By Marti Benedetti for Crain’s Content Studio
Last year, The Children’s Foundation helped provide funding for the Chaldean Community Foundation to add a family fitness center to its Sterling Heights site.
Now, through its COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund, it is helping the organization with services for at-risk youth and their families dealing with stress and anxiety during COVID-19.
“Our caseload is up. There is more demand for services, so case workers are working extra hours,” said Martin Manna, Chaldean Community Foundation president.
Chaldean Community Foundation is going through a transition with switching to a remote work model; language is a barrier for some of the people being served. Its 50-person staff is managing both distance therapy sessions and weekly online support groups. The emergency funding will allow the foundation to expand its programs for children.
Services are extensive and include giving medical, psychological and social services to assist with moving to an American culture, helping those with special needs, providing access to affordable prescriptions and lab work, preserving the Chaldean language, and giving access to transportation and housing solutions.
