Apostle Immigrant Services, Corporation General Information Contact Information nprofit Apostle Immigrant Services, Corporation Address 81 Saltonstall Ave New Haven, CT 06513 Phone (203) 752-9068 Web Site Web Site Facebook Facebook Twitter Twitter Email ais.fairhaven@gmail.com At A Glance Year of Incorporation 2009 Organization's type of tax exempt status Organization received a competitive grant from the community foundation in the past five years Public Supported Charity Yes 1
Mission & Areas Served Statements Mission Apostle Immigrant Services (AIS) works with and supports immigrants in achieving their goals, particularly through legal and educational services. Background AIS opened in August 2008 as an initiative of the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a Roman Catholic congregation of religious women, who themselves had arrived in New Haven in 1906 as Italian immigrants, initially working with Italian immigrant families. One hundred years later, they committed once more to serving immigrant communities in and around New Haven.From the beginning, AIS has offered legal and educational services. So that its focus might reflect client demand, our staff attorney initially represented clients in a variety of civil legal issues, such as landlord-tenant disputes, small claims cases and Worker's Compensation. However within six months, it was obvious that the greatest gap in civil legal services for low-income persons was in the area of immigration. Since fall 2009, AIS has focused its legal work on family-based immigration and citizenship cases. Over time, AIS has also represented clients in Immigration Court and before the Board of Immigration Appeals, and has continued to broaden the scope of its services to include humanitarian-based cases, immigration relief for victims of domestic violence and other crimes, and applications for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, through which young immigrants without legal status obtain work authorization and concomitant opportunities for education and employment. With a staff of four, AIS multiplies its capacity through collaboration with partners such as JUNTA for Progressive Action and Our Lady of Guadalupe Church and through the efforts of our volunteers. In addition to topical community education programs, AIS provides over 600 individual consultations annually and completes approximately 370 immigration legal processes for our clients. AIS is currently the only nonprofit in New Haven County offering this range of low and no-cost immigration legal services to clients year-round. Impact ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Provision of individual consultations and/or individual representation on immigration legal issues to over 600 clients and filing of approximately 370 applications for immigration legal benefits duringcalendar year 2018. Growing our staff to four full-time members, and provision of training in immigration legal advocacy to the new members to devote more time to client representation and filing of application for Department of Justice partial accreditation for an additional staff member (application pending). Institution of an Advisory Committee to assist the Executive Director in financial areas of administration and in expanding knowledge of AIS services in the greater New Haven area. Expansion of types of legal services provided, to include Special Immigrant Juvenile Status and guidance on standing guardianship orders and powers of attorney. Provision of homework assistance and study skills development to over 35 children at St. Francis/St Rose School. GOALS: Double our capacity for individual client representation through 1) a re-organization of office practices, so that trained volunteers can assume responsibility for components of the provision of basic immigration legal services that do not require legal training or accreditation. Engage staff, boards and other stakeholders in the development of a new Strategic Plan, to be completed by vember 2019. Identify an area of New Haven County currently lacking nonprofit immigration legal services providers, and develop an outreach program with a partner there. Needs 1. A volunteer with accounting and/or bookkeeping experience to evaluate current agency practices.2. Volunteer/volunteers to assist with enhancing our social media presence. 4. Evaluation of IT needs and implementation of needed changes. 5. Additional volunteer tutors for Homework Assistance Program CEO Statement All of us at AIS are grateful to our clients for entrusting us with their stories and their dreams and giving us the privilege of working with them to build their lives in their new country, their new home. I am continually amazed by their strength, resilience and hope. Our work, in collaboration with our clients, provides them opportunities that can be life-changing. 2
Service Categories Primary Organization Category Secondary Organization Category Human Services / Ethnic/Immigrant Services Crime & Legal - Related / Legal Services Areas Served New Haven East Haven West Haven Hamden Wallingford Cheshire Branford Milford rth Haven Ansonia Shelton Derby Shoreline Orange Woodbridge Our organization primarily serves clients from the Greater New Haven, Connecticut area, although we accept clients statewide. 3
