Somali Family Safety Task Force

Background

The Somali Family Safety Task Force (SFSTF) is a nonprofit organization based in Seattle, Washington, dedicated to empowering immigrant and refugee women and their families by providing culturally appropriate services that reflect the core values of the community. Established to address domestic and gender-based violence, SFSTF has expanded its mission to include a variety of programs aimed at strengthening families and promoting self-sufficiency within the Somali and East African communities.

Key Strategic Focus

SFSTF's strategic focus encompasses several core objectives:

Violence Prevention and Advocacy: Offering free, confidential, trauma-informed, survivor-centered, culturally appropriate, and multilingual advocacy services to survivors of gender-based violence and other types of traumas.

Educational Programs: Providing after-school tutoring, coding classes, and intergenerational education programs to support lifelong learning for women and their families.

Community Engagement: Organizing sewing classes, youth art classes, and support groups to reduce isolation and promote self-efficacy among community members.

Cultural Preservation: Publishing bilingual Somali/English children's books to help families practice reading and writing in Somali, thereby preserving language and culture.

Financials and Funding

SFSTF operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, with financial data indicating:

Revenue: $1,281,727 in 2023

Expenses: $1,054,141 in 2023

Net Assets: $2,222,064 in 2023

The organization relies on contributions and grants to fund its programs and services.

Pipeline Development

SFSTF has developed and implemented several key programs:

Youth Intervention Prevention: Culturally tailored programs for Somali, East African, and West African teens and young adults focusing on domestic violence prevention.

Seniors Program: Support groups for seniors to share common experiences and receive assistance.

Coding Classes: Ten-week courses for youth to learn coding skills, held every Wednesday.

After-School Tutoring: Sessions providing homework help and introductory coding classes for youth.

Women's Sewing Class: Weekly programs designed for introductory to intermediate level sewing skills.

Healthy Food Fund: Distribution of emergency food boxes containing halal meat and other essential items to East African and West African communities facing food insecurity.

Technological Platform and Innovation

SFSTF leverages technology to enhance its programs:

Digital Literacy Training: Offering computer literacy courses to empower community members with essential digital skills.

Online Educational Resources: Providing hybrid in-person and online educational opportunities to increase capacity and outreach.

Leadership Team

Farhiya Mohamed: Founder and Executive Director, with a Master of Social Work from the University of Washington and over a decade of experience assisting and advocating for domestic violence victims within refugee and immigrant communities.

Ahoua Koné: Board Member, Lawyer, Program Director with Health Alliance International, and Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Washington Department of Global Health.

Saido Jama: Board Member, Procurement Agent for Boeing, with expertise in contract development, vendor/supplier relationships, and logistics.

Gyanendra: Board Member, Certified Workforce Development Professional with over 10 years of experience in direct service, research and evaluation, policy, and management.

Rania Mussa: Board Member, Solutions Architect designing technological solutions for clients to meet their machine learning and artificial intelligence needs.

Abdi Y. Jama: Board Member, Immigration Program Manager and member of the Director’s Social Justice Cabinet at Catholic Community Services of Western Washington.

Gary: Board Member, community-oriented public health practitioner and health care administrator, serving as the Field Office Director for the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for Washington State.

Lori A. Zoellner, Ph.D.: Board Member, Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Washington and Director of the University of Washington Center for Anxiety and Traumatic Stress.

Competitor Profile

Market Insights and Dynamics

The nonprofit sector serving immigrant and refugee communities is characterized by a focus on cultural preservation, education, and violence prevention. Organizations in this space aim to empower communities through tailored programs that address specific cultural and social needs.

Competitor Analysis

Somali Family Service of San Diego: A nonprofit organization based in San Diego, California, providing similar services to Somali and East African communities, including education, advocacy, and support programs.

Somali Family Care Network (SFCN): A national resource center and referral network for the Somali refugee and immigrant community, offering training to strengthen local communities' institution building, advocacy, resource, and leadership development.

Strategic Collaborations and Partnerships

SFSTF has established significant collaborations to enhance its programs:

Seattle Housing Authority: Partnered to create community-led children's books based on Somali folktale themes, involving community members in writing, illustrating, and designing the book series.

Seattle Public Schools and The Seattle Public Library: Collaborated to publish bilingual Somali/English children's books aimed at preserving language.