From Displacement to Resettlement: Transitioning Refugees and Immigrants into Communities

Olivia Byler, East Bay Refugee ForumMary Voelbel, Upwardly Global

Refugee, Asylee, or Immigrant: Which one?

Difference Between Refugee, Asylee, & Immigrant

Refugee - Flee home because of fear of persecution; identified overseas; brought to the U.S.

Asylee - Same as refugee but identified at U.S. port of entry; receive grant of asylum

Immigrant - Voluntarily (in most cases) come to the U.S. for a variety of reasons including work, study, family reunification, or as Diversity Green Card recipients

Arrival Data In 2009:

74,602 refugees were admitted to the U.S. Leading countries of nationality included Iraq, Burma, and Bhutan.

22,119 individuals were granted asylum. Leading countries of nationality included China, Ethiopia, and Haiti.

463,042 new legal immigrants arrived in the US. In 2009, there were 227,876 legal permanent residents in California.

Refugee Resettlement History

The Refugee Act of 1980 standardized the resettlement services for all refugees admitted to the U.S. This Act incorporates the definition of “refugee” used in the U.N. Protocol, makes provisions for regular flow as well as emergency admission of refugees, and authorizes federal assistance for the resettlement of refugees.

Department of HomelandSecurity Interview

ApprovalDenial

MedicalScreening

SponsorshipAssurance

CulturalOrientation

Travel to U.S.

Motion to Reconsider

OPE(Overseas Processing Entity -

usually at refugee camp or Embassy)

Resettlement Services

Mission of the U.S. Resettlement Program

To assist refugees in achieving economic self-sufficiency in coordination with other refugee services and assistance programs.

To provide the crucial resources to refugee populations in order to assist them in becoming integrated members of American society.

Funding for the Resettlement Program

Two Sources of Funding Bureau of Population, Refugees, and

Migration (BPRM), Department of State = reception and placement services

Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), Department of Health and Human Services = employment services, health services, English language instruction, cash assistance

What does the Resettlement

Program Provide? Reception at the airport Housing assistance Employment services Educational services Interpretation & Translation Public benefits assistance Case management

Refugees & Asylees are eligible for…

Public benefits States’ Temporary Assistance to Needy Families

(TANF) Program (e.g. CalWORKS) States’ Medicaid program (e.g. MediCal) Refugee Cash & Medical Assistance - 8 month

time eligibility Food Stamps

Job search and job placement services Case management services

FY 2010 Refugee Arrivals by Region (as of 8/10/10)Region of Origin Refugee Arrivals

Africa 9,930

East Asia 15,439

Europe 1,303

L. America/Caribbean 4,257

Near East/South Asia 30,946

Total 61,875

Refugee Arrivals in California FY 2009 Total = 11,272

San Diego County = 4,168 Los Angeles County = 4,005 Sacramento County = 652 Santa Clara County = 558 Stanislaus County = 460 Orange County = 447 San Francisco County = 254 Alameda County = 243

Refugees & Asylees in Alameda County

So far in FY 2010, approximately 400 new refugees and asylees arrived in the Alameda County.

Populations include: Bhutanese Refugees from Burma Iraqis Afghans Vietnamese Sri-Lankan Smaller numbers from Eritrea, Ethiopia, Russia,

Cuba, Somalia, and Iran

What challenges do refugees face when they come to the U.S.?

Challenges include… Lack of education Lack of English skills Unemployment Mental health issues Health problems, including severe dental problems Unfamiliarity with U.S. systems (e.g. transportation,

social services, healthcare, schools, banking, etc) Safety concerns In some cases, lack of familiarity with basic

amenities (e.g. escalators, toilets, computers, etc)

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East Bay Refugee Forum Participants

Government Agencies Alameda County

Social Services Alameda County

Public Health Department

Alameda County Refugee Health Services

Superior Court of CA 2010 CA Census

Education Providers Oakland Unified School

District College of Alameda

Resettlement Agencies The International Rescue

Committee Catholic Charities of the

East Bay Jewish Family &

Children’s Services of the East Bay

East Bay Refugee Forum Participants, cont’d

Non-Profit Organizations Asian Community Mental Health Services Asian Health Services Bay Area Legal Aid CEO Women Community Health for Asian Americans (CHAA) East Bay Community Law Center Refugee Transitions The English Center Upwardly Global Survivors International

East Bay Refugee Forum Participants, cont’d

Ethnic Community Based Organizations

African Advocacy Network

Bay Area Immigrant and Refugee Services

Bhutanese American Community Center

Bhutanese Support Community Organization in America

Burmese Refugee Family Network

Cambodian Community Development, Inc.

Lao Family Community Development, Inc.

Tibetan Association of Northern California

Vietnamese American Community Center of the East Bay

Vietnamese Community Development, Inc.

Volunteer Opportunities Education Business Law Accounting Fundraising Health Social Work Administration Any skill set!

Refugee Transitions

Our mission: To assist refugee andimmigrant families inbecoming self-sufficientin the United States byproviding services to helpthem attain the Englishlanguage, life, job andacademic skills they need to succeed in their newcommunities.

Our vision:

To see refugee and

immigrant families

transition successfully

to American life and

become full, participating

members of their new

communities.

Refugee Transitions’ Programs

Since 1990, Refugee Transitions has provided weekly home-based and on-site tutoring and family support for over 3,600 clients from around the world. Our programs have made a significant contribution to their quality of life.

