Lutheran Immigration And Refugee Service

LIRS WORKS TO CREATE WELCOME FOR MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES. ADVOCATES FOR AND HELPS (CONT'D ON SCH O)

RESETTLEMENT: IN FY 2023, LIRS RESETTLED 11,244 REFUGEES, UNACCOMPANIEDREFUGEE MINORS AND SIVS (AFGHAN SPECIAL IMMIGRANT VISAS WHO SERVEDOVERSEAS ALONGSIDE THE US ARMED FORCES) FROM 48 COUNTRIES THROUGH ITSNETWORK OF LOCAL SOCIAL MINISTRY ORGANIZATIONS IN 77 LOCATIONS ACROSSTHE UNITED STATES, PREPARING A PLACE OF WELCOME TO MEET THE PARTICULARNEEDS OF THE REFUGEES AND ENGAGING LOCAL CHURCHES AND COMMUNITIES TOASSIST REFUGEES TO BECOME SELF-RELIANT MEMBERS OF THEIR NEWCOMMUNITIES. THE TOP FIVE COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN OF RESETTLED REFUGEES INFY23 WERE AFGHANISTAN, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, BURMA, SOMALIA, AND SYRIA.LIRS REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT PROGRAMMING INCLUDES:1. RECEPTION AND PLACEMENT (R&P) LIRS PROVIDES LIFE-SAVING PROTECTIONAND STABILIZATION SUPPORT TO REFUGEES DURING THEIR FIRST 90 DAYS IN THEUNITED STATES.2. MATCHING GRANT (MG) - THIS LIRS 8-MONTH EARLY EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM IS ANALTERNATIVE TO PUBLIC CASH ASSISTANCE. IN FISCAL YEAR 2023, 71.88% OF THE8,815 INDIVIDUALS ENROLLED IN MATCHING GRANT WERE SELF-SUFFICIENT(EMPLOYED) ON OR BEFORE THE 240-DAY MARK.3. PREFERRED COMMUNITIES (PC) LIRS PROVIDED INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENTTO THE MOST VULNERABLE REFUGEES AND ASYLEES TO ENSURE ACCESS TO CRITICAL,LIFE STABILIZING SERVICES AND RESOURCES. THIS HELPED MOVE 653PARTICIPANTS TOWARD SELF-SUFFICIENCY IN 27 LOCATIONS. PC GAP SERVICES SERVED 1,988 CLIENTS IN 60 LOCATIONS.

OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES:LIRS SERVICES TRAVEL LOANS ISSUED BY THE INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF MIGRATION TO TRANSPORT LIRS-SPONSORED REFUGEES FROM THEIR ORIGINAL LOCATION TO THEIR RESETTLEMENT LOCATION IN THE UNITED STATES. COLLECTIONS FROM THESE NON-INTEREST BEARING LOANS ARE, IN PART, USED TO OFFSET LOAN SERVICING EXPENSES OF LIRS, WITH 75% OF THE COLLECTIONS RETURNED TO THE INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF MIGRATION TO REPLENISH THE LOAN FUND, WHICH FINANCES TRANSPORTATION FOR RESETTLEMENT OF FUTURE REFUGEES.LIRS NORTH DAKOTA (LIRS ND) STATE PROGRAMS REFUGEE SUPPORT SERVICES PROGRAM (RSS): RSS SUPPORTED REFUGEES AND OTHER ORR ELIGIBLE POPULATIONS GAIN ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE BY HELPING THEM FIND AND MAINTAIN EMPLOYMENT LEADING TOWARDS ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND SUCCESSFUL INTEGRATION INTO LOCAL COMMUNITIES. RSS SERVICES INCLUDED EMPLOYABILITY ASSESSMENT, TRAINING AND JOB DEVELOPMENT, JOB PLACEMENT, AND JOB MAINTENANCE. IN ADDITION, SERVICES INCLUDED REFERRALS TO ADDRESS BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT INCLUDING SOCIAL ADJUSTMENT, ENGLISH LANGUAGE CLASSES, DAY CARE, AS WELL AS CITIZENSHIP CLASSES AND NATURALIZATION SUPPORT. LIRS