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Refugees and Immigrantsin Wisconsin
Refugees and Immigrantsin Wisconsin
Department of Children and FamiliesDivision of Families and Economic Security, Refugee Assistance Program Section
Presented by Irina Zelenskaya and Shoua Vang, October 8, 2009
Mission of the Refugee Assistance Program
Mission of the Refugee Assistance Program
• Enhance Workforce Development Services to Immigrants/Refugees/Limited English Proficient (LEP) individuals
• Improve LEP Access in Job Centers• Build Partnership with local, state, federal
entities• Build partnerships with Faith-Based (FBO)
/Community-Based Organizations (CBO), resettlement agencies, Mutual Assistance Association (MAA)
Migrant Services ResponsibilitiesMigrant Services Responsibilities
• Bureau is charged with the responsibility of enforcing the state’s Migrant Labor Law.
• The Law, enacted in 1977, provides – standards for wages;– hours and working conditions of migrant workers, – certification, – maintenance and inspection of migrant labor camps, – recruitment and hiring of migrant workers– guarantees the right of free access to migrant camps to
insure migrant families are not isolated from the rest of the community, and/or services they are legally entitled to.
Refugee Services SectionRefugee Services Section
• Administer & monitor programs
• Secure federal grant funding
• Ensure culturally & linguistically competent services delivery
• Organize trainings for interpreters & bilingual professional staff
• Review state policy & procedures
Programs & ServicesPrograms & ServicesPrograms & ServicesPrograms & Services
• Employment and Training
• Preventive Health
• Health Screening
• Older Refugee
• Mental Health
• Batterer’s Treatment Pilot
• Unaccompanied Minors
Definition of RefugeeDefinition of Refugee
A person who is outside his/her country of nationality or habitual residence; has a well-founded fear of persecution because of his/her race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion; and is unable or unwilling to avail himself/herself of the protection of that country, or to return there, for fear of persecution.
-- Article 1 of the 1951 U.N. Refugee Convention
RefugeeRefugee
When did refugees become recognized as “political” refugees in the United States?– Following World War II thousands of Eastern Europeans
entered the U.S. as refugees.• The Displaced Persons of 1948 – first refugee
legislation enacted– Refugee Act of 1980 – Refugees from Southeast Asia
Where are refugees from?– From all over the world: Laos, Vietnam, Former
Yugoslavia, and Somalia. The newest refugee groups arriving in the United States today are the Iraqis and Burmese/Karen-Burmese.
Refugee Resettlement Process
Refugee Resettlement Process
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) makes refugee status determination after interviewing them.– Three solutions
• Repatriation to country person fled• Integration into country of asylum• Third country resettlement
Third Country Resettlement – United States– Refugee Act of 1980 – federal/state support and private/public
coordination of refugee resettlement– U.S. official interviews and determines if they qualify under U.S.
refugee law.– Approval for resettlement: medical examination, security
background checks, cultural orientation.– Resettlement and Placement agencies provide initial resettlement
services to refugees in the U.S.
WI Refugee PopulationWI Refugee Population
Estimated Population of Refugees and Former Refugees (YTD 2009)*may include U.S. born children
Total estimate 73,981
FFY 2004-2009Refugees 4,823Secondary Migrants and Asylees 773Total 5,563
Projected Arrivals for FFY 2010Africa 115East Asia 389Former Soviet Union/Eastern Europe 3Western Hemisphere 20Near East/South Asia 317Total 844
refugee per county
Douglas
Bayfield
AshlandSawyer
Washburn
Burnett
PolkBarron346
Rusk
Price
Iron
Vilas
Oneida
Lincoln
Taylor
Chippewa27
St. Croix
Pierce
Dunn63
Pepin
Eau Claire142
BuffaloTrempealeau
Jackson
Monroe
Clark14
Marathon439
Wood68
Portage132
Juneau4
Adams
Sauk
La Crosse289
Vernon
Crawford
Richland
Grant
LaFayette Green Rock
Dane322
Iowa
Columbia Dodge
Jefferson4
Waukesha45
Walworth11
Kenosha5
Racine33
Milwaukee2252
Ozaukee5Washington
51
Sheboygan364
Fond du Lac49
Green LakeMarquette
Waushara Winnebago169
CalumetManitowoc141
Kewaunee
Brown303
Outagamie285
Waupaca
Shawano
MenomoneeOconto
Langlade Forest
Marinette
Florence
Door
Refugee Population in Wisconsin 2004 – 2008
0-15 Refugees
16-30 Refugees 31-100 Refugees
101-500 Refugees
501+ Refugees
Total – 5,563
Refugee Service AreasRefugee Service Areas
Service Delivery SystemService Delivery System
• All refugee programs are federally funded
• Contract to regional consortium consisted of Volags, MAAs and other non-profit organizations
• Have one elected member of the consortium to serve as a fiscal agent
Employment ProgramsEmployment Programs
Social Services – 8 consortiums & 4 agencies
– 2008 outcomes: 506 FT employment
Road-to-Work (TAG fund)– 7 consortia – 2008 outcomes: 187 FT employment,
32 – grant termination
Employment & Training Services
Employment & Training Services
• Developing a Family Self-Sufficiency Plan (including Employability Plan)
• Job development: job placements, grant terminations, grant reductions and job follow-ups
• Vocational ESL training
• Short term Customize Skills Training
• On-the-Job-Training
• Case management services
Targeted Assistance Supplemental: Milwaukee Region
Targeted Assistance Supplemental: Milwaukee Region
• Allocation based on refugee population.
