| Catholic Refugee Services |
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Services Provided: Catholic Charities Refugee Services is an affiliate of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Office of Migration and Refugee Services (USCCB/MRS) in Washington, D.C. Catholic Charities Refugee Services participates in two resettlement programs, which provide services for refugees who have been referred through USCCB/MRS: the Reception and Placement program and the Match Grant program. -The Reception and Placement program is administered by the Department of State through a cooperative agreement with USCCB/MRS. The program strives to "ensure that refugees approved for admission are sponsored and offered appropriate assistance in their initial resettlement in the United States." -Services include pre and post-arrival services; pre-arrival services are conducted in preparation for receiving a refugee family, which includes providing information and assistance for sponsors, as well as the preparation of housing and other necessities for families with no sponsor. Post-arrival services include case management and financial support during the first 30 days after arrival in the United States. -Case management services include transportation, health screening, school enrollment, referral services, and assistance with applications for Social Security cards and government assistance. -Financial support includes one month's worth of rent and utilities, as well as the purchase of food, household supplies, and other necessities. In addition, other available items include donated furniture, dishes, and hygiene products. -Match Grant is a program aimed toward enabling the refugee to achieve early economic self-sufficiency through employment and, thereby, eliminating the need for government cash assistance. The Match Grant program provides cash assistance, case management, and employment services through the first 120 days after arrival in the United States. -Employment services include networking with potential employers, interviewing employable clients, providing follow-up services, and providing clients with transportation and interpretation, as needed, for job interviews and other pre-employment appointments. Clients Served: Those who benefit from the services provided at Catholic Charities Refugee Services include individuals with refugee or asylee status as determined by the United States Government under the Immigration and Nationality Act and referred through the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Office of Migration and Refugee Services. Refugees are individuals who have been forced to leave their homeland and are unable to return because they have experienced persecution or have a well-founded fear of persecution based on race, religion, membership in a particular social group, political opinion, or national origin. Asylees must meet the same criteria as refugees; however, asylees are already living in the U.S. when they apply for asylee status. |
