Lutheran Immigration And Refugee Service

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

CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES: FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS, LIRS HAS PROVIDED CHILD WELFARE SERVICES TO REFUGEE AND MIGRANT CHILDREN WHO ARE UNACCOMPANIED OR SEPARATED FROM FAMILY. THESE CHILDREN HAVE TYPICALLY FLED WAR, 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; AND PROVIDING SERVICES WITH QUALITY AND INNOVATION. LIRS PARTNERS WITH THE FEDERAL AGENCY THE OFFICE OF REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT, STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, AND COMMUNITY CHILD WELFARE AND REFUGEE ORGANIZATIONS TO SERVE THE BEST INTERESTS OF REFUGEE AND MIGRANT CHILDREN. LIRS PROVIDES A FULL SPECTRUM OF CHILD SERVICES, WITH A NETWORK OF 48 PARTNERS AND A TOTAL OF 96 SITES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. IN 2021, LIRS LAUNCHED 7 NEW TRANSITIONAL FOSTER CARE SITES, INCREASING OUR ABILITY TO SERVE UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN AS THEY PURSUE REUNIFICATION. LIRS ALSO ESTABLISHED A THERAPEUTIC FOSTER CARE PROGRAM TO ENSURE THAT VULNERABLE CHILDREN CAN RECEIVE SPECIALIZED CARE. IN ADDITION TO THE EXPANSION FOR TRANSITIONAL FOSTER CARE, LIRS INCREASED ITS LONG-TERM FOSTER CARE CAPACITY FOR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS AT CURRENT SITES. AS A RESULT, IN 2021, LIRS WAS ABLE TO SERVE 1,861 UNACCOMPANIED REFUGEE AND MIGRANT CHILDREN THROUGH TRANSITIONAL, THERAPEUTIC, AND LONG-TERM FOSTER CARE PROGRAMS AS WELL AS THE UNACCOMPANIED REFUGEE MINORS PROGRAM.TO FACILITATE THE REUNIFICATION OF UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN WITH SPONSORS, THE SAFE RELEASE SUPPORT PROGRAM FINGERPRINTED 18,352 SPONSORS AND PROVIDED PACKET ASSISTANCE TO 6,882 INDIVIDUALS. IN 2021 LIRS ADDED 17 NEW SAFE RELEASE SITES TO ITS NETWORK. THIS EXPANSION WAS TARGETED TO RURAL AREAS TO SUPPORT CAREGIVERS RECEIVING SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE TO COMPLETE BACKGROUND SCREENINGS REQUIRED THROUGH THE FAMILY REUNIFICATION PROCESS. POTENTIAL CAREGIVERS FACE CHALLENGES IN TRANSPORTATION, AND PRIOR TO THIS EXPANSION MANY FAMILIES WOULD HAVE TO TRAVEL HOURS BY CAR TO REACH ASSISTANCE. THE SAFE RELEASE NETWORK IS NOW 52 LOCATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. DURING 2021, LIRS PROVIDED IN-COMMUNITY CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES FOR 3,824 CHILDREN AND FAMILIES REUNIFIED BY THE GOVERNMENT THROUGH THE HOME STUDY AND POST RELEASE SERVICES PROGRAM (HSPRS). IN RESPONSE TO THE GROWING NEED OF REUNIFIED CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, LIRS INCREASED ITS CAPACITY TO SUPPORT CHILDREN AND FAMILIES THROUGH THE HSPRS PROGRAM BY 70%. THIS EXPANSION ALLOWED LIRS TO SERVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY THROUGH REGIONALLY BASED STAFF AND PARTNERS WHO PROVIDED COMMUNITY BASED SUPPORT TO EDUCATE AND EMPOWER CAREGIVERS AND CLIENTS. THE HEIGHT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC TOOK A HEAVY TOLL ON THE RESOURCES AND STABILITY OF VULNERABLE POPULATIONS. NEWLY REUNIFIED CHILDREN/YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES STRUGGLED TO MEET THEIR BASIC NEEDS. FOOD, RENT, CLOTHING, DIAPERS, EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE, TECHNOLOGY TO ENGAGE IN VIRTUAL LEARNING, ALL OF THESE RESOURCES WERE IN SHORT SUPPLY FOR MANY FAMILIES. THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF LIRS DONORS, THE HOME STUDY AND POST RELEASE SERVICES TEAM WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO FAMILIES WITH THESE VERY REAL NEEDS. THROUGH THE FUND A YOUNG MAN WAS FITTED WITH A NEW PROSTHETIC FOOT, A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD GIRL WAS FITTED WITH HEARING AIDS AND AUDITORY THERAPY, RENTAL ASSISTANCE TO AVOID EVICTION FROM THEIR HOMES, ORTHODONTIC CARE, FOOD, CLOTHES AND DIAPERS FOR MANY FAMILIES WHO LOST EMPLOYMENT DURING THE PANDEMIC.

