Five service centers offer programs uniquely designed to assist refugees, asylees, survivors of human trafficking, and other vulnerable populations, helping them to become self-sufficient as quickly as possible. Center programs are also tailored to meet the needs of the host communities as they welcome these new neighbors, including resettlement services, economic empowerment, English language programs, immigration and legal services, survivors of trafficking empowerment, community wellness, medical case management, social adjustment services. Programs for minors include unaccompanied children, refugee youth program, and Central American minors. Site includes information and resources for unaccompanied minors. RST employs the use of a refugee management system to proactively meet the needs of its clients. Locations in Amarillo, Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, and Houston.
Working with Persons with Disabilities in Forced Displacement
Developed by the UNHCR to guide staff in developing policies and practices that meet the needs of people with disabilities in forced displacement and protect them from discrimination. The brief report presents an overview of disability and chronic conditions, nondiscrimination and participation as keys to protection, key considerations, and key resources.
Working with Persons with Disabilities in Forced Displacement
Disability Inclusion: Translating Policy into Practice in Humanitarian Action
Report from the Women’s Refugee Commission detailing positive practices and ongoing challenges to promote disability inclusion across UNHCR’s and its partners’ work in multiple countries and multiple displacement contexts. The report provides lessons and recommendations for other organizations and the wider humanitarian community on engaging persons with disabilities at all levels of humanitarian work. It draws on consultations with over 700 displaced persons—including persons with disabilities, their families, and humanitarian staff—in eight countries. The report includes key protection concerns of people with disabilities, implementation of UNHCR guidance on disability, and institutionalizing disability inclusion across UNHCR operations. It also includes recommendations for advancing disability inclusion in humanitarian action. Report, factsheets, and discussion tool for fieldworkers available in multiple languages and an “easy read” format.
Disability Inclusion: Translating Policy into Practice in Humanitarian Action.
Refugees and migrants with disabilities
Refugees and migrants with disabilities is a policy article from the UN Division for Social Policy and Development. Describes the status of refugees and migrants with disabilities, the relative invisibility of these refugees, and the UN’s commitment to meet their needs. Includes resources for further information and research.
Developing Welcoming Faith Communities
Developing Welcoming Faith Communities. Toolkit and related factsheets for faith-based communities, religious congregations, and mental health organizations that want to connect people with mental health conditions and their families to congregational life. Collection includes a report on the role of peer providers (individuals with similar lived experience who offer counseling and support) in connecting people with mental health conditions to the spiritual community. Developed by Temple University.
Unitarian Universalist Sanctuary Movement and Locations
The Unitarian Universalist Church is part of the growing Sanctuary Movement comprised of faith and immigrant communities seeking to protect and stand with immigrants facing deportation. Members pledge to protect immigrant families who face workplace discrimination or unjust deportation.
The site maintains a list of Unitarian Universalist congregations and organizations that have pledged to support the New Sanctuary Movement and/or are offering Sanctuary. Includes information on how to become a Sanctuary congregation.
Unitarian Universalist Sanctuary Movement and Locations
Asylee Eligibility for Resettlement Assistance
Brochure from the Catholic Legal Immigration Network. The brochure details benefits and services for those seeking asylum, including eligibility requirements and expected waiting periods.
USCRI Serving Refugees With Disabilities
The Living with a Disability in the United States guidebook (no date) is an illustrated informational booklet in simple English, including a list of disability resources, for refugees and their families. The Serving Refugees with Disabilities guidebook (2007) is a companion resource for resettlement agencies and other service providers. (Scroll down to “Serving Refugees With Disabilities” subheading.) Provided by the US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, a 501c(3) charitable organization.
USCRI Nutrition Resource Handouts
Refugees and immigrants often come to the United States from countries in which the food, diet, and health care systems are quite different from those found in the US. These handouts are designed to communicate basic nutrition information to refugees and immigrants in order to develop positive nutrition and lifestyle habits. Available in many languages: English, Amharic, Arabic, Burmese, Farsi, French, Haitian, Hmong, Karen, Kirundi, Nepali, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Swahili, Vietnamese. Provided by the US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, a 501c(3) charitable organization.
USCRI Healthy Living Toolkit
Educates refugees, immigrants, resettlement agencies, clinics, community based organizations, and other service providers on refugee health issues. The toolkit presents material in a culturally appropriate manner and is intended to help health care-related professionals more effectively assist refugees and immigrants and reduce health disparities among these populations. Available in many languages: English, Amharic, Arabic, Burmese, Farsi, French, Haitian, Hmong, Karen, Kirundi, Nepali, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Swahili, Vietnamese.