Adult ESL Civics Education and Orientation ProgramProvides individualized, home-based English as a second language (ESL) and civics education instruction. Teachers also conduct small group classes at schools, family resource centers, and other convenient locations. Trained volunteer tutors and refugee interns support this program.

Refugee Transitions’ Programs, cont’d

Bridge-2-Success Refugee Youth Development Program

Offers individualized home-based tutoring to help youth to develop supportive relationships with adults and peers, succeed academically, and develop leadership skills. Refugee Transitions also runs after-school tutoring programs at San Francisco International High School and Oakland International High School with the help of adult volunteers and peer tutors.

Family Support Services

Staff and refugee interns help newly arrived refugees access vital community resources and provide family advocacy for newly arrived refugees.

Refugee Transitions’ Volunteers

Refugee Transitions’ greatest resource is its corps of more than 250 dedicated and trained volunteers (including professionals, students, retirees, and refugee leaders).

Volunteers contribute a combined total of more than 12,500 community service hours each year. 

In addition to teaching English and computer literacy, volunteers act as an important bridge between families and mainstream resources.

Volunteers assist in our after-school programs and help refugee and immigrant families access health care, legal aid, employment opportunities, and communicate with children’s teachers.

Volunteers develop the personal, ongoing relationships that newcomer families need to participate more actively in American culture.

Best Practices

Refugee Transitions provides ongoing training andsupport for volunteers and refugee leaders to:

meet the individualized needs of our students (e.g., home-based tutoring, family support and leadership development)

build on the strengths of refugees (multi-lingual, multi-cultural, ability to adapt/migrate)

Get Involved with Refugee Transitions!

Refugee Transitions recruits volunteers for our home-based tutoring programs year round, with opportunities in San Francisco, the East Bay and the South Bay.

For more information about our programs and how to get involved, please visit our website at www.reftrans.org.

Upwardly Global

Our Mission:Equip immigrant professionals with the skills and resources necessary to rebuild theircareers in the U.S. and to helpU.S. employers benefit from the hidden talent pool ofimmigrant professionals.

Our Work:To break down the primary barriers immigrant professional jobseekers facein the U.S. job search. These barriers include a lack of professional networks, unfamiliarity with American job search customs and practices, and employers’ lack of resources and knowledge to evaluate foreign-born professionals.

Did you Know?

At any given time in the United States

there are more than…

One Million work-authorized, college-educated

immigrant professionals earning less than

$20,000/year.

Global Leaders = Invisible in US

TV News AnchorMongolia

Physician Afghanistan

Arts TherapistBrazil

Social WorkerKenya

Loan Officer, SBA AdvisorBelarus

EngineerEl Salvador

Cashier

Waitress

Nanny

Home Health Aide

Barista

Housecleaner

What Does it Feel Like?

93 BA

Career Ladder

04 Production Assistant

93-97

Reporter, Editor,

Producer, Journalist of

Year

98-99

Director, Press Office

99-01

News Anchor

02-04

Barista

The Resource Gaps

Resource gaps for both employers and immigrant professionals keep the immigrant professional talent pool hidden and on the margins of society.

For Immigrant Professionals Lack the networks and mentors

Cultural differences in the job search process

Lack of knowledge of industry in the U.S.

For Employers Misperceptions about immigrant

talent

Lack of experience evaluating foreign education and experience

Difficulty reaching immigrant candidates

Upwardly Global’s Approach

Our Core Jobseeker Services training program is a 6-weekprogram of weekly workshops that address key componentsof the American job search.

Workshop topics include: Orientation to UpGlo & General American Cultural

Norms Marketing Yourself in the U.S. Job Search Interviewing Skills Networking Skills Practice Interviewing Surviving the American Workplace

Upwardly Global’s Employer Network

Upglo partners with companies across industries to help them effectively recruit, interview, and integrate immigrant professionals into their workforces. 

As an Employer Network Partner you receive: Access to diverse candidates and ethnic markets Training on the benefits of immigrant talent

acquisition Diversity leadership and employee engagement

opportunities

Volunteering Opportunities

Advisors: Provide Informational Interviews for Upwardly Global jobseekers

Networking Connectors: Participate in networking events with jobseekers and help them practice their 30-second pitch and networking skills

Mock Interviewers: Conduct practice interviews and provide feedback to improve interview skills

Mentors: Work one-on-one with jobseekers on job searching, networking, and interviewing skills

Connectors: Make introductions and set up small events where potential supporters can hear about our work and meet jobseekers and alumni. Connectors also help with special event planning.

Upwardly Global Volunteer Program

Want to make a difference? Help Create Awareness of UpGlo’s FREE

Programs Join our Network of Employer Partners Become a Upwardly Global Volunteer and

Immigrant Professional Mentor Attend or Sponsor our 2010 Fundraiser on

Angel Island, Saturday, October 2nd

Questions: mary@upwardlyglobal.org

Questions?

What Resources are in Your Neighborhood & Community?

For Example: A Family from Bhutan Father: college-educated, intermediate English

skills, professional skills Mother: 8 years of school in Bhutan, no English or

professional skills; mental health issues Son: 18 years old, completed 8 years of school in

refugee camp, low intermediate English skills, learning disabled

Daughter: 12 years old, completed 6 years of school in refugee camp, low intermediate English skills

Grandfather: 63 years old, agricultural skills, no English skills, poor dental health

Thank You

Olivia Byler

East Bay Refuge Forum Coordinator

Eastbayrefugeeforum@gmail.com

Mary Voelbel

Employer Partner Specialist, Upwardly Global

mary@upwardlyglobal.org