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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This blog post explores how Ethnic Community-Based Organizations (ECBOs) can expand their impact by choosing between 501(c)(3) status and fiscal sponsorship. Here, we’ll define both options, discuss scenarios for choosing each path, and examine their benefits and challenges. Featuring insights from leaders of New Chance Inc.—Ukraine Relief Program, United Stateless, and Slavic Refugee and Immigrant…
- Karen Organization of San Diego
The primary goal of all projects serving newcomers is to impact their lives positively. To achieve this goal, projects must provide services shown to have positive changes. Integrating evidence-based practices early in a project’s cycle can help increase the measurable impacts of programming. This blog post explains the importance of evidence-based projects in the resettlement…
- Switchboard
The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) revised its State Plan Template for Grants to States and Replacement Designees in 2024, impacting the ways that communities approach refugee resettlement and the leadership structure of the mandated quarterly consultation process. Key changes include streamlined administrative processes, standardized health and unaccompanied refugee minor sections, and expanded community engagement…
- Lillie Hinkle
Do you work in refugee resettlement and feel unprepared to discuss basic nutrition with newcomers? This blog post is for you! Developed in partnership with Leah’s Pantry, this post offers guidance to help you confidently talk about food and nutrition without being an expert. You will learn ways to support healthy habits in the U.S.…
- Leah's Pantry
Children from birth through age 5 are developing rapidly, and timely access to high-quality services can have major impacts on their school readiness, development, and family well-being. To increase families’ awareness and trust and reduce barriers to accessing early childhood services, we recommend the following strategies.1 Working Within Your Organization Learn about the early childhood…
- Urban Institute
Communicating program data to stakeholders in your community is an important skill that can help to both highlight your program’s success and build impactful partnerships. Going into this process, it is important to understand the concept of a stakeholder as well as which stakeholders are most relevant to your project. Identifying Stakeholders A stakeholder is…
- Switchboard