Programs Programs Immigration Legal Services Description AIS helps clients: reunite and stabilize their families through petitions members living in the US and in their home countries; become citizens citizenship; obtain legal status and work authorization; and access legal status through petitions for special immigrant juveniles and victims of crimes. Budget $0.00 Category Crime & Legal, General/Other / Legal Services Population Served Immigrant, Newcomers, Refugees / Victims / Children and Youth (0-19 years) Program is linked to organization s mission and strategy Short Term Success Long Term Success Program Success Monitored By Examples of Program Success Yes Clients are approved for immigration benefits; become work authorized; help family members become legal residents; become citizens. Individual clients achieve greater stability and become building blocks of stronger families and stronger communities. Tracking progress of cases through processes of federal immigration agencies; survey clients on services received. "Antonio" received work authorization and went from a minimum wage job to one utilizing his engineering degree. "Abed" was united with his wife and children after five years of separation due to war and persecution in their home country. "Danira," after freeing herself from an abusive relationship, receives work authorization and is able to obtain better employment. "Mariela," widowed with 3 children, becomes a US citizen and is able to bring her mother to the US, providing crucial emotional support for the family and assisting her with child care. 4
Homework Assistance Program Description Volunteers, coordinated by AIS staff member, provide twice-weekly homework help and skill development to children in a local inner city parochial grammar school. Budget $0.00 Category Education, General/Other / Tutorial Programs Population Served Children Only (5-14 years) / / Program is linked to organization s mission and strategy Short Term Success Long Term Success Program Success Monitored By Examples of Program Success Yes Students develop better study habits, complete their homework assignments and improve in classwork and in learning metrics. Students develop skills and take ownership of their learning process so as to become life-long learners and contributors to the community. Communication with classroom teachers; survey of students at the beginning and end of school year; parent survey. "Jeremy," a 5-year program participant, is now a rising senior and high honors student in a local high school. "Diana," who struggled with schoolwork, happily reports that she has achieved honors for the first time. "Alex," whose teacher reported as frequently missing his assignments, develops positive study habits, becomes responsible for keeping track of his homework, improves his grades, and expresses greater satisfaction with the school experience. 5
Leadership & Staff CEO/Executive Director Sister Mary Ellen Burns ASCJ Term Start Aug 2008 Email ais.fairhaven@gmail.com Experience Sister Mary Ellen obtained her JD at Yale Law School in 1989. She spent 19 years working as a legal services attorney in the Bronx and Manhattan, focusing on tenant representation and public benefits advocacy. During her last 11 years in New York, she was a staff attorney at rthern Manhattan Improvement Corporation, where she represented individual clients; worked collaboratively on class action cases with attorneys from other agencies; and provided training on public benefits issues for other NMIC staff. She also served as a trainer for Legal Services of New York on public benefits matters. In summer 2008, she became the first Executive Director of Apostle Immigrant Services, where she also provides direct legal services, chiefly in immigration matters. Since coming to AIS, she had the opportunity to spend three weeks in Puebla, Mexico, participating in a Spanish immersion program and visiting nearby towns from which some of AIS's clients have come. She is currently a member of the Board of Directors of New Haven Legal Assistance Associaton ad the Advisory Board of the Office for Catholic Social Justice Ministry of the Archdiocese of Hartford. Staff Number of Full Time Staff 4 Number of Part Time Staff 0 Number of Volunteers 35 Number of Contract Staff 0 Staff Retention Rate 75% Staff Demographics - Ethnicity African American/Black 0 Asian American/Pacific Islander 0 Caucasian 2 Hispanic/Latino 2 Native American/American Indian 0 Other 0 0 Staff Demographics - Gender Male 0 Female 4 Unspecified 0 Plans & Policies 6
Organization has a Fundraising Plan? Organization has a Strategic Plan? Management Succession Plan? Organization Policy and Procedures ndiscrimination Policy Whistleblower Policy Under Development Under Development Under Development Senior Staff Ms. Erika Vergara Title Experience/Biography Accredited Representative Ms. Vergara's, an immigrant herself, became involved in the immigrant rights movement as a student in the California university system. After graduation from UC San Diego witha B.A. in Ethnic Studies, she moved to New Haven and was hired by AIS in February 2014, initially as an office support worker. In fall 2015, she began providing case management and support for AIS's work with victims of crimes, in particular those applying for U nonimmigrant status. She obtained BIA accreditation in fall 2016 and