Programs
Resettlement Services – IRC-Atlanta sponsors the resettlement of approximately 500 newly arriving refugees each year. The goal of resettlement is to help refugees adjust well to our community and achieve rapid economic and social self-sufficiency. The IRC supports families during the critical first six months by:
• Providing safe and affordable housing furnished with all basic necessities.
• Enrolling children into school.
• Helping refugees access healthcare services and public assistance programs.
• Obtaining key documentation such as social security cards and state ID.
• Placing adults into suitable jobs.
Most importantly, talented Case Managers provide culturally and linguistically appropriate counseling and advice to help clients adapt quickly to life in their new home.
On average, 95% of our resettled families reach self-sufficiency within six months of arrival. However, IRC-Atlanta offers a variety of services to further support them throughout their first five years in the US. These include counseling, assistance with healthcare, crisis intervention, and ongoing access to public services.
Employment - Job Developers help refugees find employment, through employment orientation, assistance with applications, accompanying refugees on interviews, vocational training, job placement and follow-up. Refugees employed for 6 months or more can access IRC's Job Upgrade program that enables them to find employment more suited to their career goals than their initial placement. Intensive employment training and placement services are provided to single parents.
Education - IRC's education program promotes family self-sufficiency by providing instructional opportunities for each member of the refugee family: employees, caregivers, and youth. Pre-employment ESL classes and computer instruction are offered at the IRC's offices during the day and evening to accommodate work schedules. Caregivers and their pre-school aged children attend IRC's First Things First program, which includes English instruction for caregivers, enrichment activities for children, family literacy activities, and childcare. Finally, IRC's Cross-Cultural Youth After-School program provides homework assistance and conflict resolution for refugee youth.
Hurricane Katrina Evacuee Program - Since September 2005, IRC-Atlanta has offered case management and emergency assistance to nearly 1,000 Hurricane Katrina evacuees living in metro Atlanta. The program focuses on regaining independence through stable housing, employment and access to education. Along with one-on-one counseling, evacuees benefit from assistance with childcare expenses, local transportation, vocational training and financial management training.
Immigration Services - Long-term success for refugees depends on immigration stability. Experienced and accredited IRC staff members offer expert assistance, among others, with applications for:
• Legal permanent residence (“green cards”)
• Citizenship & naturalization
• Refugee travel documents
• Employment authorization renewals
IRC-Atlanta also gladly assists eligible refugees and asylees already in the US to file applications to bring their relatives to this country for permanent resettlement.
Resource Development - This program matches newly arrived refugees with volunteers and provides donated clothes, household supplies and additional furniture.
Here are some ways in which you can help us in our mission:
• Donate clothing, household items, baby items, and school supplies that can be distributed to newly arriving refugee families.
• Support the IRC financially with a gift that we can use as needed to support our clients and programs.
• Volunteer your time either working directly with a family as a mentor or as an intern in one of our program areas.
• Help us promote the IRC and awareness of critical issues facing refugees by advising us of appropriate venues for presentations and public speaking.
