Refugee 202

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Refugee 202 Refugee Resettlement
Services Initial and Longer-term
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The Refugee Act of 1980

• The Refugee Act of 1980 recognizes refugees as
• persons of special interest to the U.S. and in
  need
• of humanitarian protection and assistance.
• Refugees are selected and admitted to this
  country
• based on humanitarian need and not their ability
• to demonstrate integration potential or achieve
• self-sufficiency.

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Refugees and Other Eligible Beneficiaries

• Other eligible beneficiaries authorized to
  receive federal assistance under The Refugee Act
  of 1980 are
• Asylees
• Cuban/Haitian Entrants
• Certain Amerasians
• Victims of Human Trafficking
• Iraqi and Afghan Special Immigrants

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Where Refugees Fit in the Immigration Net

• Immigrant Visas
• Family Sponsored
• Refugee/Asylee
• Cuban/Haitian Entrant
• Iraqi/Afghan SIV
• Diversity Visa

• Non-immigrant Visas
• Student Visa
• Tourist Visa
• Work Visa

• Uninspected Presence
• No Legal Status Grant
• Out of Legal Status

• Student Visa
• Tourist Visa
• Work Visa

Seek Asylum VAWA T-Visa U-Visa
Foreign
Trafficking Victims
Legal Permanent Resident Green Card
Domestic
Naturalized U.S. Citizen
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Refugees are on a Clear Path to Citizenship

• Eligible for Social Security Cards upon U.S.
  entry
• Employment authorized upon U.S. entry.
• Eligible to adjust to Permanent Resident Status
  (Green Card) after one year.
• Eligible to apply for U.S. Citizenship after five
  years.

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United States Refugee Program Purpose

• The Refugee Act of 1980 provides for a
  systematic approach for effectively resettling
  refugees and helping them to achieve economic
  self-sufficiency as quickly as possible after
  arrival in the United States.

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United States Refugee Program Purpose

• Although integration and self-sufficiency
  potential
• are not required for U.S. refugee status, federal
  
• refugee programs are designed to assist refugees
• attain self-sufficiency soon after their U.S.
  admission.
• These programs offer time-limited services and,
• barring exceptions, refugees are expected to
  become
• employed and to be able to access mainstream
• programs and services as needed.

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Why Refugees are in Arizona

• Refugee protection is a core value.
• Third country resettlement is the last resort
• for safe-guarding many refugees rights and
• well-being.
• Refugees need communities willing to
• welcome and support them in their efforts to
  rebuild their lives.

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Refugees in Arizona

• Since 1975 49,767
• FFY 2007 2,383
• FFY 2008 2,700 (projected)
• FFY 2007 Major Groups by Countries of Origin

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How Refugees Reach Our Communities
The Refugee Processing Center
and national Voluntary Agencies
(VOLAGs) meet weekly to

• allocate refugee cases. There
• are two general categories of refugees cases

• Family Reunification
• Free Cases

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Family Reunification and Free Cases

• Family Reunification Case - Refugees with the
• right to family reunification and destined to
  join family in the U.S.
• Free Case - Refugees not following family
• members and assigned to a VOLAG contingent upon
  various factors.

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Free Cases Allocations
Free case refugees are allocated based on

• National VOLAG performance ratings
• Local VOLAG ability to assure the case
• Local job availability
• Affordable housing
• Presence of ethnic communities
• Available local community services

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Initial Resettlement How Refugee Resettlement
Agencies Help
All refugees approved for U.S. admission are
sponsored by one of ten voluntary agencies
participating in the Reception Placement (RP)
Program under cooperative agreement with the U.S.
Department of State.
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Reception Placement (RP)
The RP Program is a public/private partnership
that relies on VOLAGs to contribute significant
cash and in-kind resources to supplement U.S.
Government per capita grants. The sponsoring
VOLAG is responsible for placing refugees with
one of its affiliated offices in an appropriate
U.S. location and providing services under the
cooperative agreement.
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Arizona Refugee Resettlement Agencies
Phoenix
Tucson
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RP Pre-Arrival Planning

• Biographical Data Sheet (Biodata or Bio) -
• the refugee case description sent from the
  national
• VOLAG to the local affiliate requesting review
  and
• assurance for resettlement.
• Assurance - the local affiliate assures the
  national
• VOLAG that it will accept the case.

