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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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The Society of Refugee Healthcare Providers organizes the International Refugee & Migration Health Conference (IRMHC), which is the largest refugee health conference globally. Annually, IRMHC brings together health care professionals, resettlement and service providers, researchers, community members, students, policy makers, and public health professionals. The 2025 IRMHC was hosted in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and…
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Mental health services in the United States can be challenging to access and navigate for many individuals. For refugees and newcomers, these challenges are often compounded by additional barriers related to language, stigma, and the stressors of displacement and resettlement. While there are no easy one-size-fits-all solutions, there are meaningful ways you can support clients…
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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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Supporting Newcomers with Rental Housing: Key Information to Share with Clients Do you get questions from clients about finding safe, affordable housing in the U.S.? This comprehensive overview provides information you can share with your clients about the rental process, from understanding leases and managing expectations to budgeting and conducting pre-move-in inspections. Switchboard has partnered…
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About Confluence Tech conferences are often accused of chasing the next big thing: flashy tools, buzzwords, and speculative breakthroughs. Confluence 2025 took a different path. Switchboard gathered more than 100 refugee service providers, technologists, government partners, and researchers this past June at Civic Hall in New York City for two days of hands-on conversations about…
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As a State Refugee Coordinator (SRC), you play a vital role in supporting newcomers by partnering with community-based organizations (CBOs). To help you strengthen these partnerships, Switchboard gathered insights from CBO leaders and staff through a national survey and input from SRCs through conversations the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) facilitated. This blog offers practical…
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Do you field questions from newcomers who speak Haitian Creole? The Settle In team can help! Settle In responds to direct messages—both through text and voice—on topics including job search, public benefits eligibility, community resources, and more, within one business day. Haitian Creole and French have joined Dari, Pashto, Ukrainian, Russian, Spanish, and English as…
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Newcomer adolescents (10–19 years old) and youth (15–24 years old) face distinct challenges as they navigate young adulthood in a new environment. Service providers can play a pivotal role in supporting this demographic by implementing tailored strategies. This blog post outlines key recommendations for supporting youth health needs in a family-centered, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive…
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Refugee and immigrant children often arrive in the U.S. with unique health care needs and experiences shaped by trauma, displacement, and cultural transition. Service providers play a critical role in ensuring the health, safety, and integration of newcomer children. This blog post outlines key recommendations for supporting newcomer children and their families’ health needs in…
