABOUT THE PROCESS FOR NATURALIZATION AND OBTAINING CITIZENSHIP. STUDENTS LEARN CIVICS AND HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES AND HOW TO ENGAGE IN THEIR LOCAL YAKIMA COMMUNITY. THEY BUILD A STRONG SENSE OF BELONGING, AND AN AWARENESS OF THE RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES RELATED TO BEING A CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. IN ADDITION, THE ORGANIZATION COMPLETES N400S, THE NATURALIZATION FORMS THAT INDIVIDUALS NEED TO SUBMIT SUCCESSFULLY TO OBTAIN CITIZENSHIP. PROGRAM STAFF OFFERS CASE MANAGEMENT FROM APPLICATION TO OATH TO HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE EACH YEAR. DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, PROGRAMS WERE OFFERED VIRTUALLY AND IN PERSON IN 2021.

EARLY LEARNING CENTER (ESCUELITA) - EARLY LEARNING CENTER (ESCUELITA)OFFERS A SCHOOL READINESS PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN, AGES 2 1/2 - 5, WHO OTHERWISE WOULD NOT HAVE PRESCHOOL EDUCATION. THE ESCUELITA USES THE LINGUISTICALLY AND CULTURALLY COMPETENT, "CREATIVE CURRICULUMX AND MEASURES CHILDREN'S DEVELOPMENT ACROSS SIX DEVELOPMENTAL DOMAINS: LINGUISTIC, COGNITIVE, MATHEMATICS, LITERACY, SOCIAL EMOTIONAL, AND PHYSICAL. PARENTS ARE INCORPORATED IN THEIR CHILD'S LEARNING EXPERIENCE THROUGH PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES, VOLUNTEERING, AND PARENT-EDUCATION AND TRAINING CLASSES IN TOPICS SUCH AS ACES, METHODS OF POSITIVE DISCIPLINE, STEM AND RIGHTS/RESPONSIBILITIES WITHIN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. IN 2020, LA CASA FINISHED IT'S CAPITAL CAMPAIGN AND CONSTRUCTION TO BUILD LA ESCUELITA, A ONE-ROOM EARLY LEARNING CENTER BUILDING, IN THE BACKYARD OF LA CASA'S PROPERTY. THIS SPACE WILL GROW AND DEVELOP THE EARLY LEARNING CENTER PROGRAMS AND NUMBER OF CHILDREN SERVED FOR YEARS TO COME. DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, PROGRAMS WERE OFFERED VIRTUALLY AND IN PERSON IN 2021.

COVID RESPONSE - THE COMMUNITY LA CASA HOGAR PARTNERS WITH CONTINUED TO BE IMPACTED BY THE COVID PANDEMIC. CLASSES AND SERVICES WERE OFFERED VIRTUALLY AND IN-PERSON FOLLOWING STRICT COVID-19 SAFETY PROTOCOLS. LA CASA DISTRIBUTED $212,967 OF CASH SUPPORT TO FAMILIES IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE. FUNDS WERE RAISED BY PHILANTHROPIC PARTNERS & LOCAL DONORS. LA CASA ALSO DISTRIBUTED OVER 30,800 MASKS IN 2021 AND OVER 10,000 PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT FOR COVID-19. IN ADDITION, LA CASAS COVID RESPONSE INCLUDED WEEKLY STAFF EDUCATION SESSIONS, EXTERNAL OUTREACH,MEDIA INTERVIEWS WITH SPANISH MEDIA STATIONS, AND MUCH ADVOCACY TO ENSURE LATINA IMMIGRANT FAMILIES HAD ACCESS TO SUPPORTS NEEDED TO KEEP THEM SAFE AMIDST THE PANDEMIC. THIS TOOK UP A LARGE PORTION OF THE ORGANIZATION'S BUDGET IN 2021 & WILL LIKELY DO SO IN 2022 UNTIL THE PANDEMIC HAS BEEN ALLEVIATED.