Switchboard provides tools, learning opportunities, research, and technical assistance covering a range of topics related to the newcomer experience.
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Are you a service provider working with newcomer clients with disabilities? Newcomers with disabilities may be eligible for supports they do not know exist, especially if disability services were unfamiliar, stigmatized, or inaccessible in their home communities. You do not need to be an expert in every program to help! This blog post gives you […]
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As Fiscal Year 2027 brings major changes to Refugee Support Services (RSS), state administrators face new decisions about how their programs run. This guide explains the RSS operating models, how subrecipients are selected and reimbursed, and which services are allowable under federal guidelines. It also covers what the end of RSS set-aside funding means for […]
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In a shifting resettlement landscape, accurate information about available services has become increasingly important. However, many organizations have less capacity to identify and verify community resources, making it difficult to connect clients with the support they need. When you refer a client to a local service, an unexpected program closure or outdated eligibility information can […]
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Newcomers’ housing challenges reflect the ongoing housing crisis in the United States. Newcomers to the U.S. enter a housing system that is already lacking affordable housing and burdening renters with high costs, leading many refugee clients to face a risk of homelessness. Shelters and emergency housing can offer a critical bridge to stability during a […]
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Many employers face ongoing workforce shortages, while newcomer job seekers often struggle to access opportunities that align with their skills and experience. Strong employer partnerships help bridge this gap in a mutually beneficial way. This tip sheet offers five tips for taking a strategic, relationship-based approach to employer engagement and newcomer job placement: Do your […]
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As remote and hybrid services become standard, service providers need to approach virtual interactions with the same care they bring to in-person ones. This tip sheet offers five considerations for remote case management with newcomers: Choosing the right communication tool for each client and context Securing appropriate language interpretation and setting up for success Building […]
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This tip sheet gathers recurring questions from new RSS State Administers and distinguishes federal requirements from decisions that states may make based on program structure and community needs. Questions answered in this FAQ How may states use RSS funding? What employment outcomes should RSS support? Can RSS fund other services not explicitly mentioned in § […]
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As our society becomes more and more digitized, refugee service providers are increasingly expected to support newcomers’ digital literacy in addition to their English language learning. Low English proficiency and limited technology skills feed into each other, making these challenges especially hard to address. This blog post is for resettlement service providers who deliver or […]
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Receiving grant funding for the first time is exciting, but it comes with real responsibilities. This guide walks ethnic community-based organizations (ECBOs) through building compliant grants management systems. Inside, you’ll find guidance on: How payments and reporting differ across government grants, foundation grants, and subgrants Setting up grant tracking systems, from folders and spreadsheets to […]
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Data and evidence are useful tools when planning interventions to support refugee and newcomer clients. This information can help set you up for success by supporting informed decisions about how to allocate limited resources. Without a clear understanding of how these concepts differ and where they fit into the project design cycle, however, the process […]
