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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2025 Changes to the Naturalization Civics Test: What Service Providers Need to Know
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…
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Photo Credit: IRC/KRyan Ramadan Mubarak! Muslims observing the Holy Month—beginning the evening of April 1 and ending the evening of May 1—are eager to spend their nights breaking fast, reciting the Quran, praying nightly in congregation (for “taraweeh” and “qiyam al lail”), and connecting to their spirituality. Another facet of this special time for the…
- NRC-RIM
This blog post includes contributions from Eugenia Gusev, Technical Advisor for Food Security and Agriculture, IRC; Gul Hussain Shinwari, Sr. Program Officer, Afghan Placement & Assistance, IRC; members of IRC’s Food Security Working Group; and Farid Saydee, Independent Consultant, Language Mentors International. During the holy month of Ramadan, many Muslims fast, or refrain from eating…
- Switchboard
Services for New Arrivals The U.S. Department of Labor provides services to help new arrivals access meaningful training and employment opportunities. At the State level, workforce agencies are gearing up their staff to develop working groups with local workforce development agencies (LWDAs) that serve refugees, asylees, Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders, Afghan Humanitarian Parolees (AHPs),…
- Kim Vitelli
Many resettlement agencies want to design and deliver more evidence-based services, but providers often struggle with putting available evidence into action. Guidance from the field of implementation science can help address this challenge.What is Implementation Science?Implementation science researches methods to promote the adoption and integration of evidence-based practices into routine service delivery. Implementation science is…
- Switchboard
As Afghans arrive in the U.S., economic integration will be key to their success in their new communities. As employment staff around the country assist Afghan newcomers with finding their first U.S. jobs, preparing job candidates for interviews is only one part of the process. Employment staff will need to consider that many companies are…
- Veronica Rossini
Photo: IRC/A. Oberstadt Humanitarian crises that cause forced migration and displacement often result in people being in less secure and unfamiliar environments. They may be separated from protective family systems and may struggle to meet basic needs. It is common for people to feel things like overwhelm, worry, sadness, confusion, and anger. All of these…
- Switchboard