Offering mammoth services to the Indian-American community in Chicago, Metropolitan Asian Family Service/ Universal Metro Asian Family Service (MAFS/UMAS), is standing tall, helping thousands of people in distress. This multicultural, multilingual organization with eight impressive facilities has actually began in a one room office on the second floor of a Des Plaines commercial building years ago.
It may sound incredible, but the fact is its founding director, Ms. Santhosh Kumar, worked with no staff and no funding in the initial days because she saw the need among the growing population of Indians, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis.
She began extending services from immigration assistance to support services, including educating, counseling, assisting and empowering individuals and families to become productive members in their new home.
It was in 1993 that the new organization received its first contract under the Universal Industries banner from the Illinois Department on Aging, to provide the Community Care Program/homemaker services. They started with five clients and three homemakers, and today they are serving over 8000 clients and have over 2000 homemakers.
Currently MAFS/UMAS is a pioneer social welfare community center that provides senior services and customer interaction. It helps immigrants with varied programs such as Community Care Program to assist the elderly with daily-chores such as cleaning, cooking, shopping, personal grooming and escorting them to medical appointments, when necessary. ADS provides opportunity for the elderly to get involved in structured and fun-filled activities, it is funded by the Illinois Department on Aging. MAFS also helps the community members obtain OCI Card & VISA from the Indian Consulate and is now working for cancellation of Indian Passport for those who have attained US citizenship. Other such programs of MAFS are nutrition programs (Golden Diner Program, Hot Meal Program and Dupage Senior Council Hot Meal Program) that conduct health screenings and health education seminars in Chicago, Niles, Schaumburg, Arlington Heights, Hoffman Estates and the Village of Palatine. It also provides education and computer training programs for seniors and new immigrants.
MAFS has recently added yet another feather in its cap. At its Chicago and Naperville locations, MAFS has started Medical Assistance Program, where an in-house doctor assists seniors and other immigrants with their health issue. Dr. Madhu Gopal a well-known doctor of Indian community is helping seniors in solving their health related problems at Chicago.
With committed staff and an able management, MAFS has earned its name for its accuracy, depth of functionality and high customer satisfaction.
The senior center is fortunate to have Ms. Santosh Kumar, founder and executive director of MAFS/UMAS. She has earned accomplishment in front of her peers, family and friends.
It has been an eventful journey for Ms. Santosh for over decades. And now, after being recently included in America’s Registry of Outstanding Professionals for her exceptional contributions and achievements in the field of community services, Ms Kumar working day in and day out to extend community services to more and more people.
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