ICMCEUROPE WelcometoEurope.pdf (5.89 MB)

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The Federal Government also makes funds available to each state to
provide additional employment and social services for a period of up to
5 years. These funds are managed by the states and disbursed to resettlement
agencies and a range of other applicants including community
colleges, Mutual Assistance Associations and other private organisations.
All refugees are eligible for public cash assistance and medical assistance
for a period of up to 8 months, unless they are enrolled in programmes -
such as Match Grant - which provide cash assistance.
This initial period of support is generally not sufficient for resettled refugees.
Many would benefit from more intensive case management, language
learning and employment services over a longer period, in particular
those with special needs.
Chapter II – Global Resettlement
Are there any successful programmes for special groups (young refugees,
women, victims of trauma and torture) which you are particularly proud
of and which you could recommend to European countries?
Our Bridging Refugee Youth and Children’s Services (BRYCS) is an awardwinning
national technical assistance provider to organisations serving
refugees and immigrants. BRYCS makes available one-to-one consultations
and relevant resources. One example of a resource developed by
the BRYCS programme is a toolkit for offices working with refugee families
called ‘Raising Children in a New Land - an Illustrated Guidebook.’
It is available in several languages, and provides illustrations and text to
make it accessible for parents who are illiterate. It leads parents through
examples of US law and parenting expectations, such as differences in disciplining
children.
In addition, our Parishes Organised to Welcome Refugees (POWR) programme,
funded by USCCB with small grants to 37 dioceses, is supporting
the development of volunteer-led parish initiatives that offer transportation
assistance, social connections, employment mentoring and
English language training for newly-arrived refugees across the country.
Volunteers pick refugees up at airports, transport sick family members
to doctor’s offices and to hospitals, draft press releases, organise special