IMMIGRANT

INTEGRATION SERVICESThe Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians may have been the first to develop such an online guide amongthe immigrant economic development programs. 3 It has revamped its guide to offer user-friendly search functionsfor those seeking English classes, allowing users to search by day of the week and time of day, level of instruction,location, and whether the class has childcare available. Instructions on attaining other basic integration services(healthcare, banking, paying taxes, renting, homeownership, utility services, transportation, etc.) are provided on thewebsite and broken down by topic.Welcome Mat Detroit developed a searchable database of more than 200 nonprofits and 300 other importantentries that provide services, arts, and cultural affairs targeting immigrant, refugee, and ethnic populations. 4In addition to the searchable database that allows users to search by type of service sought, language and ethnicidentity, and geography, the Welcome Mat seeks to build a network among existing nonprofit integration serviceproviders, helping to address gaps in the region’s services, as well as build capacity of service organizations inemerging immigrant and refugee communities. It has offered programming in tax preparation for internationalstudents, as well as welcoming events to international students studying at Detroit colleges and universities.The Welcome Mat also serves as a gathering place for events and programs to build a multi-ethnic allianceamong immigrant and refugee groups.B. Case Management ProgramsOther programs help immigrants and refugees attain needed services by taking a case management approach, whereindividuals are assisted one-on-one through an intake process andguided through a series of referrals to existingintegration service providers. The Vibrant Pittsburgh WelcomeCenter provides free referral services to newcomers in thePittsburgh Region helping them connect to a broad range ofresources, including translation and interpretation, ESL classes,housing, and employment as well as cultural and professional organizationsrepresenting diverse communities in the region. 5 Over thepast decade, the program has provided one-on-one referral, interpretationand translation services to more than 2,100 newcomers,immigrants, and internationals living in the Pittsburgh region.Other programs help immigrantsand refugees attain needed services bytaking a case management approach,where individuals are assisted oneon-onethrough an intake process andguided through a series of referrals toexisting integration service providers.In addition to managing an “Ethnic Quest Directory” that allowsimmigrants, refugees, and other internationals to search for services,restaurants, entertainment, events, and other offerings targetingspecific ethnic groups, Global Cleveland provides one-on-onesupport through a network of volunteers it manages. 6 Volunteer one-on-one services include job search coaches,professional connections, ambassadors (who help introduce newcomers to Cleveland’s many neighborhoods),English conversation buddies, and basic translation and interpretation services for day-to-day items such as letters,emails, websites, etc. website?The Immigrant Welcome Center of Indianapolis also employs a volunteer network, its Natural Helpers initiative,which utilizes multilingual immigrants or refugees who are culturally sensitive to offer emotional encouragementand to help others in their community. 7 The Natural Helper volunteers receive ongoing training to equip themwith the skills necessary to connect newcomers to integration resources such as health care, legal services, socialservices, domestic violence advocates, employment and training services, and the like.3See Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians, http://www.welcomingcenter.org/.4See Welcome Mat Detroit, www.welcomematdetroit.org.5See Vibrant Pittsburgh, http://vibrantpittsburgh.org/welcome/the-welcome-center/.6See Global Cleveland, http://globalcleveland.org/int-resource/newcomer/international-newcomer-support-services.7See Immigrant Welcome Center, http://immigrantwelcomecenter.org/about_program.html.WELCOMING AMERICA | GUIDE TO IMMIGRANT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT | CHAPTER 1488