Friday, June 15, 2007
[IWS] MPI: REFUGEE INTEGRATION & ROLE OF ETHNIC COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS [15 June 2007]
IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
Migration Policy Institute (MPI)
BRIDGING DIVIDES: The Role of Ethnic Community-Based Organizations in Refugee Integration [15 June 2007]
http://www.migrationpolicy.org/pubs/Bridging_Divides.pdf
[full-text, 74 pages]
[excerpt from press release]
WASHINGTON -- Almost 2.4 million refugees and asylees from at least 115 countries entered the United States between 1980 and 2006. Despite the refugee admissions ceiling being 70 percent lower (at 70,000 people) than when it was first introduced 27 years ago, the United States continues to resettle more refugees overall than any other country. A new study released in advance of World Refugee Day on June 20 by the Migration Policy Institute and the International Rescue Committee examines how organizations founded by refugees are helping others who have escaped violence and persecution abroad adjust to life in the United States.
In "Bridging Divides: The Role of Ethnic Community-Based Organizations in Refugee Integration," Kathleen Newland, Hiroyuki Tanaka and Laura Barker examine how ethnic community-based organizations (ECBOs) founded by refugees partner with the government, voluntary resettlement agencies and other institutions to provide refugees with essential services. ECBOs' activities range from helping refugees learn English, find jobs and apply for citizenship, to advocating for refugees' rights and interests.
The authors profile organizations in cities including: New York (boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens); Raleigh and Greensboro, NC; Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN; Nashville, TN; Lowell, MA; and Chicago, IL.
They find that in addition to confronting language, housing and financial barriers, refugees face cultural difficulties, ranging from difficulties adjusting to the rich American diet to persistent ethnic divides carried over from their home countries. The report illustrates several innovative programs from culturally appropriate health education to business clubs offered by ECBOs to help refugees become upwardly mobile and engaged.
"Think of how helpful it is for newly arrived refugees to work with other people who speak their language, understand their culture, and have had the experience of being refugees themselves," said Kathleen Newland, director of MPI's program on refugee policy and a member of the IRC board of directors. "This knowledge also makes ECBOs essential to communities from Lowell, Massachusetts, to Nashville, Tennessee as they work to integrate refugees into the fabric of society."
The report also addresses the challenges facing ECBOs in providing services, and presents recommendations and organizational development strategies. It suggests how other types of organizations can bolster and enhance the efforts of ECBOs to integrate refugees into the United States.
The authors include an overview of the current US refugee system, including information on the countries with the highest number of refugees in the United States, and states that resettle the majority of refugees. They also examine factors of how well refugees are integrating in the United States, including their use of social services and their workforce participation rates.
CONTENTS
Introduction 9
The Project 11
Origins of the Project 11
Goals of the Project 11
Methodology 12
Report Outline 13
A Picture of Refugee Resettlement in the United States 15
Dimensions of Integration 19
The Building Blocks of Integration 19
Economic Self-Sufficiency 19
Learning and Respecting the US system 22
Legal Permanent Residence and US Citizenship 22
Elements of Long-Term Integration 23
Upward Mobility 23
Cultural Interaction and Ethnic Solidarity 25
Empowerment and Leadership 25
ECBOs: Beyond Service Provision 27
Service Provision 27
Immigration and Citizenship Assistance 27
Language and Literacy 28
Social Services 28
Employment Assistance 28
Youth and Adult Education 28
Health Education 29
Financial Literacy 29
Services for Seniors 29
Organization Profiles 29
New York, NY, Metropolitan Area 29
The Edith and Carl Marks Jewish Community House (JCH) 32
Bosnian-American Association of New York City (BAANYC) 33
Nashville, TN, Metropolitan Area 34
Somali Community Center of Nashville (SCCN) 34
Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, NC, Metropolitan Area 36
Montagnard Human Rights Organization (MHRO) 36
GreensboroWinston-SalemHigh Point, NC, Metropolitan Area 37
North Carolina African Services Coalition (ASC) 37
Lowell, MA, Metropolitan Area 38
Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association (CMAA) 38
Chicago, IL, Metropolitan Area 39
Pan-African Association (PAA) 39
Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN, Metropolitan Area 40
Women's Initiative for Self-Empowerment (WISE) 40
Somali International Minorities of America (SIMA) 42
