US Refugee Resettlement Program

US Refugee Resettlement Program
US Refugee Resettlement Program

The Refugee Resettlement Program is a federally-funded program that provides cash assistance, medical assistance, health screening, and social services to newly arrived refugees. Refugee cash and medical assistance are administered through Missouri Department of Social Services – Family Support Division offices. Health screenings are provided through public health departments. Social services are provided by a variety of agencies, which contract with the Missouri Refugee Coordinator's Office, located in the MO Family Support Division in Jefferson City.

Refugees, as defined by the Refugee Act of 1980, are persons who are outside of and unable or unwilling to avail themselves of the protection of the home country because of persecution or fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. Refugees often flee their homeland or are forced to leave suddenly and therefore leave with few possessions. In recognition of this common refugee experience, the Refugee Act of 1980 established the Refugee Resettlement Program in all 50 states. Each state has a Refugee Coordinator (in the case of Missouri, it is Jeanna Machon, based in Jefferson City, and in the case of Illinois, it is Ed Silverman, based in Chicago). The coordinator is responsible for overseeing public and private resources for refugee resettlement.

Several other immigrant groups qualify for the US Refugee Program. Asylees are individuals, who, on their own, travel to the United States, apply for and receive a grant of asylum. These individuals do not enter the United States as refugees. They may enter as students, tourists, businessmen or without papers. Once they are in the United States or at a land border or port of entry, they apply for political asylum. This is a status that will acknowledge that they meet the definition of a refugee and that will allow them to remain in the United States. Cuban and Haitian entrants, certain Amerasians, and victims of severe forms of trafficking also may qualify for and access refugee services. Finally, the refugee social services program can also assist individuals who have permanent resident status in the United States, provided that these individuals had held one of the above mentioned statuses before becoming permanent residents, i.e. "green card" holders.

Voluntary resettlement agencies (volags) are national agencies responsible for sponsoring refugees through their member networks. Their member agencies are required to help refugees get resettled during the first 30 days of their period of resettlement in the US. The initials of the national agency will be found on the refugee's I-94 Form (i.e., CWS, HIAS, USCC, USCRI, etc.). In St. Louis, resettlement is currently being conducted by two local affiliates of national volags: the International Institute (USCRI) and Catholic Charities Refugee Services (USCC). Volag affiliates help newcomers find housing, furnishings and clothing. They assist with school registration for the children as well as with registration for English classes and job services for adults. Services are provided by staff and by volunteers.

Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) and Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA) are available to refugees during their first eight months in the US. To be eligible for RCA, refugees must be ineligible for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). The size of a refugee’s RCA grant is decreased by earnings from employment. Those eligible for TANF will receive cash benefits for that program at the same rate as American-born participants. They also face Medicaid and cash benefit reductions when they obtain employment.

Missouri provides refugee social services through a variety of contracts with private agencies. Services include employment services (initial job development and placement, upgrading, career planning, skills preparation, and follow up), English language instruction, social adjustment services (emergency services, health-related services, translation/interpreter services, and information/referral services), some youth services, and elderly services. Contractors in St. Louis, Missouri, include the International Institute, MERS/Goodwill, Bilingual Assistance and Interpreter Services (BIAS), and African Mutual Assistance Association of Missouri (AMAAM). Additional contractors provide services to refugees in Jefferson City/Columbia and in Kansas City.