PROGRAMS

African Refuge Drop-In Center

Since 2004, the Drop-In Center has served as a fulcrum for the delivery of services in the Parkhill and Stapleton neighborhoods.  In the last three years over 1500 community members have sought and received services ranging from educational and vocational counseling, computer education, immigration assistance, youth after school activities, health screening and referral, casework services, information on job-related issues, entitlement programs, and referrals to outside agencies.


Partnership in Community Health Program (PICH)

African Refuge, Community Health Action (CHA) of Staten Island, and The Evelyn Spiro School of Nursing at Wagner College are pleased to have collaborated since February, 2008 to develop the first health promotion program in Parkhill.  Services are available every Wednesday from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm at the African Refuge Drop-In Center located at 185 Parkhill Avenue, Suite LB.  Services include blood pressure screening, rapid HIV blood testing and counseling, hepatitis C blood test screening, diabetes testing, an on-site counselor to assist residents in obtaining health insurance and other important benefits, and referral service for primary care. PICH also provides health education.

African Refuge Youth and Family Center

Since the Fall of 2007, African Refuge has run a Youth and Family Center at 140 Parkhill Avenue.  Activities include regular meetings of the Parkhill Youth Task Force, a coalition of New York School personnel, local provider organizations, the New York Police Department, and community leaders, parents and youth to address educational, social and environment issues affecting youth in Parkhill.  Afircan Refuge is a partner with the International Rescue Committee in the Community Empowering Youth (CEY) project, a community based participant research projects engaging youth and other community members and leaders in researching the challenges faced by youth and developing strategies to solve problems faced by youth and their families in the community.


Community Arts Projects

African Refuge sponsors arts projects that promote community development, cultural education, and partnerships that promote collaboration between diverse community groups, and between members of the Parkhill community and New York City at large.



Volunteer Program

African Refuge maintains a volunteer recruitment program to increase the number of people who are able to provide services to the community. Each year we recruit six volunteers. The volunteers participate in a two week in-service training program on skills development in general office support, African Refuge Standards of Operation (ARSOP), and also as information specialists in important entitlement programs critical for our participants.