has coordinated AIS's DACA work since that time, in addition to representing clients in applying for work authorization, legal residence and naturalization. Ms. Karina Lopez Collaborations Beginning in September 2018, AIS has been collaborating with the Mexican Consulate in New York City as part of the nationwide Mexican Screening Project sponsored by the Mexican Secretaria de Relaciones Exteriores in the United States. Through this initiative, AIS has been providing screenings for immigrant benefit eligibility and Know Your Rights information in-house, at other Connecticut sites, and at the consulate in New York City.AIS frequently collaborates with area providers, such as JUNTA for Progressive Action, the Spanish Community of Wallingford, Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, to provide services and provides training on immigration matters to staff of area agencies, such as the Fair Haven Commuity Health Center. Awards Award/Recognition Organization Year Most Rev. Joseph F. Donnelly Memorial Award Office of Catholic Social Justice Ministry, Archdiocese of Hartford 2013 Comments CEO Comments AIS has agency recognition as an immigration legal services provider by the Department of Justice Office of Legal Access Programs and is an affiliate of the Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC). 7
Board & Governance Board Chair Sister Ritamary Schultz ASCJ Company Affiliation Apostles of the Sacred Heart Term Sept 2016 to June 2019 Board of Directors Name Sister Veronica Beato ASCJ Sister Virginia Herbers ASCJ Sister Diane Mastroianni ASCJ Sister Mariette Moan ASCJ Affiliation Cor Jesu Academy, St. Louis, MO Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Board Demographics - Ethnicity African American/Black 0 Asian American/Pacific Islander 0 Caucasian 5 Hispanic/Latino 0 Native American/American Indian 0 Other 0 0 Board Demographics - Gender Male 0 Female 5 Unspecified 0 Governance Board Term Lengths 3 Board Term Limits 0 Board Meeting Attendance % 0% Number of Full Board Meetings Annually 0 Written Conflict of Interest Policy Percentage Making Monetary Contributions 0% Percentage Making In-Kind Contributions 20% Constituency Includes Client Representation 8
Risk Management Provisions General Property Coverage and Professional Liability Additional Boards: Advisory Board Members Name Mr. Angel Fernandez-Chavero Atty. Karen Kassap Mr. Thomas LoRicco Atty. Rick St. Hilaire Affiliation New Haven Commission on Equal Opportunities Community Volunteer Industrial Acceptance Corporation Knights of Columbus 9
Financials Financials Fiscal Year Start July 01 2018 Fiscal Year End June 30 2019 Projected Revenue $156,500.00 Projected Expenses $157,040.00 Endowment Value $0.00 Spending Policy N/A Percentage (if selected) 0% Detailed Financials Prior Three Years Total Revenue and Expense Totals Chart Fiscal Year 2017 2016 2015 Total Revenue $167,516 $141,630 $116,743 Total Expenses $131,266 $112,838 $108,891 Prior Three Years Assets and Liabilities Chart Fiscal Year 2017 2016 2015 Total Assets $79,306 $43,056 $14,264 Current Assets $79,306 $43,056 $14,264 Long-Term Liabilities -- -- -- Current Liabilities -- -- -- Total Net Assets $79,306 $43,056 $14,264 Prior Three Years Top Three Funding Sources Fiscal Year 2017 2016 2015 Top Funding Source & Dollar Amount Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus $58,705 Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus $53,266 Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus $53,266 Second Highest Funding Source & Dollar Amount Third Highest Funding Source & Dollar Amount The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven $28,890 Archdiocese of Hartford $10,000 The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven $13,366 Archdiocese of Hartford Archbishop's Annual Appeal $7,500 The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven $13,520 -- Solvency Short Term Solvency 10
Fiscal Year 2017 2016 2015 Current Ratio: Current Assets/Current -- -- -- Liabilities Long Term Solvency Fiscal Year 2017 2016 2015 Long-Term Liabilities/Total Assets 0% 0% 0% Capital Campaign Currently in a Capital Campaign? Goal $0.00 Comments Foundation Staff Comments This profile, including the financial summaries prepared and submitted by the organization based on its own independent and/or internal audit processes and regulatory submissions, has been read by the Foundation. Financial information is inputted by Foundation staff directly from the organization's IRS Form 990, audited financial statements or other financial documents approved by the nonprofit's board. The Foundation has not audited the organization's financial statements or tax filings, and makes no representations or warranties thereon. The Community Foundation is continuing to receive information submitted by the organization and may periodically update the organization's profile to reflect the most current financial and other information available. The organization has completed the fields required by The Community Foundation and updated their profile in the last year. To see if the organization has received a competitive grant from The Community Foundation in the last five years, please go to the General Information Tab of the profile. Created 02.15.2019. Copyright 2019 The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven 11