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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Switchboard’s Annual Survey of Refugee Service Providers (ASRSP): Early Insights and Next Steps
The U.S. refugee resettlement system is evolving rapidly. Shifting policies and new technologies are reshaping how services are delivered, often in ways that directly impact both refugees and the service providers who support them. Yet despite their central role, the voices of service providers are rarely captured systematically. Without their perspective, policymakers and program leaders…
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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
New to refugee services? This resource collection is for you! This blog post, written in partnership with Cultural Orientation Resource Exchange (CORE). shares resources for new refugee service providers organized by topics such as case management, understanding refugee populations, equity and inclusion, mental health, employment, and more. About Refugee Populations and AdmissionsThe Refugee Resettlement Journey, CORE…
- Switchboard
Photo credit: AOberstadt/IRC Housing is a key challenge facing refugee service providers and communities around the U.S. There is an opportunity to coordinate with state or local partners on the use of existing federal programs, Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) 1 and 2, to support clients, including refugees and other Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR)-eligible clients.…
- Switchboard