ND SERVED 459 RSS CLIENTS IN 2023.REFUGE CASH ASSISTANCE (RCA) PROGRAM: REFUGE CASH ASSISTANCE (RCA)SUPPORTED REFUGEES AND OTHER ORR ELIGIBLE POPULATIONS WITH MONTHLY CASH ASSISTANCE TO HELP INDIVIDUALS MEET THEIR BASIC NEEDS SUCH AS FOOD, SHELTER, AND TRANSPORTATION. WHILST SUPPORT ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS TO BECOME SELF SUFFICIENT AND REDUCE DEPENDENCY ON WELFARE SERVICES BY PROVIDING CASE MANAGEMENT, ENGLISH LANGUAGE TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT REFERALS. LIRS ND SERVED 321 RCA CLIENTS IN 2023.SERVICES FOR OLDER REFUGEES (SOR): SOR PROVIDED SUPPORT FOR ELIGIBLE REFUGEES AGED SIXTY AND OLDER AND ENSURED THEY HAVE ACCESS TO APPLICABLE SERVICES FOR THE AGING. SOR SERVICES INCLUDED CASE MANAGEMENT, TRANSPORTATION, INTERPRETATION, REFERRALS TO SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, CONNECTION TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES, VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT, SOCIAL ACTIVITIES, AND CITIZENSHIP AND NATURALIZATION PREPARATION SERVICES FOR ELIGIBLE REFUGEE ELDERS. AND TO PROVIDE QUALIFYING REFUGEES WITH APPROPRIATE SERVICES NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE IN THE COMMUNITY. SOR SERVICES SUPPORTED OVERALL PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH, HELP INTEGRATION INTO NEW COMMUNITIES, AND SUPPORTED INDEPENDENT LIVING. LIRS ND SERVED 40 SOR CLIENTS IN 2023.INCREASING HEALTH EQUITY AND IMMUNIZATION RATES AMONGST NEW AMERICANS/FOREIGN BORN/IMMIGRANT (VACCINE EQUITY): LIRS-ND ACTED AS THE FISCAL AGENT AND COLLABORATED WITH ETHNIC COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (CBOS) WHO WORKED TO INCREASE HEALTH EQUITY AND IMMUNIZATION RATES AMONGST NEW AMERICANS IN NORTH DAKOTA THROUGH OUTREACH AND PUBLIC EDUCATION. LIRS ND SUPPORTED 14 CBOS IN 2023.THE REFUGEE MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVE: THE PROJECT SERVED MALE MEMBERS OF THE RECENTLY ARRIVED AFGHAN COMMUNITIES IN THE FARGO AREA, PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE IN SPORT AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES TO ENHANCE THEIR MENTAL HEALTH AND STAY CONNECTED WITH EACH OTHER. LIRS ND SERVED 33 CLIENTS IN 2023.REFUGEE AGRICULTURAL PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM: SUPPORTS REFUGEES AND OTHER ORR-ELIGIBLE POPULATIONS TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVELIHOODS AND ATTAIN ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY THROUGH INCREASED KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS IN AGRICULTURE, FOOD SYSTEMS, NUTRITION AND ACCESS TO FARMER'S MARKETS. LIRS ND SERVED 32 CLIENTS IN 2023.LIRS SAN ANTONIO (LIRS SA) PROGRAMSAMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT (ARPA) SUPPORT SERVICES: ADDRESS NEGATIVE COVID-19 IMPACTS ON ECONOMIC SECURITY FOR NONCITIZENS RESIDING IN SAN ANTONIO THROUGH THE PROVISION OF CASE MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYMENT SERVICES. LIRS SA SERVED 124 INDIVIDUALS 2023. LIRS BALTIMORE AND