Connecticut Institute For Refugees And Immigrants Inc

THE CONNECTICUT INSTITUTE FOR REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANTS, INC. (CIRI) IS A STATEWIDE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT ASSISTS REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANTS RESOLVE LEGAL, ECONOMIC, LINGUISTIC AND SOCIAL BARRIERS SO THAT THEY BECOME SELF-SUFFICIENT, INTEGRATED AND CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. CIRI ACHIEVES THIS MISSION BY PROVIDING A COMPASSIONATE ARRAY OF HIGH-QUALITY LEGAL, SOCIAL AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING AND BY PROMOTING CROSS CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING AND DECENT TREATMENT FOR ALL.

RENTAL ASSISTANCE: CIRI CONTRACTED WITH THE STATE TO ADMINISTER A PORTION OF RENTAL ASSISTANCE FUNDS TO QUALIFIED RECIPIENTS. THE PURPOSE OF FUNDING IS TO KEEP INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES SAFELY HOUSED DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, TARGETING RENTERS NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY COVID-19. CIRI IS COLLABORATING WITH LOCAL CONNECTICUT ORGANIZATIONS TO ENSURE THAT THE ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED TO THE APPROPRIATE RECIPIENTS. DURING 2021, THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE IMPACTED OVER 4400 INDIVIDUALS.

LEGAL IMMIGRATION & CITIZENSHIP SERVICES: CIRI'S EXPERIENCED IMMIGRATION ATTORNEYS AND REPRESENTATIVES, ACCREDITED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE OFFICE OF LEGAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, ENSURE THAT IMMIGRANTS ARE AWARE OF THEIR LEGAL OPTIONS AND PROVIDE REPRESENTATION BEFORE U.S. CITIZENSHIP & IMMIGRATION SERVICES AND THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR IMMIGRATION REVIEW. THE PROGRAM OFFERS A WIDE RANGE OF LOW-COST AND FREE LEGAL SERVICES TO LOW-INCOME IMMIGRANTS WHICH MAY INCLUDE FAMILY-BASED IMMIGRATION, APPLICATIONS FOR PERMANENT RESIDENCE, NATURALIZATION & CITIZENSHIP, TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS (TSP), LEGAL PROTECTIONS FOR VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE AND SERIOUS CRIMES, ASYLUM APPLICATIONS, AND REPRESENTATION BEFORE THE IMMIGRATION COURT.

REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT & EMPLOYMENT SERVICES: ANNUALLY, CIRI ASSISTS OVER 250 REFUGEES RESETTLE AND REBUILD THEIR LIVES IN THE UNITED STATES. REFUGEES HAVE FLED WAR AND PERSECUTION IN THEIR NATIVE COUNTRIES AND IN MANY CASES HAVE SPENT YEARS, EVEN DECADES, IN REFUGEE CAMPS. CIRI STAFF FOCUSES ON MEETING THE IMMEDIATE BASIC NEEDS OF NEW REFUGEES, AND ASSISTS WITH EMPLOYMENT, HOUSING, SCHOOL READINESS AND SUCCESS IN THE US EDUCATION SYSTEM, ACCESSING HEALTH SERVICES, AND OTHER SERVICES SO THEY MAY THRIVE IN THEIR NEW COMMUNITIES. SUPPORT IS PROVIDED FOR UP TO 5 YEARS FROM INITIAL RESETTLEMENT. IN 2021, CIRI ALSO ASSISTED WITH RESETTLING 127 AFGHAN PAROLEES AND CONTINUE THIS WORK INTO 2022.

PROJECT RESCUE: PROJECT RESCUE AS THE STATE LEAD IN SERVICES FOR SURVIVORS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING, UNACCOMPANIED MINORS, AND FOREIGN-BORN VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND CHILD ABUSE WITHIN THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT AND RAISES AWARENESS ABOUT THE ISSUE OF TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS, CARING FOR UNACCOMPANIED MINORS AND ADDRESSING CHALLENGE FOR FOREIGN BORN VICTIMS OF CERTAIN CRIMES. THE PROGRAM SERVES TRAFFICKING VICTIMS THROUGH COMPREHENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT, IMMIGRATION LEGAL AID, AND REFERRALS TO COMMUNITY SERVICE PROVIDERS. IN-HOUSE SERVICES INCLUDE INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT, EMPLOYMENT SERVICES, IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES, AND HELP WITH BASIC NEEDS. IN COLLABORATION WITH SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES, LEGAL SERVICES, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE PROGRAM HELPS SURVIVORS GAIN ACCESS TO PUBLIC BENEFITS, THERAPY, SAFE HOUSING AND THE MEDICAL CARE THEY NEED TO REBUILD THEIR LIVES. PROJECT RESCUE PROVIDES STATEWIDE TRAINING TO SERVICE PROVIDERS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT ON VICTIM IDENTIFICATION AND OUTREACH TO INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS. THE PROGRAM ALSO COLLABORATED WITH STATE AND NATIONAL NETWORKS TO SECURE SAFETY AND RESETTLING OF UNACCOMPANIED MINORS IN SHELTER AND AS THEY MOVE FROM SHELTER TO THEIR SPONSORS/FAMILY MEMBERS.SURVIVOR SERVICES: THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS WITH SPECIALIZED SERVICES TO ADDRESS THE COMPLEX RESULTS OF HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSE. WORKING WITH REFUGEES, ASYLUM SEEKERS, ASYLEES, AND OTHER FOREIGN-BORN SURVIVORS OF TORTURE, SURVIVOR SERVICES AIMS TO EMPOWER SURVIVORS TO HEAL FROM TORTURE, REGAIN INDEPENDENCE, AND LEAD PRODUCTIVE LIVES THROUGH THE PROVISION OF COMPREHENSIVE, INDIVIDUALIZED SERVICES.ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT: FOCUSED ON BUILDING THE ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE AND SECURITY OF CIRI'S CLIENTS, THE PROGRAM HOUSES CIRI'S WORKFORCE READINESS AND JOB PLACEMENT FUNCTIONS AS WELL AS FINANCIAL LITERACY EDUCATION. THE ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT ACTIVITIES ARE DESIGNED TO REDUCE THE BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT FACED BY OUR CLIENTS THROUGH A CONTINUUM OF WORKFORCE PREPARATION, TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT SERVICES; JOB PLACEMENT AND RETENTION SUPPORT; ONE-ON-ONE FINANCIAL COUNSELING; AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT.MENTOR PROGRAM: THE PROGRAM PROVIDES TARGETED MENTOR SUPPORT FOR REFUGEES, SURVIVORS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND OTHER SERIOUS CRIMES. MENTORS ARE PAIRED WITH MENTEES ON THE BASIS OF THEIR INTEREST AND SKILLS. THE MENTOR/MENTEE RELATIONSHIP IS FOCUSED ON EMPOWERING THE MENTEE TO IDENTIFY AND REACH HIS/HER SELF-IDENTIFIED SELF-SUFFICIENCY GOALS.