New Americans Program: On Target

October 1, 2009

The Washington New Americans Program was created by Legislative proviso in 2008 to help legal permanent residents in the state become naturalized U.S. citizens (ESHB 2687, Laws of 2008).

Commerce contracted with OneAmerica to coordinate implementation of the New Americans program. OneAmerica published a report on the work completed during their first year. A Commerce report to the Legislature on the first year of the program found that the first phase of the New Americans program met and exceeded performance objectives.

Naturalization is the legal process that a foreign citizen or national can use to become a U.S. citizen. In order to be naturalized, an applicant must first be qualified to apply for citizenship. Then the applicant must complete the complex federal N-400 application and pay a filing fee. After that application is screened and approved the applicant must attend an interview, and pass an English and a civics test. Upon successful completion of these steps the applicant takes an oath of loyalty and becomes a citizen. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services have been working to increase processing time for applications. It can take a few years for applicants to complete the naturalization process.

Recovery Act provides job training through Hope University

September 22, 2009

Adam Auckland and Jesse James have jobs funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. They were hired to build Hope University, a new service that HopeSource uses to improve the lives of low-income individuals and families in Kittitas County through a Community Service Block Grant.

The Recovery grant is intended to get Hope University started. HopeSource’s Executive Director Susan Grindle plans on local funds and other grants to sustain it.

Hope University will use a college theme to provide different levels of instruction to adults who want to improve their lives. The first level—Hope 101—will assess and provide help for income qualified ‘students’ to meet basic needs and make sure they have access to safe housing, food, and other basic needs. The second level—Career 201—will connect employers to students who will gain skills through on the job training. Grindle estimates that 35 program participants will find employment though Hope University in the next year.

After families have reached sustainability, upper division classes, like upper division classes at nearby Central Washington University, will provide the next level of training. At Hope University that includes personal finance, family development, and assistance with college or other career improvement.

“This is about getting people who never planned on going to college to start thinking about it,” Hope University’s Auckland said. He’s similar to the students they are targeting—he just finished college after being in the workforce for years.

Grindle explained that “Recovery funds have given us a boost like the boost we give our clients to get them moving forward in life. This grant will allow us to do some amazing things for our community”.