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Are you a service provider working with refugees and newcomers who are ambivalent about change? This blog describes how you can transition from traditional “advice giving” to a more transformative client-centered approach through Motivational Interviewing, including practical tools you can start using today. Introduction Like all people, refugees and newcomers can be ambivalent about change,…
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Across the resettlement network, staff and partners are noticing an uptick in community questions about newcomers. Many people want clarity about who is arriving and how local services support them. These questions usually stem from uncertainty or limited information. When people have few opportunities to interact with newcomers or understand how resettlement works, conversations can…
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As funding streams tighten and resettlement agencies operate with fewer staff, building strong community partnerships is critical. Newcomers’ needs are complex, requiring holistic, coordinated responses that no single organization can handle alone. Yet for many providers, developing effective collaborative networks can feel challenging. Through Switchboard’s nationwide mapping and referral efforts, we have seen firsthand how…
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is expected to make policy changes that will affect many of the refugees we serve. This information is critical for clients to understand, and we encourage you to share it widely so affected individuals can seek legal assistance when needed. For more resources on supporting clients during this time,…
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Are you working with newcomers and curious about evidence-based practices to support your clients, but you have limited time? Did you know that generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) can help you begin the research needed to help identify evidence-based interventions more efficiently. This blog walks you through how to use generative AI responsibly to support research…
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Resettlement service providers carry an extraordinary responsibility in supporting refugees and newcomers through trauma, uncertainty, and major life transitions. While the work is demanding in any context, today’s shifting environment adds another layer of complexity as policies and public conversations around immigration continue to evolve. Amid these challenges, providers remain steadfast in their commitment to…
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Collecting high-quality data is essential in refugee service work, whether for client needs assessments, program evaluations, or organizational learning. But sometimes even well-intentioned surveys can unintentionally create stress, reduce trust, or compromise the accuracy of the data collected. Switchboard’s Trauma-Informed Survey Toolkit (TIST) was developed to help service providers design surveys that are safe, respectful,…
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Are you a newcomer service provider navigating staff transitions, shifting roles, or gaps in institutional knowledge? This blog post is for you! This post describes practical strategies for capturing knowledge, and sustaining teams during seasons of change and provides hopeful guidance for meeting the moment with resilience. Recognizing What’s Lost and What Can Be…
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Across the United States, food insecurity is rising, and many low-income families, including refugees, asylees, and other Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR)-eligible populations, are finding it harder to keep nutritious food on the table. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in 2023, nearly 47 million people, including 7.2 million children, lived in households that…
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On September 18, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a Federal Register Notice announcing implementation of the 2025 Naturalization Civics Test. Starting on October 20, 2025, the test will consist of 20 questions chosen from a pool of 128 rather than 10 questions from a pool of 100 in the 2008 version. Passing…