Challenges 45
Challenges for Clients 45
Logistical Barriers 45
Integration Challenges 46
Cultural Barriers 48
Challenges for Organizations 48
Acquisition and Diversification of Funds 49
Public Outreach and Education 49
Establishment of Diverse Partnerships 49
Challenges for the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) 50
Limited Funds 50
Responding to the Evolving Needs of Refugees 51
Recommendations 53
Ethnic Community-Based Organizations 53
Funding 53
Entrepreneurial Vision 55
Partnerships 56
Board of Directors and Staff 56
Office of Refugee Resettlement 58
State and Local Governments 62
Conclusion 63
Notes 65
About the Authors 71
TABLES AND FIGURES
Tables
Table 1 Ten States with Largest Number and Share of Refugees Resettled FY1983-FY2004 16
Table 2 Refugees Who Arrived in the United States in FY2005 by Country of Origin and Age Category 18
Table 3 Employment (EPR), Labor Force Participation (LFP), and Unemployment Rate (UR) (%) by Region of Origin in 2004 21
Table 4 Economic Activity among Male and Female Refugees in 2004 21
Table 5 Countries of Origin of Refugees and Asylees Granted Legal Permanent Resident Status FY1946-FY2004 23
Table 6 Countries of Origin of Refugees and Asylees Granted Legal Permanent Resident Status FY2001-FY2004 24
Table 7 Employment Statistics of Refugees and Natives over 16 Years of Age between FY1999 and FY2004 25
Table 8 Overview of Participating ECBOs 30
Table 9 ORR Discretionary Funding by Eligibility 60
Figures
Figure 1 Total Refugee Arrivals from 1980 to 2006 16
Figure 2 Share of Total Refugee Arrivals to Top Ten States in the United States in FY2006 17
Figure 3 Refugee Arrivals by Country of Origin: FY2005 18
Figure 4 The Dynamic Process of Integration 20
Figure 5 Office of Refugee Resettlement Discretionary Grants for All Programs FY1997-FY2004 51
Figure 6 ORR Discretionary Grants Awarded for Ethnic Community Organizations (Self-Help) FY1997-FY2004 59
Figure 7 Percent Distribution of ORR Discretionary Funding in FY2006 6
______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
Stuart Basefsky
Director, IWS News Bureau
Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell/ILR School
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Telephone: (607) 255-2703
Fax: (607) 255-9641
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu
****************************************
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
Migration Policy Institute (MPI)
BRIDGING DIVIDES: The Role of Ethnic Community-Based Organizations in Refugee Integration [15 June 2007]
http://www.migrationpolicy.org/pubs/Bridging_Divides.pdf
[full-text, 74 pages]
[excerpt from press release]
WASHINGTON -- Almost 2.4 million refugees and asylees from at least 115 countries entered the United States between 1980 and 2006. Despite the refugee admissions ceiling being 70 percent lower (at 70,000 people) than when it was first introduced 27 years ago, the United States continues to resettle more refugees overall than any other country. A new study released in advance of World Refugee Day on June 20 by the Migration Policy Institute and the International Rescue Committee examines how organizations founded by refugees are helping others who have escaped violence and persecution abroad adjust to life in the United States.
In "Bridging Divides: The Role of Ethnic Community-Based Organizations in Refugee Integration," Kathleen Newland, Hiroyuki Tanaka and Laura Barker examine how ethnic community-based organizations (ECBOs) founded by refugees partner with the government, voluntary resettlement agencies and other institutions to provide refugees with essential services. ECBOs' activities range from helping refugees learn English, find jobs and apply for citizenship, to advocating for refugees' rights and interests.
The authors profile organizations in cities including: New York (boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens); Raleigh and Greensboro, NC; Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN; Nashville, TN; Lowell, MA; and Chicago, IL.
They find that in addition to confronting language, housing and financial barriers, refugees face cultural difficulties, ranging from difficulties adjusting to the rich American diet to persistent ethnic divides carried over from their home countries. The report illustrates several innovative programs from culturally appropriate health education to business clubs offered by ECBOs to help refugees become upwardly mobile and engaged.
"Think of how helpful it is for newly arrived refugees to work with other people who speak their language, understand their culture, and have had the experience of being refugees themselves," said Kathleen Newland, director of MPI's program on refugee policy and a member of the IRC board of directors. "This knowledge also makes ECBOs essential to communities from Lowell, Massachusetts, to Nashville, Tennessee as they work to integrate refugees into the fabric of society."
