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.
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Insights from the Field: The Use of Artificial Intelligence in Resettlement Work
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming humanitarian aid and resettlement services. In this blog post, two experts in the field—Kimberly Mays, a Senior Program Officer
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As COVID-19 vaccination rates plateau, it is vital to put clients at the center of the work. It is critical to hear directly from the community to develop tailored health messaging that is contextualized in the lives of the people with the lived experience. This blog post includes tips for receiving this detailed information and maintaining a community-centered approach while developing vaccine messaging.
- NRC-RIM
As part of a series of interviews about leadership during transition, I recently spoke with two refugee service leaders about the importance of engaging the refugee community during challenging times. Engaging clients is a key component for success responses, but refugee leaders are often excluded from important parts of developing and executing programs. How can service providers do better?
- Kay Bellor
This blog post features tips and resources to help refugee service providers address questions and concerns about the COVID-19 vaccine. It includes customizable communications templates and campaigns, responses to common client questions, videos addressing concerns about vaccines and Ramadan, and more!
- NRC-RIM
Strategic and everyday tactical leadership is critical to any organization, but confronting change as a leader can require new and different approaches. I recently interviewed leaders from several sectors working within refugee resettlement to learn how they had confronted the challenges of the past years. This blog post includes several areas of action based on their strategies.
- Kay Bellor
With the economic and health crises that came with COVID-19, many service providers were forced to shift priorities with clients. To ensure we did not lose sight of our long-term integration work with clients, we utilized the greater community, including volunteers, to support clients with professional development, professional networking, and complex financial systems navigation. This post provides ideas for leveraging volunteers remotely to support ongoing economic integration for refugees and asylees.
- Paige Vogel
The Annual Survey of Refugees (ASR) is a scientific study that collects information about how recently resettled refugees are adapting to life in the U.S. It is funded by the U.S. Office of Refugee Resettlement and is being conducted by the Urban Institute and SSRS. This blog post includes information you need to know if your clients are selected for the survey and why the ASR is important.
- Urban Institute