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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An A La Carte Guide to Digital Literacy: Comparing Assessment and Curriculum Resources

Newcomers who develop digital skills find employment faster and achieve economic self-sufficiency sooner. By investing in digital literacy training, resettlement agencies can help newcomers build confidence and create meaningful connections as they transition from initial support to full workforce participation. Many local resettlement agencies have requested guidance on offering a robust digital literacy (DL) curriculum to…

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This blog post offers practical guidance on supporting Haitian newcomers in accessing culturally appropriate food in the United States. It covers topics such as familiar foods, grocery shopping, and finding ingredients for traditional Haitian dishes. You will gain an understanding of how to assist Haitian newcomers in maintaining their culinary traditions while adapting to their…

In this blog post, Stefanie Vasquez, Program Manager at World Education Services, shares insights from her conversation with Paula DaSilva-Michelin, EdD, an internationally educated immigrant from Brazil who understands firsthand the barriers newcomers face when trying to re-enter their professions in the United States. As the Director of Programs at the Center for Immigrant Education…

Recruiting foster parents for unaccompanied refugee minors (URMs) can be a daunting task, especially when it comes to finding homes for teenagers. While many potential foster parents express a desire to foster, common apprehensions about welcoming teens into their homes may deter them from pursuing licensure.  Hesitancy to foster teenagers is often due to a lack…

The Karen Organization of San Diego (KOSD) has created a new directory of ethnic community-based organizations (ECBOs) across the United States, organized by state. KOSD developed this directory to improve access to services and strengthen support networks for refugee and immigrant communities throughout the country. This resource is designed to support both newcomers and the…

In the world of immigration legal services, the importance of nurturing the next generation of attorneys cannot be overstated. In this blog post, we discuss one powerful way to do this: well-structured internship programs. Switchboard partner VECINA had the pleasure of speaking with Ashley Sanchez, the supervising attorney for Migration and Refugee Services at Catholic…

Switchboard was an integral partner in the 2024 North American Refugee Health Conference (NARHC), which took place this August in Minneapolis, Minnesota, often called the “birthplace” of refugee health. The NARHC highlighted the importance of including voices with lived refugee experience; recognized refugee health as a global continuum; and emphasized cross-sector collaboration and international best…