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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Find Food Resources for Newcomers in Your City, in Your State, and at the Federal Level
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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The Switchboard Confluence event this fall brought together technology innovators and refugee resettlement professionals to reimagine newcomer support through emerging technologies. This blog post recaps some of the Confluence’s highlights—exploring how ethical tech integration, from artificial intelligence (AI) storytelling initiatives to virtual case management solutions, is transforming refugee services. This blog also includes video links…
- Switchboard
This blog post offers practical guidance on supporting Haitian newcomers in accessing culturally appropriate food in the United States. It covers topics such as familiar foods, grocery shopping, and finding ingredients for traditional Haitian dishes. You will gain an understanding of how to assist Haitian newcomers in maintaining their culinary traditions while adapting to their…
- Emmanuela Douyon
In this blog post, Stefanie Vasquez, Program Manager at World Education Services, shares insights from her conversation with Paula DaSilva-Michelin, EdD, an internationally educated immigrant from Brazil who understands firsthand the barriers newcomers face when trying to re-enter their professions in the United States. As the Director of Programs at the Center for Immigrant Education…
- World Education Services (WES)
Recruiting foster parents for unaccompanied refugee minors (URMs) can be a daunting task, especially when it comes to finding homes for teenagers. While many potential foster parents express a desire to foster, common apprehensions about welcoming teens into their homes may deter them from pursuing licensure. Hesitancy to foster teenagers is often due to a lack…
- Switchboard
The Karen Organization of San Diego (KOSD) has created a new directory of ethnic community-based organizations (ECBOs) across the United States, organized by state. KOSD developed this directory to improve access to services and strengthen support networks for refugee and immigrant communities throughout the country. This resource is designed to support both newcomers and the…
- Karen Organization of San Diego
In the world of immigration legal services, the importance of nurturing the next generation of attorneys cannot be overstated. In this blog post, we discuss one powerful way to do this: well-structured internship programs. Switchboard partner VECINA had the pleasure of speaking with Ashley Sanchez, the supervising attorney for Migration and Refugee Services at Catholic…
- VECINA Legal Aid