Switchboard Blog
Switchboard’s blog posts offer a wide range of insights on the newcomer experience, including practical tips for navigating the resettlement process, resource lists tailored to community needs, case studies about relevant programs, engaging stories of successful integration, and more.
FEATURED BLOG
Preparing Newcomers for Weather and Other Emergencies: Essential Resources for Service Providers (Part Two)
Wondering how you can help prepare newcomers for emergencies? Take a proactive approach! Newcomers should be familiar with local emergency protocols and available resources. Provide guidance about potential risks, share videos and tips on preparedness, and inform newcomers about how to access available support before, during, and after emergencies. You may also assist clients in…
Refine Search
Refugees and newcomers are survivors of violence, persecution, and other complex situations that arise before and during resettlement. Refugee and newcomer clients may, at times, be exposed to sexual and gender-based violence. This blog post shares service provider resources on these topics, which can be used for adult and youth clients. For resources on protection…
- Switchboard
Amidst rising rental prices, increasing application competition, and a dearth of affordable housing stock, the housing search is difficult. Preconceived notions newcomers may have about the U.S. housing market can further complicate the search for case managers or housing coordinators and the newcomers themselves. Below are a few of the most important facts about housing…
- Refugee Housing Solutions
As we begin our third year of welcoming Afghan newcomers seeking safety in the United States, the legal needs of the community have shifted as the initial parole periods end and more Afghans obtain other statuses. This blog post summarizes some of the major legal needs of the Afghan newcomer community and shares useful services…
- VECINA Legal Aid
After the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan, more than 5,000 Afghan newcomers were welcomed to Houston, Texas. For Rupani Foundation, an ethnic community-based organization (ECBO) in Houston, the evacuation posed many challenges but also presented an opportunity to engage with the families we serve in a more meaningful way. This blog post shares some of…
- Rupani Foundation
It’s not easy to serve a community without a good support system. This can be especially true for leaders of ethnic community-based organizations (ECBOs). The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) defines an ECBO as “a non-profit organization that was founded and is led by a current or former refugee, or a group of current and…
- Karen Organization of San Diego
Refugee and newcomer clients may be eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) depending on their age or health condition. However, applying for SSI is a long and complicated process. With contributions from Kara Friesen, Bayle Conrad, Dr. Andrea Green, and Dr. Meera Siddharth, this blog post answers some of the most common FAQs about SSI…
- Society of Refugee Healthcare Providers