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Pre-arrival: When an
arrival is confirmed, a case manager or co-sponsor locates an apartment
and pays the deposit and first month’s rent.
We stock the apartment with all of the furnishings the family
will need, including mattresses, a table and chairs, a couch, linens,
dishes, and cooking utensils. Most items are donated, many by our local
Lutheran congregations.
Arrival: One of
our staff or a co-sponsor greets the new arrivals at the airport (often
in the middle of the night!) and takes them to their new home. We ensure
that they have eaten, or know how to prepare some of the food in their
new home, and that they know how to contact us in case of an emergency.
They are also given a small cash grant.
Orientation: The
next few days are a whirlwind of activity, as the newcomers are helped
to obtain social security cards, health services, and school
registration, as well as to meet other basic needs. The family is
introduced to the public transportation system, and learns where to shop
for groceries and other necessities. At least one additional home visit
takes place during the first 30 days.
Referrals: The
newcomers may be referred to other LSG programs, including English
Language Instruction, Matching Grant Early Self-Sufficiency Program, and
Employment Services. If they have special needs, they may also be
referred to mainstream programs and services.
Becoming employed:
Most important is the assistance refugees receive in finding employment
that can help achieve rapid economic self-sufficiency. Our
Employment
Services
and Matching
Grant
programs ensure that almost 100% of LSG’s resettled adult refugees are
employed within 8 weeks of their arrival. We are proud to add that some
have gained employment within our agency and provide a valuable source
of support and understanding to our future clients.
Social Adjustment
– Newly arriving refugees must learn a tremendous amount about how to
function in their new society and culture, and they must learn it
quickly! Throughout their first six months, the new arrivals receive
hands-on help from their case managers, and from our openhearted
co-sponsors and volunteers.
To a limited
degree, case managers can provide time-extended assistance for families
that have not achieved economic self-sufficiency within four months, or
that are experiencing problems related to physical or mental health,
home management, or emergencies. In most cases, social adjustment
assistance is in the form of referrals to social service agencies along
with follow-up to ensure that outside services have been accessed.
Funding: The US
Office of Refugee Resettlement provides the funding for the Refugee
Resettlement Program.
For more information
about the Refugee Resettlement Program, please contact Mustafa Noor,
Senior Case Manager, at 678-686-9624 |
