CHINESE MUTUAL AID ASSOCIATION

CITIZENSHIP EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENTADULT EDUCATION: THROUGH A GRANT FROM THE ILLINOIS COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD (ICCB), CMAA AND ITS PARTNER AGENCIES, REPRESENTING THE ONLY CONSORTIUM OF DIVERSE PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS IN THE STATE OF ILLINOISPROVIDED ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE (ESL) AND ADULT BASIC EDUCATION. THIS PAST YEAR, THE CONSORTIUM SERVED 1,000+ ADULT LEARNERS. FOR THOSE NEEDING EXTRA SUPPORT, THE DEPARTMENT COORDINATES VOLUNTEER TUTORS WHO PROVIDE ONE-ON-ONE AND SMALL GROUP INSTRUCTION. FOR THOSE NEEDING EXTRA SUPPORT, THE DEPARTMENT COORDINATES VOLUNTEER TUTORS WHO PROVIDE ONE-ON-ONE AND SMALL GROUP INSTRUCTION. CMAA'S TRANSITIONS CASE MANAGERS CONNECT ALL LEARNERS TO THE WRAPAROUND SERVICES VITAL TO RETENTION, AND PARTNER WITH CLIENTS TO CREATE PLANS TO MEET THEIR LONG-TERM EDUCATIONAL GOALS.WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT:CMAA CAREER COACHES OFFER TAILORED EMPLOYMENT PREPARATION, REFERRALS, AND JOB PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED OR UNDEREMPLOYED. OUR CLIENTS COME FROM A WIDE RANGE OF PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUNDS, INCLUDING HEALTHCARE, HOSPITALITY, AND INDUSTRIAL SECTORS, AND POSSESS DIVERSE LEVELS OF EDUCATION. WHILE CMAA PRIMARILY SERVES IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES, OUR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IS ALSO WELCOMING TO U.S.-BORN RESIDENTS SEEKING SUPPORT WITH JOB READINESS TRAINING, RESUME WRITING, AND DIGITAL LITERACY SKILLS. THIS PAST YEAR, CMAA LAUNCHED EMPLOYMENT-READINESS WORKSHOPS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PENINSULA CHICAGO, WITH PLANS TO EXPAND TO ON-SITE ENGLISH CLASSES FOR EMPLOYEES. CITIZENSHIP:SINCE 1997, CMAA HAS OFFERED CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES TO IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES SEEKING TO APPLY FOR U.S. CITIZENSHIP AND OTHER BENEFITS. OUR DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (DOJ) ACCREDITED STAFF OFFERED INDIVIDUALIZED LEGAL COUNSEL AND CASE ASSISTANCE AT A LOW COST TO CLIENTS AND, OFTEN, IN THEIR NATIVE LANGUAGES OF VIETNAMESE, CANTONESE, MONGOLIAN, OR MANDARIN. IN FY25, CMAA SERVED 309 CLIENTS AND FILED 243 IMMIGRATION APPLICATIONS, INCLUDING NATURALIZATION PETITIONS. THE PROGRAM SECURED $70,320 IN WAIVED APPLICATION FEES, WITH 112 CLIENTS RECEIVING FEE WAIVERS OR REDUCTIONS, REDUCING FINANCIAL BARRIERS TO LEGAL STATUS.

CARE FOR OLDER ADULTS: CMAA'S CARE FOR OLDER ADULTS PROGRAMS INCLUDE IN-HOME CARE AND GOLDEN AGE CLUB, ALL DESIGNED TO SUPPORT AGING ADULTS IN MAINTAINING INDEPENDENCE AND SOCIAL CONNECTION. IN 2025, CMAA PROVIDED OVER 330,000 HOURS OF CARE TO RESIDENTS ACROSS COOK AND KANE COUNTIES. CLIENT SATISFACTION REMAINED EXCEPTIONALLY HIGH, WITH 100% SATISFACTION WITH SERVICES, 98% SATISFACTION WITH HOME CARE AIDE RELATIONSHIPS, AND 98% OVERALL PROGRAM SATISFACTION. THE GOLDEN AGE CLUB CONNECTED 241 OLDER ADULTS TO COMMUNITY, WITH 91% REPORTING INCREASED SOCIAL CONNECTION AND 90% INDICATING THEY WOULD RECOMMEND THE PROGRAM.