Our mission is to promote community empowerment, leadership development, self reliance and health promotion for the greater refugee/immigrant community in the State of Washington.
In 1992, three volunteers residing in Washington State who became fluent in English and learned how to navigate the health and human service systems began providing interpretation services for individuals in the Ukrainian community and assisting families with applications for public benefit programs (e.g. AFDC/TANF, housing, Medicaid and SSI). During that year, the volunteers assisted about 40 individuals.
Although the volunteers explored establishing a community center in 1995, the Ukrainian community did not support the concept. However, in 1997, the volunteers found that they were spending more time working with youth through after-school and counseling/emotional support programs, and the community agreed that it was important and timely to establish a community center. Therefore, in June 1998, the Ukrainian community established UCCW.
Since 1998 the Ukrainian Community Center of Washington (UCCW), located in Seattle, Washington, has been helping Eastern European refugees and immigrants predominantly from the former Soviet Union overcome language, cultural, educational and social barriers. We have greatly expanded and provide many programs and services such as: immigration services, behavioral health services, social services, and many other programs.
Our team, composed of multilingual and purpose-driven individuals, is dedicated to provide a wide range of services and support, helping families thrive in their new home. We focus on empowering refugees and their families to achieve self-sufficiency through culturally and linguistically appropriate services and support.
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