Resettlement Programs Office (RPO)
• State Refugee Coordinator connects to federal systems and programs
• Promote accessibility to and inclusion of refugees in mainstream programs
• Distribution of limited federal funding for supplemental services
AVAILABLITY -VS- ACCESSIBILITY
Transition to economic self-sufficiency is
the primary goal of the US Resettlement
program and federally funded programs
administered through the RPO office
Services Funded Through the RPO
• Refugee Employment Services
• Refugee Social Services
• Refugee Student Impact
• Refugee Cash Assistance Program (RCA)
• Refugee Health Screening Coordination
• Refugee Medical Assistance (very limited)
Refugee Social Services
Access to services and resources in the following areas (do
not create separate resources):
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Stable housing
Access to childcare
Access to ongoing health services
Transportation independence
Connection to ongoing social groups or programs
Connection to emergency / crisis services
Progress to US citizenship
Secondary resettlement
Opportunities to Connect!
• Directory of Refugee Service Providers
Limits of RPO programming and funding
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Time-limited (under 5 years)
Focused on specific short-term outcomes
Priority on new arrivals (under 1 year)
Limited resources / locations
Dependent on existing resources
Current thinking about in the RPO
• Clarity, consistency, efficiency
• Best use of limited resources to reach short and long-term goals
• Coordination across RPO funded programming
• Collaboration within DHS
• Availability –vs- Accessibility
• Secondary migration
• Greater MN
• Workforce Issues
• Community messaging
Rachele King, Sate Refugee Coordinator
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 651.431.3837
https://rpo.dhs.state.mn.us/