ALEXANDRIA (LIRS MD) PROGRAMSBALTIMORE NEW AMERICAN ACCESS COALITION (BNAAC): PROVIDES SIX-MONTH CASE MANAGEMENT AND BENEFITS NAVIGATION TO HELP BALTIMORE CITY'S IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES. LIRS MD SERVED 42 CLIENTS. MICROENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT: EMPOWERS REFUGEES WITH ECONOMIC INCLUSION OPPORTUNITIES INTENDED TO FACILITATE INTEGRATION INTO THE U.S. ECONOMY. IT PROVIDES TRAINING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AS WELL AS CREDIT BUILDER AND SMALL BUSINESS LOANS TO HELP THEM CREATE OR EXPAND THEIR OWN SMALL BUSINESSES. LIRS SUPPORTED 27 INDIVIDUALS IN 2023 THROUGH TRAINING AND DISTRIBUTED 8 LOANS. INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNT: SUPORTS REFUGEES SAVE TOWARD AN ASSET THAT WILL HELP INCREASE FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE. THE PROGRAM HELPS REFUGEES UNDERSTAND WHAT ASSETS ARE, HOW THE U.S. FINANCIAL SYSTEM WORKS, AND HOW TO MANAGE THEIR MONEY. IT MATCHES SAVINGS AT A AT ONE-TO-ONE FOR EACH DOLLAR DEPOSITED. SAVINGS GOALS CAN BE USED TOWARDS HOME PURCHASE, RENTAL ASSISTANCE, VOCATIONAL TRAININGS, EDUCATION, ENTRANCE EXAM FEES, ETC. LIRS SUPPORTED 50 INDIVIDUALS IN 2023 THROUGH TRAINING AND DISTRIBUTED 36,000 IN MATCHING FUNDS.

CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES: FOR MORE THAN 40YEARS, LIRS HAS PROVIDED CHILD WELFARE SERVICES TO REFUGEE AND MIGRANT CHILDREN WHO ARE UNACCOMPANIED OR SEPARATED FROM FAMILY. LIRS PROVIDED RESIDENTIAL CARE AND COMMUNITY BASED CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES TO OVER 22,000 NEWLY REUNIFIED CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN 2023. THESE CHILDREN HAVE TYPICALLY FLED COMMUNITY VIOLENCE, CIVIL CONFLICT, PERSECUTION, TRAFFICKING, EXTREME POVERTY, OR MALTREATMENT. LIRS APPROACHES ITS WORK WITH INTEGRITY AND UPHOLDS THE FOLLOWING PRINCIPLES IN SERVING CHILDREN: DECISION-MAKING BASED ON THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CHILD; PRESERVING FAMILY UNITY; PLACEMENTS OF CHILDREN IN THE LEAST RESTRICTIVE SETTING; PRIORITIZING CHILD PROTECTION; ANDPROVIDING SERVICES WITH QUALITY AND INNOVATION.LIRS PARTNERS WITH THE FEDERAL AGENCY, THE OFFICE OF REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT, STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, ANDCOMMUNITY CHILD WELFARE AND REFUGEE ORGANIZATIONS TO SERVE THE BESTINTERESTS OF REFUGEE AND MIGRANT CHILDREN. LIRS PROVIDES A FULLCONTINUM OF CARE, WITH A ROBUST NATIONAL NETWORK OF PARTNERS AND DIRECT CARE STAFF LOCATED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. THE CONTINUM OF CAREINCLUDED SHORT AND LONG-TERMFOSTER CARE (BASIC AND THERAPEUTIC PLACEMEMENTS), GROUP HOME CARE, AND SHELTER CARE AS WELL AS SAFE RELEASE SERVICES AND HOME STUDIES AND POST RELEASE SERVICES. LIRS LAUNCHED ITS FIRST INTERNATIONAL OFFICE IN GUATEMALA, PROVIDING CASE MANAGEMENT, CLINICAL SERVICES, AND ACCESS TO EDUCATIONAL AND VOCATIONAL SERVICES FOR YOUTH WHO HAVE BEEN RETURNED TO GUATEMALA FROM THE U.S. AND MEXICO.