RESETTLEMENT: IN FY2021, LIRS RESETTLED 2,550 REFUGEES, UNACCOMPANIED REFUGEE MINORS AND SIVS (AFGHAN SPECIAL IMMIGRANT VISAS WHO SERVED OVERSEAS ALONGSIDE THE US ARMED FORCES) FROM 28 COUNTRIES THROUGH ITS NETWORK OF LOCAL SOCIAL MINISTRY ORGANIZATIONS IN 50 LOCATIONS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, PREPARING A PLACE OF WELCOME TO MEET THE PARTICULAR NEEDS OF THE REFUGEES AND ENGAGING LOCAL CHURCHES AND COMMUNITIES TO ASSIST REFUGEES TO BECOME SELF-RELIANT MEMBERS OF THEIR NEW COMMUNITIES. THE TOP FIVE COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN OF RESETTLED REFUGEES IN FY21 WERE AFGHANISTAN, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, UKRAINE, SYRIA AND MYANMAR. LIRS REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT PROGRAMMING INCLUDES:1. THE STATE DEPARTMENT FUNDED RECEPTION AND PLACEMENT PROGRAMMING-LIRSPROVIDES LIFE-SAVING PROTECTION AND STABILIZATION SUPPORT TO REFUGEES DURING THEIR FIRST 90 DAYS IN THE UNITED STATES.2. MATCHING GRANT-THIS LIRS EARLY EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM IS AN ALTERNATIVE TO PUBLIC CASH ASSISTANCE. IN FISCAL YEAR 2021, 79.24% OF THE INDIVIDUALS ENROLLED IN MATCHING GRANT THROUGH LIRS WERE SELF-SUFFICIENT (EMPLOYED) ON OR BEFORE THE 180-DAY MARK. IN 2021, LIRS CONTINUED IMPLEMENTING THE FOLLOWING REFUGEE RELATED PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES: 1.SWITCHBOARD - PROVIDED ECONOMIC AND CAREER RELATED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE (TA) TO ALL NINE NATIONAL RESETTLEMENT NETWORKS2. 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. SIX LOCATIONS HAVE THE PROGRAM WITH A TARGET TO SERVE 300 INDIVIDUALS. 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.VULNERABLE POPULATIONS:1. PREFERRED COMMUNITIES (PC) - PROVIDED INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT TOTHE MOST VULNERABLE REFUGEES AND ASYLEES TO ENSURE ACCESS TO CRITICAL, LIFE STABILIZING SERVICES AND RESOURCES. THIS HELPED MOVE PARTICIPANTSTOWARD SELF-SUFFICIENCY IN 27 LOCATIONS.2. PROMOTED PRO-ACTIVE SCREENING AND ENHANCED REFERRAL NETWORKS -RHS-15 IS A MENTAL HEALTH SCREENING TOOL, AND THE LIRS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SCREENER; BOTH ARE INCORPORATED INTO PC PROGRAMMING AND PROVIDED AN ACCESSIBLE TOOL TO STAFF TO IDENTIFY CLIENTS AT-RISK, AND WORK WITH COMMUNITY PROVIDERS TO BUILD AND STRENGTHEN SERVICE ACCESS APPROPRIATE FOR REFUGEES ACROSS CULTURES.

