Switchboard Blog
Switchboard’s blog posts offer a wide range of insights on the newcomer experience, including practical tips for navigating the resettlement process, resource lists tailored to community needs, case studies about relevant programs, engaging stories of successful integration, and more.
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How to Develop and Run a Community Advisory Board (CAB) Meeting
A community advisory board (CAB) is a group of individuals from a specific community who come together to provide guidance, feedback, and support to organizations, projects, or initiatives impacting their community. CABs are often useful in health care, education, research, and community development projects to ensure that the voices of community members are heard and…
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Many service providers have questions about federal benefits eligibility for Ukrainian and Afghan Humanitarian Parolees who have arrived in the U.S. in recent months. Most Ukrainians and Afghans who receive humanitarian parole in the US on or after October 1, 2023 are not eligible for federal benefits, including Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) benefits. This…
- Switchboard
Service providers are crucial in helping newcomers understand and navigate their new environment. This role includes providing critical health information to keep clients and their families safe. This blog post from the National Resource Center for Refugees, Immigrants, and Migrants (NRC-RIM) provides guidance and resources for service providers on influenza (flu), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV),…
- NRC-RIM
Resume building is a vital part of offering effective employment services. When newcomer clients have never worked outside the home or have only held informal jobs, service providers may feel uncertain about how to fill the traditional sections of resumes. However, in nearly every case, these newcomers have relied on a particular set of proficiencies…
- Lauren Bowden
Refugee and newcomer families are often confronted with the daunting challenge of integrating into a new society while seeking gainful employment. This can be especially challenging for newcomers who are caregivers to young children. Service providers should familiarize themselves with high-quality child care resources to help caregivers integrate into their new communities and, crucially, enter…
- Switchboard
Supporting a community demands a robust support structure. Leaders of ethnic community-based organizations (ECBOs) particularly understand this. As defined by the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), an ECBO is a nonprofit primarily formed by present or past refugees to champion refugee progress. Having a community-led ECBO board can go a long way in meeting a…
- Karen Organization of San Diego
Successfully accessing federal student aid often determines whether newcomers can pursue college and career school here in the United States. Staying up to date on the latest federal student aid policies plays a critical role in newcomer service providers’ ability to support and advocate for clients during the application process. This blog covers key updates…
- Lindsay Dusard