As soon as refugees arrive in the United States their goal is self-sufficiency through employment. In addition to serving refugees resettled by our Reception and Placement Program we are also able to assist 2nd migrants, asylees, entrants and victims of human trafficking with appropriate documentation. Catholic Charities Refugee Services provides employment assistance through three programs: Match Grant, Social Services and Targeted Assistance.

Match Grant is a short-term six month employment program that provides intensive job counseling and job searches for refugees who are deemed to be quickly employable. Working with various community employers our employment staff provides not only assistance in completing applications but also translation assistance during orientation and follow-up services.

Social Services provides a combination of case management and employment services for clients who are deemed to need additional assistance in acquiring employment. Typical concerns addressed by case managers include childcare, short-term medical needs, language barriers and mental health concerns. Social Service clients are eligible for Refugee Cash Assistance during their initial eight months of resettlement. Employment and case management services are available for up to five years after arrival.

The Targeted Assistance Program provides employment services for refugees who are considered difficult to employ due to language barriers and/or lack of formal work experience. In addition to intensive ESL classes and job skills training four days a week, this program operates in partnership with the Rochelle Center to provide job training at Rochelle’s production center for up to three months. With their acquired English capabilities, job skills and work experience, TAP clients are then referred by employment staff to local employers and provided with follow-up services. TAP clients are also eligible for Refugee Cash Assistance during their initial eight months of resettlement.

Despite the fact a number of refugees, in their native countries, were occupational professionals such as surgeons, engineers and professors, they typically begin employment in the United States in entry-level positions in the production and service industries. Traditionally, the majority of refugees we serve are self-sufficient 120 days after arrival and, ten years after arrival, refugees have usually achieved an economic level comparable to that of natural-born Americans.