Meet Kelly Her, Program Manager, and Rachel Vang, Youth Wellness Advocate, of the Community Empowerment Team at Hmong American Partnership (HAP), a St. Paul-based nonprofit and 20+-year Bridging agency partner. In their roles, Kelly and Rachel offer culturally-sensitive services tailored to meet the needs of youth and their families who may be at higher risk for harmful situations and behaviors.

HAP empowers a diverse community by addressing the needs of more than 25,000 immigrants and refugees from all backgrounds. Started more than 30 years ago in response to the growing Hmong population in the St. Paul area, HAP is the largest Hmong-serving organization in the United States.

Kelly describes their important work with the Southeast Asian (SEA) community:

“Often the families we serve are immigrant refugee families who live in multigenerational homes. There is a high need for basic needs, and many youth and families encounter barriers, such as language access, as they pursue resources.  With HAP’s culturally-specific wraparound services, people may be most comfortable coming here for help. They may come in for MNsure and SNAP benefits and feel comfortable disclosing violence in the home or requesting basic needs support.”

HAP strengthens individuals, families, and communities through education and customized job training; economic opportunities including small business loans; and access to resources like housing, health care, mental and chemical health services, healthy food, and COVID vaccine resources.

HAP’s Community Empowerment Team

“Our team focuses on violence prevention and intervention,” says Kelly. HAP’s ASCEND program specifically serves at-risk youth ages 12-24, providing social and emotional support and case management. “As advocates, we work with at-risk youth to prevent or assist with situations of mental health crises, domestic violence and sexual assault, and sexual violence. We provide wraparound services, so we can meet the needs of youth and the family, if possible.”

As a Youth Wellness Advocate, Rachel counsels students one-on-one during the school day and facilitates after school groups. Many schools with Hmong and Southeast Asian students bring in HAP Youth Wellness Advocates as community partners to work alongside onsite counseling teams and provide services.

“For Southeast Asian students, risk factors can look different: truancy, who they are dating, or poor communication with parents. Sometimes when kids speak English and parents speak mostly Hmong, there may not be as much communication or support at home,” says Kelly.

“We focus on youth empowerment, healthy dating relationships, and family relationships. We prioritize youth at risk for sexual exploitation or human trafficking. Through our program, I can provide support and offer resources,” she adds.

The Community Empowerment Team facilitates after school student groups focused on college academic planning, money management, and healthy choices. Youth advocates also empower young people to learn about their culture by weaving cultural traditions, language, and art into conversation.

“We may encourage them to participate in Hmong or Karen dance teams, follow social media influencers from our cultures, or incorporate culturally-inclusive affirmations. We want Southeast Asian youth to be proud of who they are,” says Kelly.

Connections with Youth, Families, and Bridging

“I love my job,” says Rachel. “I love my connections with youth. We serve the whole family. They might say, ‘my mom needs this,’ or ‘my sibling needs this.’ We’ll try to find resources for everyone.”

Sometimes a youth advocate or caseworker will learn that a participant has a need for housing or home furnishings. They will help a young person or family research housing options and secure affordable housing, a challenging task with the lack of affordable housing in the Twin Cities. The HAP team will also schedule Bridging appointments for participants, and sometimes serve as interpreters for HAP participants during their shopping appointments.

A furnished home through Bridging can have a significant impact for many people, like Christine T., a participant in HAP’s ASCEND program:

“As a young, single mother, Bridging has provided me the means to create a comfortable living space for myself and my children. I am very thankful for organizations like Bridging and Hmong American Partnership who understand the importance of providing people the basic necessities of a home. It reassures me that I am worthy and deserving of a functional and enjoyable home.”

Russell, an MFIP Lead Caseworker at HAP, shares observations about Bridging’s impact for Christine and other clients who furnish their homes at Bridging.

“She received the necessary resources to fill her home with a sofa and beds. She also received kitchen appliances to be able to cook and provide for her family. Bridging continues to be an important community partner organization, helping many HAP MFIP [Minnesota Family Investment Program] clients over the years with accessing the necessary resources for a better home.”

There is a ripple effect with Bridging, according to Kelly. She talks about the importance of oral traditions in Southeast Asian cultures and positive stories she hears about the organization.

“If someone hears of someone who has received Bridging, they want to have access to Bridging, too. We want to continue to amplify that we are a Bridging partner across HAP and in the community.”

Bridging has served more than 1000 households referred by Hmong American Partnership. We are grateful for your longtime community partnership!