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: Operation Allies Welcome: An Afghan-American Reflects on Supporting the Emergency Evacuation Response
Author(s): Switchboard
Date: March 29, 2023
Topic(s): Cultural Awareness, Immigration Legal Needs
Date: March 29, 2023
Topic(s): Cultural Awareness, Immigration Legal Needs
I recall sitting in my bedroom-turned-home-office in Washington, D.C., last August feeling distraught watching the news coming out of Afghanistan. Like most Afghan-Americans during that time, a sense of helplessness had washed over me. I wished I could do more. At the time, I was working at the International Rescue Committee (IRC) as a Gender …
Blog Post: Housing Selection 101
Author(s): Switchboard
Date: March 23, 2023
Date: March 23, 2023
Switchboard, in partnership with Refugee Housing Solutions (RHS), recently published a blog post on Helping Newcomers with the Housing Search. Here, we focus on the housing selection process for newcomers, from walk-through to move-in. This information is relevant for providers serving clients who have recently arrived in the U.S. and have immediate housing needs (such …
Blog Post: Resource Collection: Getting Started in Navigating ORR Eligibility
Author(s): Switchboard
Date: March 16, 2023
Topic(s): Case Management
Subtopic(s): Program Eligibility
Date: March 16, 2023
Topic(s): Case Management
Subtopic(s): Program Eligibility
Determining whether a potential client is eligible for Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR)-funded services can sometimes be a challenge. This blog post gathers some key resources for service providers who are new to the work of navigating ORR eligibility requirements and documentation. Federal Resources Clients with many different immigration statuses are eligible to participate in …
Resource Collection: Getting Started in Navigating ORR Eligibility Read More »
Blog Post: Three Ways to Support Newcomers’ Personal Financial Health
Author(s): Switchboard
Date: March 7, 2023
Topic(s): Financial Capabilities
Date: March 7, 2023
Topic(s): Financial Capabilities
For newcomers adjusting to life in a foreign country, financial insecurity often emerges as one of the most pressing and difficult challenges to overcome. To support successful integration of newcomers and empower them to build financial stability, service providers must equip clients with the necessary knowledge and tools to navigate the financial system here in …
Three Ways to Support Newcomers’ Personal Financial Health Read More »
Blog Post: Resource Collection: Legal Services for Afghan Newcomers
Author(s): Switchboard
Date: March 2, 2023
Topic(s): Immigration Legal Needs
Date: March 2, 2023
Topic(s): Immigration Legal Needs
Newcomers from Afghanistan face many resettlement challenges in the United States. The process of obtaining legal status is an especially difficult hurdle to navigate. Afghans who entered the country under humanitarian parole may only have Temporary Protected Status (TPS) in the United States for two years. After TPS expires, they would lose access to employment, …
Resource Collection: Legal Services for Afghan Newcomers Read More »
Blog Post: Making Sense of Mobile Apps: A Collection of Interpretation, Translation, and Integration Apps for Newcomers
Author(s): Switchboard
Date: February 23, 2023
Topic(s): Case Management, Child, Youth, and Family Services, Digital Inclusion
Date: February 23, 2023
Topic(s): Case Management, Child, Youth, and Family Services, Digital Inclusion
For newcomers to equitably receive the vital integration services they are eligible for, language access is essential. As service providers know, working with a professional in-person or telephonic interpreter from the same cultural and linguistic background as the client is always ideal. But live interpretation is not always possible given the demands of newcomer services. …
Blog Post: Helping Newcomers with the Housing Search
Author(s): Switchboard
Date: January 23, 2023
Topic(s): Housing
Date: January 23, 2023
Topic(s): Housing
With a current rental vacancy rate of just six percent, housing in the United States is difficult to secure. Several factors—credit requirements, income level, transportation needs, and family size, to name a few—further complicate the housing search for newcomers. Finding housing that fits a client’s needs, eligibility, and the housing standards set by the Bureau …
Blog Post: The Tripledemic: Health Awareness Resources for Service Providers and Their Clients
Date: January 20, 2023
Topic(s): Health
Subtopic(s): COVID-19, Flu
Topic(s): Health
Subtopic(s): COVID-19, Flu
As people gather with loved ones or community members, it is important to note that there is a current surge of three highly contagious respiratory viruses—COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and influenza (flu). These viruses can cause similar symptoms and require specific testing to diagnose. This “tripledemic” is leading to a greater number of people …
The Tripledemic: Health Awareness Resources for Service Providers and Their Clients Read More »
Blog Post: Are You Serving Afghan Clients with Mental and Behavioral Health Needs? A New National Program Can Help
Author(s): Switchboard
Date: January 4, 2023
Topic(s): Mental Health and Wellness
Date: January 4, 2023
Topic(s): Mental Health and Wellness
In Switchboard’s FY23 needs assessment, assisting clients experiencing emotional distress ranked as one of the highest needs for training and technical assistance. Megan Rafferty, Switchboard’s training officer specializing in mental health and wellness, spoke with Rayhana Rahim, PhD, on this topic. Dr. Rahim is Program Manager for the Post-Resettlement Behavioral Health Support Program for Afghan …
Blog Post: Newcomer Housing Tips: Four Steps for Outreach to Landlords
Author(s): Switchboard
Date: December 28, 2022
Topic(s): Housing
Date: December 28, 2022
Topic(s): Housing
Do you support refugees and newcomers with affordable housing services? This blog post is for you! Switchboard has partnered with Refugee Housing Solutions to share training and promising practices related to housing solutions for newcomers. The tips in this post will get you started in forming positive landlord relationships to help secure housing for clients. …
Newcomer Housing Tips: Four Steps for Outreach to Landlords Read More »
