We have curated a multimedia library of content developed both by Switchboard and by former ORR-funded TA providers. You can browse the library by resource type, view a full list of uploads, or use the search area to access content by topic, author, year, and more.
Your search for Blog Posts yielded 133 result(s).
Blog Post: Parenting My Sibling: An Afghan American Social Worker’s Integration Journey
Author(s): Switchboard
Date: September 30, 2022
Topic(s): Child, Youth, and Family Services, Cultural Awareness
Subtopic(s): Guardianship, Unaccompanied Refugee Minors
Date: September 30, 2022
Topic(s): Child, Youth, and Family Services, Cultural Awareness
Subtopic(s): Guardianship, Unaccompanied Refugee Minors
Switchboard is committed to sharing stories of lived experiences with service providers across the U.S. Today, Switchboard is sharing the anonymous story of an Afghan American Social Worker who arrived in the United States as an Unaccompanied Refugee Minor. Experiences in the U.S. Foster Care System At the early age of 14, I was forced …
Parenting My Sibling: An Afghan American Social Worker’s Integration Journey Read More »
Blog Post: Resource List: Serving Ukrainian Newcomers
Author(s): Cultural Orientation Resource Exchange (CORE), Switchboard
Date: September 19, 2022
Topic(s): Case Management, Cultural Awareness, Employment, Health, Mental Health and Wellness
Subtopic(s): Grief and Healing
Date: September 19, 2022
Topic(s): Case Management, Cultural Awareness, Employment, Health, Mental Health and Wellness
Subtopic(s): Grief and Healing
In early 2022, President Biden announced that the United States would welcome 100,000 Ukrainian newcomers and others affected by the Russian invasion that took place in February. The resettlement network is working to support Ukrainians by providing available benefits and services, including those funded by the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). This blog post, created …
Blog Post: Conflicting Gender Norms: Complications and Considerations of Afghan Integration
Author(s): Switchboard
Date: September 16, 2022
Topic(s): Case Management
Subtopic(s): Gender Equality
Date: September 16, 2022
Topic(s): Case Management
Subtopic(s): Gender Equality
August 2022 marked the one-year anniversary of the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan. It seems like a lifetime since we witnessed the chaos of rapid evacuations at Kabul International Airport. In this past year, Afghanistan has changed drastically under the Taliban’s governance, and the country has yet again produced one of the largest displaced …
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Blog Post: Reflections from An Afghan American School Counselor: Building Bridges with Migrant Students
Author(s): Switchboard
Date: August 31, 2022
Topic(s): Child, Youth, and Family Services
Date: August 31, 2022
Topic(s): Child, Youth, and Family Services
Imprinted Memories, September 1987 The strong smell of freshly sharpened pencils and lemon scented floors dominates as I cling to my father’s hand and hesitantly walk down a long hallway to my kindergarten class on the first day of school. When we arrive at the door, I hastily sit on his feet in a desperate …
Blog Post: Workforce Co-location: One County’s Successful Model
Author(s): Switchboard
Date: August 29, 2022
Topic(s): Employment
Subtopic(s): Job Development
Date: August 29, 2022
Topic(s): Employment
Subtopic(s): Job Development
American Job Centers (AJCs) are a key component of the public workforce system. They provide a critical set of resources to jobseekers looking for employment or career growth. ORR-eligible populations often qualify as a priority service population in Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) programs. Individuals enrolled in these programs may be able to access …
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Blog Post: Six Tips for Quality Assurance of Employment Programs
Author(s): Switchboard
Date: August 25, 2022
Topic(s): Case Management, Employment
Subtopic(s): Case Documentation
Date: August 25, 2022
Topic(s): Case Management, Employment
Subtopic(s): Case Documentation
Quality assurance is a program management system focused on ensuring staff meet employment program guidelines efficiently. Successful quality assurance (QA) improves program outcomes without increasing burdens on staff. However, when faced with the many competing priorities of managing an employment program, implementing QA strategies can feel daunting. Below are six tips for strengthening quality assurance …
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Blog Post: Three Steps to Help Empower Refugee and Immigrant Clients through Digital Literacy
Author(s): Switchboard
Date: July 26, 2022
Topic(s): Adult Education, Digital Inclusion
Date: July 26, 2022
Topic(s): Adult Education, Digital Inclusion
Digital literacy skills may seem universal, especially if we consider all the places and situations where technology exists. Research has shown, however, that access to and use of technology vary based on demographics such as race, economic class, education, place of birth, etc. Through their work with refugee and newcomer clients, service providers can help …
Three Steps to Help Empower Refugee and Immigrant Clients through Digital Literacy Read More »
Blog Post: Personal Finance: Resources to Guide Newcomers on Measuring their Financial Well-being and Managing Money in the United States
Author(s): Switchboard
Date: July 15, 2022
Topic(s): Financial Capabilities
Date: July 15, 2022
Topic(s): Financial Capabilities
People who are new to the United States may have many adjustments to make. Getting acquainted with the U.S. financial system can be one important component that supports successful integration. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has a wealth of information that resettlement staff can share with refugee, immigrant, and migrant communities, to help people …
Blog Post: Can Afghan Newcomers Access Title IV, Federal Student Aid? Answering FAQ’s About New Guidance from the U.S. Department of Education
Author(s): Lindsay Dusard, Switchboard
Date: July 11, 2022
Topic(s): Adult Education
Subtopic(s): Higher Education
Date: July 11, 2022
Topic(s): Adult Education
Subtopic(s): Higher Education
As Afghan newcomers begin to find their footing here in the United States, many will explore options for postsecondary and career and technical education. Accessing Title IV, Federal student aid through the U.S. Department of Education can offer critical assistance in financing these goals and aspirations. The Dear Colleague letter released by the U.S. Department …
Blog Post: Demystifying the Family Self Sufficiency Plan (FSSP): How Does it Help ORR, State Refugee Coordinators, and Service Providers Improve Services?
Author(s): Switchboard
Date: July 6, 2022
Date: July 6, 2022
For newcomer families to succeed in the U.S., it is critical to look beyond economic self-sufficiency to other elements of family wellbeing. In October 2021, the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) issued new Family Self-Sufficiency Plan requirements for those receiving employment-related Refugee Support Services (RSS). This new guidance requires, a “whole-family approach” to addressing barriers …