• $287,138; three year term, 2008-2011
• Additional support/case management for new refugees in Milwaukee region
• Other supportive services to new refugees: orientation to world of work and to life in US, citizenship, ESL, etc.
Preventive Health Program Services
Preventive Health Program Services
• Wrap around health screening and education services
• Access to mainstream health services
• Provide health education in a culturally competent manner
Older Refugee Program Services
Older Refugee Program Services
• Outreach and education to the refugee community
• Partnership with local Area Agency on Aging
• Holistic and culturally appropriate services
• Citizenship classes
• Case management to coordinate supportive services
Mental Health Program Services
Mental Health Program Services
• Outreach and education to the refugee community
• Holistic and culturally appropriate clinical services
• Case management to coordinate support services
• Health system change through training bilingual clinical staff and in-service training for mainstream mental health staff
Batterer’s Treatment Pilot Program
Batterer’s Treatment Pilot Program
• Close coordination with court system
• Linguistic and culturally appropriate treatment
• Support groups
• Case management to coordinate with other counselors or treatment providers
• Sustain a feeling of belonging and attachment to families and communities
DiscriminationDiscrimination
Treating people differently through prejudice: unfair treatment of one person or group, usually because of prejudice about race, ethnicity, age, religion, or gender
--Encarta on-line dictionary
Consequences of traumatic stressConsequences of traumatic stress• Social
– Drug abuse– School failure– Anti-social behavior– Isolation/withdrawal
• Psychological– Posttraumatic Stress
Disorder• Reexperiencing,
Avoidance, Hyperarousal
– Depression– Conduct disorder – Emotion Regulation
Continuum of care
Community
School
Child
Prevention
Early Intervention
Intensive Intervention
Community
Community
Approach: Parent outreach lead by Community-based organization
Goals: Engage parents as partners in advocating for children
Connect with parents before problems emerge
Connect parents with school and beyond
School
Approach: School-based youth groups Teacher consultation
Goals: Connect with youth in non-stigmatized setting
Connect before problems emerge
Address core risk factors of alienation, discrimination
School
Refugee DemographicRefugee Demographic• Wisconsin is home to over 69,839 refugees
& former refugees
• The Hmong are by far the largest group
• Trend of refugee in the last 10 years include groups from Southeast Asia, Former Yugoslavia, Former Soviet Union and different countries of Africa.
• As we speak, we are expecting our newest group of refugees: Burmese, Somali, Iraqi, Bhutanese.
• The refugees have settled in 20+ counties
HMONG HISTORYHMONG HISTORY
• Forbearers of U.S. Hmong immigrants settled in northern Laos, plateau known as Plains of Jars
• Life before 1960s: Animists
Agrarian lifestyle:farming
gardening hunting
fishing
HMONG HISTORYHMONG HISTORY
• Life before 1960s changed for approximately 150,000 Hmongs when war erupted in Vietnam
• Hmong fled Laos to Thailand
• United States
One of eleven refugee camps in Thailand holding 120,000 Burmese
refugees
One of eleven refugee camps in Thailand holding 120,000 Burmese
refugees
Burmese family at home in camp
Burmese family at home in camp
Burmese children in camp school
Burmese children in camp school
The first Somali Bantu family to arrive in Milwaukee
The first Somali Bantu family to arrive in Milwaukee
EnjoymentEnjoyment
Make the Job Development experience enjoyable and memorable.– Smile
– Motivate, Motivate, Motivate
– Maintain morale (you and your staff)
– Help refugees achieve their American Dream
Contact InformationContact Information
Irina Zelenskayaphone: (608) 266-8354e-mail: [email protected]
Shoua Vang phone: (608) 266-8759 e-mail: [email protected]
Contact information:Heidi EllisEmail: [email protected]: 617 919 4679
http://dcf.wisconsin.gov/refugee/default.htmhttp://www.facebook.com/pages/Holiday-Folk-Fair-International/135713282946