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RP Pre-arrival Planning

• Arrival Notice - the National VOLAG notifies the
  local VOLAG with arrival information, typically
  one-two weeks in advance of arrival.
• Case Management Assignment upon arrival
• notice the local VOLAG assigns the refugee case
• to a case manager.

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RP Pre-arrival Planning

• Bio-Graphical Data Assessment - the case
• manager reviews the Bio and assesses
• - Family size and composition
• - Potential employable adults
• - Family members ages (minors, elderly)
• - Attached minors
• - Illnesses requiring follow-up
• - Anchor relative

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RP Pre-arrival Planning

• Resettlement Plan Development - based on the
• information in the Bio, the assigned case
• manager makes an initial plan of action for
• resettlement.
• This begins with the basic needs of the family
• upon arrival - housing, furnishings and
• other basic necessities.

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RP Pre-Arrival Planning
RP Pre-arrival Planning

• Housing - affordable housing that is safe,
  sanitary
• and in good repair.
• Food - a few days food supply and a
  culturally-
• appropriate prepared meal upon arrival.
• Necessities pocket money, appropriate
  clothing
• and basic household and personal items are in
  the
• home upon arrival (such as toiletries, basic
• furniture and cooking utensils).

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RP Reception

• Local VOLAG greets refugee clients at the airport
  
• (anchor relatives and faith-based co-sponsors
  for
• some cases/VOLAGs).
• Assess for emergency needs.
• Provide a brief safety and apartment orientation
• and confirm first home visit to occur within 24
• hours.

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RP Core Services First 30 Days

• Review of Various Orientation Topics
• Urgent Health Care (including Behavioral)
• Appointments for Public Benefits
• Employment Registration and ELT Referral
• Refugee Health Screenings
• School Enrollment for Children
• Develop/Initiate Resettlement Plan

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RP Core Services
RP Core Services Orientation
Orientation required for all newly arrived
refugees includes such topics as
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RP Core Services Orientation

• Additional orientation on basic U.S. laws
• is provided on such topics as

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RP Core Services Resettlement Plan

• A comprehensive plan must be developed for
• each family member to help guide them
• towards self-sufficiency.
• The plan includes all family members needs,
• strengths, and plans for removing any barriers.
• Plans are adjustable as family situations may
• change during the initial service period.

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RP Core Services Days 30 - 90

• On-going home visits and orientation.
• Additional transportation overview and help with
  learning about transportation.
• Employable adult clients - employment
  preparation, search and secure.
• Unemployable adult clients - assist with services
  and referrals such as SSI, Medicaid and Aging
  Services.

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RP Core Services Days 30 - 90

• Referrals to community services.
• Connect clients to community volunteers.
• Resettlement Plan review, update, and amend.
• Enroll in one of the following
• - Matching Grant Program (MGP)
• - Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA)
• - Temporary Assistance to Needy Families
  (TANF)

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Matching Grant Program (MGP)

• The ORR-funded Matching Grant Program
• provides services and support to newly arrived
• refugees and other eligible beneficiaries to
• facilitate their economic self-sufficiency within
  
• four to six months of their date of eligibility
• without accessing public cash assistance.

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Matching Grant Program (MGP)

• Matching Grant is a unique program in which
• in-kind and cash donations raised by local
• VOLAG affiliates are matched by ORR at a
• two-to-one ratio.
• This match provides clients much-needed
• assistance to support their efforts to become
• self-sufficient and to successfully transition to
  
• life in the U.S.

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How the Matching Grant Program Works

• Participation in MGP is voluntary and
• enrollment must be completed within 31 days
• of eligibility for the program.
• The Program is for employable refugees and
• other eligible beneficiaries willing and able to
• take the first reasonable offer of employment
• within 120 days after arrival.