MIGRANT SERVICES: IN 2023, LIRS CONTINUED IMPLEMENTING THE FOLLOWING REFUGEE RELATED PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES: NEW AMERICAN CITIES (NAC) (FUNDED BY WALMART, CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS, ICONIQ) - TARGETED CAREER UPSKILLING SUPPORT AND PLANNING FOR NEW AMERICANS WHO HAVE BEEN IN COUNTRY FOR 20 YEARS OR LESS. LIRS OPERATES THE PROGRAM IN SIX LOCATIONS AND HAD SERVED 312 CLIENTS IN 2023.COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:1. CIRCLE OF WELCOME (COW) - FACILITATED VOLUNTEER CHURCH/COMMUNITY TEAMS WHO ARE MATCHED WITH REFUGEE HOUSEHOLDS TO PROVIDE STRUCTURED, ONGOING SUPPORT.2. VOLUNTEERISM TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE (TA) - SERVED AS IN-HOUSE VOLUNTEERISM AND MENTORSHIP TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDERS TO THE AFFILIATE NETWORK AND INTERNAL PROGRAM MANAGERS.3. EMPLOYER ENGAGEMENT WORKED WITH NATIONAL AND LOCAL COMPANIES TO BECOME "PREFERRED REFUGEE EMPLOYERS" (PRE) BY FOLLOWED A MINIMUM AMOUNT OF HIRING AND RETENTION BEST PRACTICES.4. LIRS' RESPITE SERVICES PROGRAM OFFERS IMMEDIATE SUPPORT TO PEOPLE RECENTLY RELEASED FROM IMMIGRATION DETENTION. THE PROGRAM OPERATED IN THREE BORDER-ADJACENT LOCATIONS AND SERVED OVER 10,554 INDIVIDUALS IN 2023. 5. LIRS' WELCOME CENTER PROGRAM OFFERS SIX MONTHS OF TRAUMA-INFORMED, WRAPAROUND CASE MANAGEMENT SUPPORT TO NEWLY ARRIVED ASYLUM SEEKERS. THE PROGRAM OPERATED IN NINE LOCATIONS AND SERVED OVER 930 INDIVIDUALS IN 2023.6. LIRS' MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM OFFERED THERAPY AND CLINICAL CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES TO 408 INDIVIDUALS IN 2023.IN 2023, GLOBAL REFUGE RECRUITED AND CONNECTED 1,004 NEW VOLUNTEERS AND ORIENTED 97 NEW AMBASSADORS. TOGETHER, THESE AMBASSADORS AND VOLUNTEERS FORM A NATIONAL NETWORK THAT RECEIVES, WELCOMES, HOUSES AND ACCOMPNIES NEW ARRIVALS TO THE UNITED STATES. WITH THE HELP OF FAITH COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL VOLUNTEERS, 20,000 HAND WRITTEN CARDS WERE WRITTEN THROUGH THE HOPE FOR THE HOLIDAYS PROGRAM, AND 15,000 CARDS WERE SENT TO INDIVIDUALS IN DETENTION CENTERS, AS WELL AS TO FAMILIES AND CHILDREN OF GLOBAL REFUGE'S OWN CFS PROGRAMS. GLOBAL REFUGE VOLUNTEERS AND SUPPORTIVE FAITH COMMUNITIES ALSO PACKED AND DELIVERED MORE THAN 1,500 "FRESH CHANGE" BAGS OF NEW CLOTHING FOR IMMIGRANTS LEAVING DETENTION CENTERS IN LAS CRUCES, NEW MEXICO. GLOBAL REFUGE ALSO PRODUCED AN ADVENT DEVOTIONAL AND LAUNCHED A NEW LITURGICAL RESOURCE WHICH BROUGHT THE TOPIC OF IMMIGRATION INTO CONGREGATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. GLOBAL REFUGE PREACHED AND PRESENTED IN NEARLY 50 FAITH COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND SPOKE PUBLICLY AT EDUCATIONAL AND HUMAN RIGHTS EVENTS IN SEVERAL MAJOR CITIES.