Hmong Institute

Our mission is to empower community through education, health, and preservation of Hmong heritage. Our vision is to be the prominent leader in Hmong heritage.

The Hmong Institute is a 501 (C) (3) non-profit, with a passion to advance the Hmong community and other underserved communities. Community is at the heart of everything we do. At The Hmong Institute (THI), our services are designed with the community in mind and shaped by our core values. We believe in putting the people we serve first, recognizing that we are stronger and better when we work together, doing what is just or right, and being driven to achieve our goals.

What are we doing now at THI? We are serving, teaching, and building future leaders and strengthening communities in three areas:

Education: The Hmong community is still a new kid on the block although we have been in Wisconsin since 1976. A lot of education and advocacy is needed, especially in counties that do not have many Hmong people. Our goal is to be the Hmong heritage leader, educator, advocate, and culture trainer/consultant for all providers, educators, policy makers, and individuals interested in the advancement of society, including the improvement of culturally and linguistically appropriate services and providing equitable services for Hmong and other underserved communities.

We are committed to ensuring that all individuals who desire to learn about Hmong heritage and serve the Hmong community have the opportunity to do so through our educational and professional development training. We offer one-on-one customized Hmong training, Hmong Culture Training Series, Hmong Mental Health Training Series, and other resources.

Health:  We are collaborating with committed partners (businesses, funders, government agencies, individual donors, etc.) to develop a safe and healthy environment and to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate behavioral health services for the underserved communities in our Hmoob Kaj Siab Program.

Hmoob Kaj Siab is a holistic day-time senior program that provides culturally and linguistically competent case management, mental health, senior activities, psycho-social education, and senior meals to Hmong and other underserved communities in Dane County. We are the first Hmong certified Comprehensive Community Services (CCS) in Dane County to provide mental health services to Hmong, Southeast Asian, and Nepalese clients, with a team of dedicated bilingual staff who are experienced, trained, and licensed to provide mental health services in Dane County.

To ensure that we meet our elders nutritional needs, THI distribute culturally relevant foods twice per month to our elders and once a month for the community. In addition, elders who attend Hmoob Kaj Siab enjoy a daily home-cook meal, serving traditional Hmong dishes via our WI Senior Meal Program.

Preservation: Our effort to preserve Hmong heritage aims to teach Hmong children and youth by teaching about their roots—history, language, and culture. Every summer, the Hmong Language and Culture Enrichment Program (HLCEP), a nationally recognized and award-winning program, strives to increase Hmong students’ confidence through learning Hmong history, language, and culture, preparing elementary and middle school students for high school.

Our Hmong Day at the State Capitol is held every May—between May 14-18—at the Wisconsin State Capitol for statewide Hmong high school students. It is designed to teach Hmong history—

What is May 14 and its impact on the Hmong people–and expose Hmong students to state government. The goal is fostering Hmong youth’s interest and leadership in civic participation via opportunities for youth to learn and meet legislators, governor/staff, and supreme court justices. Annually, over 150 Hmong high school students attend this event and go home with some Hmong pride. In addition, we develop and provide Hmong cultural trainings for providers, policy makers, and individuals interested in advancing the Hmong communities, an important responsibility to support those who are trying to help us make a difference not just for the communities we serve, but all Wisconsinites.

As a result, interested individuals (educators, providers, etc.) who learn about Hmong culture indirectly help preserve some aspects of Hmong culture through practicing what they have learned.