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How the Matching Grant Program Works

• MGP provides maintenance assistance,
• incentives, case management and employment
• services for up to 120 days while participating
  in
• the program.
• Refugees are required to accept reasonable
• offers of employment, attend ESL classes, and
• cooperate with case managers and job
• developers.

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How the Matching Grant Program Works

• Refugees who refuse reasonable offers of
• employment can be terminated or sanctioned
• from the program.
• Refugees completing MGP participation and still
• not self-sufficient may be eligible for other
• public benefit programs. The goal, however, is
• to enroll individuals most likely to attain
• economic self-sufficiency within the eligibility
• period.

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Longer-term Services

• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
• Refugee Cash Assistance
• Food Stamps
• AHCCCS
• Refugee Medical Assistance
• Supplemental Security Income

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Temporary Assistance for Needy Families

• Economically qualifying refugee families with
• minor children are eligible for the Temporary
• Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program,
• which provides cash assistance, support services
• and work opportunities.
• The DES Family Assistance Administration (FAA)
• determines eligibility for TANF benefits in
• Arizona.

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Refugee Cash Assistance
Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) is an ORR funded
need-based cash benefit for refugees and other
eligible beneficiaries not eligible for other
cash assistance programs or with applications
pending. RCA is available for a maximum of eight
(8) months (except for Afghan SIVs) after arrival
in the U.S. or date of grant of eligible status.
In Arizona, RCA is administered by FAA.
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Refugee Cash Assistance

• Eligibility for RCA includes taking part in
• employment services, unless exempt,
• including the development of a Family
• Self-sufficiency Plan. The primary worker
• in the household cannot refuse to take a
• job or quit a job without good cause.

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Food Stamps

• Qualifying refugee and eligible beneficiary
• families are eligible for Food Stamps. In
• Arizona, Food Stamps are administered by
• FAA.
• How long refugees and eligible beneficiaries
• may receive Food Stamps depends on
• income levels and participation requirements.

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Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System

The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System
(AHCCCS) is Arizonas Medicaid program. Refugees
may have AHCCCS as families through DES, or as
blind, aged or disabled individuals receiving
Supplemental Security Income through the Social
Security Administration. KidsCare, long term
care and Medicare Cost Sharing eligibility is
handled by AHCCCS. Each eligibility group has
its own income and resource criteria.
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Refugee Medical Assistance

The Refugee Medical Assistance Program (RMAP) is
ORR-funded health coverage for newly arrived
refugees not eligible for AHCCCS. Refugees
meeting income limits and other eligibility
requirements may receive RMAP during their first
eight (8) months (except Afghan SIVs) in the
U.S. RMAP is administered by the Arizona Refugee
Resettlement Program.
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Supplemental Security Income

• Low income refugees and other eligible
  beneficiaries with few resources may be eligible
  to receive monthly Supplemental Security Income
  if they are
• Age 65 or older
• Blind
• Disabled
• SSI is administered by the Social Security
  Administration.

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Other Longer-term Services
Refugees and other eligible beneficiaries are
eligible for longer-terms services for up to five
years after arrival the United States or grant of
eligibility status. These services are designed
to contribute to their effective resettlement,
including their achieving the goal of economic
self-sufficiency as quickly as possible after
arrival in the United States or grant of
eligibility status.
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Other Longer-term Services

• Refugee Employment
• Refugee Case Management
• English Language Training
• Services to Cuban/Haitian Refugees Entrants
• Service to Older Refugees
• Refugee Behavioral Health

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Longer-term Services Refugee Employment
ORR-funded Refugee Employment Services provide
linguistically and culturally appropriate
assistance to refugees and other eligible
beneficiaries, to support their likelihood of
attaining employment prior to the expiration of
their public cash assistance and as soon as
possible after their arrival in the United States.
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Longer-term Services Refugee Case Management
ORR-funded Refugee Case Management is a
linguistically and culturally appropriate
approach to serving refugees and other eligible
beneficiaries with seeking and maintaining
self-sufficiency and well-being, by building on
their skill sets based on various assessments and
their responses and using formal and informal
social support networks.
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Longer-term Services ELT
ORR-funded English Language Training (ELT) for
refugees and other eligible beneficiaries that
focuses on the acquisition of English skills
necessary for obtaining and maintaining
employment and consistent with the National
Teaching English as a Second Language (TESOL)
Standards.
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Longer-term Services Cuban/Haitian

