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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Co-creating Virtual Reality Videos to Support Newcomer Youth
This blog post describes a training and technical assistance (TTA) experience with the International Rescue Committee’s (IRC) Sacramento office, in which the Emerging Technology team
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As providers for their community, ethnic community-based organizations (ECBOs) take on a variety of important roles—all of which require adequate funding. Without proper funding, ECBOs would be unable to pay for programs and activities for their communities, training for their staff and volunteers, and basic business expenses. Many ECBOs first turn to grants provided by […]
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 […]
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), […]
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 […]
In response to requests from the resettlement network, Switchboard developed this resource list to enhance service providers’ knowledge of the key topics related to coping with hate, including cultural awareness; racism, hate crimes, and discrimination; islamophobia; and antisemitism. Client-facing resources are also included. The external resources contained in this blog post represent the views and opinions […]
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 […]