The report also addresses the challenges facing ECBOs in providing services, and presents recommendations and organizational development strategies. It suggests how other types of organizations can bolster and enhance the efforts of ECBOs to integrate refugees into the United States.
The authors include an overview of the current US refugee system, including information on the countries with the highest number of refugees in the United States, and states that resettle the majority of refugees. They also examine factors of how well refugees are integrating in the United States, including their use of social services and their workforce participation rates.
CONTENTS
Introduction 9
The Project 11
Origins of the Project 11
Goals of the Project 11
Methodology 12
Report Outline 13
A Picture of Refugee Resettlement in the United States 15
Dimensions of Integration 19
The Building Blocks of Integration 19
Economic Self-Sufficiency 19
Learning and Respecting the US system 22
Legal Permanent Residence and US Citizenship 22
Elements of Long-Term Integration 23
Upward Mobility 23
Cultural Interaction and Ethnic Solidarity 25
Empowerment and Leadership 25
ECBOs: Beyond Service Provision 27
Service Provision 27
Immigration and Citizenship Assistance 27
Language and Literacy 28
Social Services 28
Employment Assistance 28
Youth and Adult Education 28
Health Education 29
Financial Literacy 29
Services for Seniors 29
Organization Profiles 29
New York, NY, Metropolitan Area 29
The Edith and Carl Marks Jewish Community House (JCH) 32
Bosnian-American Association of New York City (BAANYC) 33
Nashville, TN, Metropolitan Area 34
Somali Community Center of Nashville (SCCN) 34
Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, NC, Metropolitan Area 36
Montagnard Human Rights Organization (MHRO) 36
GreensboroWinston-SalemHigh Point, NC, Metropolitan Area 37
North Carolina African Services Coalition (ASC) 37
Lowell, MA, Metropolitan Area 38
Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association (CMAA) 38
Chicago, IL, Metropolitan Area 39
Pan-African Association (PAA) 39
Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN, Metropolitan Area 40
Women's Initiative for Self-Empowerment (WISE) 40
Somali International Minorities of America (SIMA) 42
Challenges 45
Challenges for Clients 45
Logistical Barriers 45
Integration Challenges 46
Cultural Barriers 48
Challenges for Organizations 48
Acquisition and Diversification of Funds 49
Public Outreach and Education 49
Establishment of Diverse Partnerships 49
Challenges for the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) 50
Limited Funds 50
Responding to the Evolving Needs of Refugees 51
Recommendations 53
Ethnic Community-Based Organizations 53
Funding 53
Entrepreneurial Vision 55
Partnerships 56
Board of Directors and Staff 56
Office of Refugee Resettlement 58
State and Local Governments 62
Conclusion 63
Notes 65
About the Authors 71
TABLES AND FIGURES
Tables
Table 1 Ten States with Largest Number and Share of Refugees Resettled FY1983-FY2004 16
Table 2 Refugees Who Arrived in the United States in FY2005 by Country of Origin and Age Category 18
Table 3 Employment (EPR), Labor Force Participation (LFP), and Unemployment Rate (UR) (%) by Region of Origin in 2004 21
Table 4 Economic Activity among Male and Female Refugees in 2004 21
Table 5 Countries of Origin of Refugees and Asylees Granted Legal Permanent Resident Status FY1946-FY2004 23
Table 6 Countries of Origin of Refugees and Asylees Granted Legal Permanent Resident Status FY2001-FY2004 24
Table 7 Employment Statistics of Refugees and Natives over 16 Years of Age between FY1999 and FY2004 25
Table 8 Overview of Participating ECBOs 30
Table 9 ORR Discretionary Funding by Eligibility 60
Figures
Figure 1 Total Refugee Arrivals from 1980 to 2006 16
Figure 2 Share of Total Refugee Arrivals to Top Ten States in the United States in FY2006 17
Figure 3 Refugee Arrivals by Country of Origin: FY2005 18
Figure 4 The Dynamic Process of Integration 20
Figure 5 Office of Refugee Resettlement Discretionary Grants for All Programs FY1997-FY2004 51
Figure 6 ORR Discretionary Grants Awarded for Ethnic Community Organizations (Self-Help) FY1997-FY2004 59
Figure 7 Percent Distribution of ORR Discretionary Funding in FY2006 6
______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
Stuart Basefsky
Director, IWS News Bureau
Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell/ILR School
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Telephone: (607) 255-2703
Fax: (607) 255-9641
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu
****************************************
# posted by SBasefsky : 8:52 AM