• An ORR-funded project for outreach, assessment
  and supportive services to Cuban and Haitian
  refugees and entrants to increase their
  likelihood
• of successful transition to economic and social
• self-sufficiency. The service areas include
• Employment and Vocational Education
• Health Care
• Victimization Programs
• Naturalization Preparation

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Longer-term Services Older Refugees

• ORR-funded services for refugees and other
  eligible
• beneficiaries, age sixty (60) and older, who have
  
• not yet acquired United States Citizenship.
• Services support
• Citizenship acquisition
• Preservation of benefits/self-sufficiency
  assistance
• Some services available after acquisition of U.S.
  
• Citizenship.

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Longer-term Services Behavioral Health
ORR-funded behavioral health services for
refugees and other eligible beneficiaries that
are provided in culturally and linguistically
appropriate environments. Services include
individual, family and group counseling, case
management and referrals to other services as
needed.
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Exercise One
You are a resettlement case manager. Today is
April 1st and your national agency has just faxed
you an arrival notice for a family that will
arrive via Refugee Airlines at 1145 pm on April
15th. You will have 425 per family
member. The Bio is attached. Based on the
information above and in the Bio, develop an
initial resettlement plan.
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Bio Data Sheet

• CASE US-567890
• Primary Applicant John Smith DOB 12/24/1965
  Family size 6 Nationality Californian
• Religion Hindu
• Family members Wife Rita, female (36 yrs)
  Daughter Sally, female (12 yrs.)
• Son Bill, male (7
  yrs) Daughter Stacy, female (5 yrs) Son
  Steve , male (6 mo)
• Medical issues Wife is deaf and relies on
  husband to interpret via their
• own sign language that
  they have developed must see a specialist within
  4-6 weeks of arrival.
• Daughter Sally has some trauma
  issues from events she witnessed in the San
  Diego refugee camp. Counseling
  recommended
• Languages Husband no English, speaks
  Cali and writes Cali
• Wife Speaks and writes Cali only
• Sally and Bill speak Cali only,
  write some
• Education Husband has a high school
  degree, and a degree in Engineering
• Wife finished sixth grade
• Sally, Stacy and Bill were born in
  the San Diego refugee camp, their education
  was limited to 1st grade
• Employment Husband John worked as an
  engineer until 1996 when his suburb was attacked

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Exercise Two Six Months Later
It is now six months later for the Smith Family
and there have been many changes since they last
arrived. Based on the information below, make
any necessary adjustments to the familys
resettlement plan. Keep in mind, there is no
more RP funding.
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Exercise Two Six Months Later
John Smith John has just lost his job at the
hotel - the hotel is closing. His manager
reports that he is an excellent worker. He has
future hopes of being an engineer in the U.S.
John now communicates with some basic English and
is willing to take any job. Hes worried
about paying the rent.
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Exercise Two Six Months Later
Rita Rita is now four months pregnant and will
need assistance with OB/GYN appointments, and
interpretation. She states that she would
prefer a female OB/GYN for culture
reasons. Sally Sally now speaks English well.
Her teacher reports she has difficulty focusing
in class, and occasionally appears depressed.
Sally states that she frequently interprets for
her mother when running errands in the evenings
and on weekends.
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Exercise Two Six Months Later
Bill Bill, like his sister, has learned English
very quickly. His parents report that they are
frustrated with him, stating he watches too much
television, likes to wear baggy clothes, and
doesnt speak Cali as well as he used
to. Stacy Stacy was placed in kindergarten,
and she is learning English well. The family
reports no problems with her. Steve Steve is
now one year old and developing normally.