State and Local Data Resources for Planning Refugee Services and Consultations
Purpose of This Document
This tool serves three main goals:
1. It demonstrates how data-sharing can strengthen connections between newcomer-serving organizations, agencies, and local systems, ultimately building stronger partnerships and improving outcomes for newcomers.
2. It equips service providers, local government agencies, and community-based organizations with guidance to identify key data sources and priority issues, allowing for more accurate assessments of community capacity across education, workforce, health, housing, and social service systems.
3. It provides a practical resource for refugee service planning and consultations, including Quarterly Consultations and ongoing coordination among providers. By taking stock of existing services and data, agencies can make informed decisions about how to prioritize resources, avoid duplication, and ensure that funds are directed where they are most needed.
Each of the six tabs (K–12 Education, Early Childhood Education and Care, Adult Education and Workforce Development, Health Care, Social Services and Public Assistance, and Housing) outlines the types of local and state programs that often hold valuable data and provides guidance on where to look and what kinds of metrics are most useful. It is important to recognize that every state and local context differs greatly in how data is collected, stored, and shared. As a result, not every recommendation or example in this document will fit your specific situation. However, this guide offers a solid starting point to help you identify potential data sources and focus areas within your community’s systems. Use it as a flexible tool to adapt and tailor your data-gathering efforts to best meet local needs and realities.
Requesting and Using Data Responsibly
Local and state program data can offer important insights but often involves sensitive information. Always approach this with privacy, confidentiality, and responsible data-sharing practices in mind.
Also see, Federal Data Resources for Planning Refugee Services and Consultations
