Resettlement in the U.S. Today
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3 million refugees resettled in the U.S. since 1975
Funding: R&P grant and travel loan
United States PY15 Refugee Admissions Numbers:
Region
Admissions Numbers
Africa
17,000
East Asia
13,000
Europe & Central Asia
1,000
Latin America & Caribbean
4,000
Near East & South Asia
33,000
Unallocated Reserve*
2,000
TOTAL ADMISSIONS:
70,000
Resettlement in Minnesota
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MN Department of Human Services’ Resettlement
Programs Office (RPO)
Program contracts, such as Refugee Employment
Services (RES) and Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA)
The numbers, annually:
 Approximately
2,000 primary arrivals
 Secondary migrants (highest in US)
Who is Doing Resettlement?
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Voluntary agencies (VOLAGs), each with a national
affiliate
Federal contract to provide refugee resettlement
services to families arriving in Minnesota
VOLAGs located in Minnesota:
 Arrive
Ministries (Richfield)
 Catholic Charities (St. Paul)
 International Institute of Minnesota (St. Paul)
 Lutheran Social Services (Minneapolis)
 Minnesota Council of Churches (Minneapolis)
Who Resettles in Minnesota?
MINNESOTA
City / Town
Agency
FY2012
FY2013
FY2014
Arrived (FY2014)
FY2015 Proposed
FY2015 Approved
MINNEAPOLIS
SAINT PAUL
IIMN
440
375
390
422
400
390
MINNEAPOLIS
LSS
300
280
340
425
400
370
RICHFIELD
AM
328
340
340
384
340
340
SAINT PAUL
CC
350
300
320
245
320
305
MINNEAPOLIS
MCC (CWS)
175
179
195
212
210
195
MINNEAPOLIS
MCC (EMM)
175
165
165
183
180
165
1,768
1,639
1,750
1,871
1,850
1,765
Total Capacity
ROCHESTER
USCCB
125
120
130
152
150
130
ST CLOUD
LIRS
135
102
200
263
225
215
Q1 Resettlement Data
OCT/NOV/DEC 2014 Arrived & Scheduled to Arrive
99 / 390 Individuals
International Institute of MN
Arrive Ministries
Lutheran Social Service
112 / 370 Individuals
MN Council of Churches
141/ 360 Individuals
Catholic Charities
TOTAL METRO ARRIVAL #’s
98 / 305 Individuals
88 / 340 Individuals
538/ 1765 Individuals (31% overall)
Eritrean
-1%
NATIONALITY
Bhutanese
FSU
3%
Iranian
Ethiopian
2%
2%
Oromo
2%
Liberian
0%
Afghani
1%
Iraqi
6%
Burmese Karen
Somali
Afghani
Liberian
Burmese Karen
49%
Eritrean
Ethiopian Oromo
Iraqi
Somali
35%
Bhutanese
FSU
Iranian
Pre-Arrival Responsibilities
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Assurance process
 Weekly
allocations from national HQ
 Either contact UST (94%) or assure as FREE
 Average wait time of 2-6 months, post-assurance
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Pre-planning
 Receive
flight information
 Pull biodata file and evaluate for particular needs
 Contact UST to discuss preliminary resettlement plans
 Housing, apartment set-up, basic needs support (BNS)
R&P Period: 90 Days
Core services, as outlined in the Cooperative Agreement
Required Service
Required Date of Completion
First home visit
Within 24 hours of arrival
Intake
Within 5 working days
Food, cash support (MFIP/RCA) Within 7 working days
Health insurance (MA)
Within 7 working days
ESL registration
Within 10 working days
Social Security
Within 14 working days
School registration
Within 30 working days
30-day second home visit
Within 30 working days
Cultural orientation
By end of 90-day period
Case closure
90 calendar days post-arrival
Additional Services
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Required:
 Health
screening
 WIC
 Childcare
assistance
 SSI for refugees 65+
 SSDI for qualifying
refugees
 Selective Service
 Bus training
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Appreciated:
 Early
childhood
screenings (3-5 years)
 Bank accounts
 Assistance purchasing
a cell phone
 MN State ID
Sustainable Support Systems
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Connect to community
organizations such as:
 KOM
 BCOM
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Primary care clinics
Arrive Ministries:
Refugee Life Ministries
and New Neighbor
volunteer programs
Potential Concerns of Refugees
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Well-being of family, both here and still overseas
Learning English
Employment and having an income
Figuring out the American system
Trauma, memories, feeling alone
Typical Resettlement Challenges
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Being at the agreed-upon place, at the agreedupon time, with the agreed-upon people/items 
Housing concerns (repairs, cleanliness, rent)
Medical needs and appointments
Finding opportunities for empowerment
BOUNDARIES…
VOLAGs & MDH
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Process of communication
 Biodata
and self-reported concerns
 Health screenings (Ellen Frerich, Kailey Nelson, LPH)
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Complex medical cases (Marge Higgins)
Individual care plans
 Steps
to complete, with responsibility shared by
VOLAGs and social worker(s)
 Referrals, specialists, appropriate programs/services
Successful Collaborations
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Emergency hospitalization within 72 hours, and
pediatric heart surgery one week post-arrival
 Clinic
coordination
 Cooperation with the family to best meet needs and
support parents, other children (refugee-sensitive)
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Mental health crisis two months into R&P period
Regular communication
 Health
screenings, particularly in Ramsey and Hennepin
 Ability to expedite MA, screenings, and appointments
Ongoing Challenges for Refugees
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Orientation to the US healthcare system
 Primary
care v. urgent care v. emergency room
 Making own appointments and setting up transportation
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Teaching proactive/preventive care
Sensitivities for working with this population
 Language
& translation barriers
 Stigma
 Comfort
with the way our medical system works must
accompany any services provided
Outreach: Refugee Consortium
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Bi-monthly meetings to bring together individuals
and communities who work with or have an interest
in refugees
 Current
arrivals information & statistics
 Presentations by different organizations
 All are welcome! 
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Next meeting: Thursday, February 12, 3-4:30pm at
Lutheran Social Services Center for Changing Lives
(2400 Park Ave South, Minneapolis 55404)