Switchboard provides tools, learning opportunities, research, and technical assistance covering a range of topics related to the newcomer experience.
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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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You don’t need to be located in the same place as clients to help point them in the direction of useful services, resources, and reminders. Participants will learn from experts about how trusted apps, social media, and other virtual tools are supporting the sharing of accurate information to harder-to-reach communities. Speakers will discuss effective community…
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This tip sheet provides strategies to encourage newcomer youth and families to participate in programs and services. It is a companion to the Info Guide: Strategies to Increase Refugee and Newcomer Youth and Family Participation in Programs and Services and offers quick, actionable tips for real-world application. These strategies can be applied in both mandatory…
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State and Local Data Resources for Planning Refugee Services and Consultations Purpose of This Document This tool serves three main goals: 1. It demonstrates how data-sharing can strengthen connections between newcomer-serving organizations, agencies, and local systems, ultimately building stronger partnerships and improving outcomes for newcomers. 2. It equips service providers, local government agencies, and community-based…
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Federal Data Resources for Planning Refugee Services and Consultations Purpose of This Document 1. To highlight how effective data-sharing can strengthen connections and coordination between newcomer-serving organizations and agencies, build stronger partnerships across local systems, and ultimately improve successful outcomes for newcomers. 2. To help service providers, local government agencies, and other community-based newcomer services…
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Writing Health Case Notes: Recommendations for Service Providers This information guide, created by Switchboard in partnership with the Society of Refugee Healthcare Providers, builds on Switchboard’s guide Creating High-Quality Case Management Documentation. You will learn the difference between health case notes and case management notes, the elements of a health case note, and storage and…
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WHAT WILL THE WEBINAR COVER? Many mental health screening tools are designed and tested with Western patients and clients in mind, and do not take into consideration how mental health problems present or are perceived within varying cultural contexts and communities. To provide truly effective mental health care and service referrals, screening must be conducted…
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Hosted on September 25, 2025. Webinar DescriptionJob seekers with limited English proficiency (LEP), including those eligible for ORR services, often face systemic barriers to accessing meaningful employment. This webinar provided practical strategies for building strategic employer partnerships, aligning job placements with clients’ skills and goals, and leveraging local resources to strengthen connections between employers and…
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This checklist accompanies this toolkit: Trauma-Informed Survey Toolkit (TIST). Surveys are powerful tools for collecting data, shaping programs, informing policies, and improving services. But if designed or implemented without care, surveys can also replicate harm—particularly for individuals and communities who have experienced trauma. This toolkit provides practical guidance for practitioners and researchers who want to…
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Surveys are powerful tools for collecting data, shaping programs, informing policies, and improving services. But if designed or implemented without care, surveys can also replicate harm—particularly for individuals and communities who have experienced trauma. This toolkit provides practical guidance for practitioners and researchers who want to conduct surveys using trauma-informed principles, with a focus on…