MIGRANT SERVICES: LIRS PARTNERS WITH PRIVATE FUNDING SOURCES SUCH AS LATTER-DAY SAINTS CHARITIES AND THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH OF AMERICA TO PROVIDEEMERGENCY SUPPORT SERVICES AND CASE MANAGEMENT TO MIGRANTS RELEASED FROM DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY CUSTODY THROUGH 8 PARTNERS IN 9 SITES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. IN FY21, THE POST RELEASE EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM (PREP) PROVIDED 2,514 MIGRANTS OF OVER 50 DIFFERENT NATIONALITIES WITH BASIC NEEDS SUCH AS SHELTER, FOOD, SHOWERS, AND SUPPLIES AFTER BEING RELEASED FROM ICE DETENTION. THE STABLE TRANSITION AND EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM (STEP) PROVIDED 253 MIGRANTS WITH 90 DAYS OF CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES INCLUDING REFERRALS TO LEGAL SERVICES, KNOW YOUR RIGHTS ORIENTATION, SCHOOL ENROLLMENT FOR CHILDREN, AND ASSISTANCE ACCESSING PHYSICAL/MENTAL HEALTCARE. IN SAN ANTONIO, TX, LIRS FUNDED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A RESPITE CENTER FOR MIGRANTS IN TRANSIT AFTER RELEASE FROM DHS CUSTODY, WHICH SERVED 1,441 INDIVIDUALS IN ITS FIRST THREE MONTHS OF OPERATION. LIRS ALSO LAUNCHED ITS WELCOME CENTER PROGRAM, WHICH SUPPORTS ASYLUM SEEKERS AND OTHER MIGRANTS FOR UP TO 180 DAYS IN THEIR FINAL DESTINATION. THE FIRST TWO PROGRAM SITES (PORTLAND, OR AND SEATTLE, WA) WERE LAUNCHED IN OCTOBER 2021 WITH THE GOAL OF SERVING 300 INDIVIDUALS DURING THE FIRST PROGRAMMATIC YEAR. LUTHERAN IMMIGRATION AND REFUGEE SERVICE CONTINUES TO PARTNER WITH DETENTION VISITATION AND PEN PAL PROGRAMS ALTHOUGH LIRS' GRANT ASSISTANCE FOR BOTH INITIATIVES WAS DISCONTINUED IN 2021. OUT OF OVER 40+ DETENTION VISITATION PROGRAMS THAT LIRS COMMUNICATES WITH TO PROVIDE SUPPORT, THERE ARE EIGHT PROGRAMS IN SIX STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA (CO, DC, GA, LA, MD, PA, WA) THAT PARTNER MOST CLOSELY WITH LIRS. DUE TO FY2021 CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC RESTRICTIONS, PROGRAMS WERE PROHIBITED FROM VISITING THE DETENTION CENTERS. "ICE HAS TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED SOCIAL VISITATION IN ALL OF ITS DETENTION FACILITIES...ICE WILL CONTINUE TO COLLABORATE WITH THE CDC, IHSC, AND ITS NETWORK OF HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS TO PROVIDE UPDATES AND REVISE PROCEDURES AS NECESSARY." (ICE.GOV/CORONAVIRUS 4/02/2020) DURING THIS TIME OF RESTRICTION, IN PREPARATION FOR THE ABILITY TO RETURN TO ACTIVE VISITATION, LIRS COLLABORATED WITH THE EIGHT PARTNERS TO REVISE THE BRING THE SKY: LIRS DETENTION VISITATION MANUAL AND A NEWLY REVISED PEN PAL MANUAL FOR DISSEMINATION NATIONALLY IN 2023.

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.