Refugee Empowerment Center

TO RESETTLE REFUGEES IN NEBRASKA AND PROVIDE THEM THE SUPPORT THEY NEED TO THRIVE.

RECEPTION AND PLACEMENT SERVICES: THE REFUGEE EMPOWERMENT CENTER'S RECEPTION AND PLACEMENT (R&P) DEPARTMENT IS COMPRISED OF MULTI-LINGUAL, MULTI-CULTURAL STAFF CASEWORKERS AND CASE AIDES WHO RESETTLE ABOUT 200 REFUGEES PER YEAR IN OMAHA. THROUGH COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE, THE R&P PROGRAM PROVIDED THE FOLLOWING SERVICES TO REFUGEES DURING THE FIRST 90 DAYS OF THEIR ARRIVAL TO THE U.S.; HOUSING, FURNITURE, HOUSEHOLD ITEMS, WEATHER-APPROPRIATE CLOTHING, FOOD STAMPS AND CASH AND MEDICAL BENEFITS APPLICATION, MEDICAL REFERRALS, SOCIAL SECURITY ENROLLMENT, SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME (SSI) APPLICATION, SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION PROGRAM FOR WOMEN, INFANTS AND CHILDREN (WIC) APPLICATION.

EMPLOYMENT SERVICES: THE REFUGEE EMPOWERMENT CENTER'S EMPLOYMENT DEPARTMENT WORKED WITH REFUGEES WHO HAVE BEEN IN THE COUNTRY LESS THAN 5 YEARS AND RUN THE SPECTRUM OF EMPLOYMENT NEEDS. OUR EMPLOYMENT CASEWORKERS NOT ONLY HELPED REFUGEES OBTAIN EMPLOYMENT, BUT ALSO PROVIDED THE FOLLOWING SERVICES: DOCUMENTATION OF WORK HISTORY AND SKILLS ASSESSMENT, PREPARATION OF HOUSEHOLD BUDGET, MONTHLY EXPENSES, ASSESSMENT OF HOURLY WAGE NEEDED TO PAY EXPENSES AND FINANCIAL LITERACY/MONEY MANAGEMENT, PREPARATION OF EMPLOYMENT PLAN (REMOVAL OF BARRIERS, GOALS, OBJECTIVES), REFERRALS TO ENGLISH LANGUAGE TRAINING, DRIVERS EDUCATION, OTHER TRAINING AS NEEDED, TRANSPORTATION AND INTERPRETATION, RESUME CREATION, JOB LEADS, ASSISTANCE WITH COMPLETING AND FOLLOWING UP ON JOB APPLICATIONS, JOB PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE, EMPLOYER AND NEW HIRE FOLLOW-UP, TRANSITION AND COMPLIANCE, TROUBLESHOOTING EMPLOYMENT ISSUES, EMPLOYER CULTURAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING, AS NEEDED.REFUGEE SOCIAL SERVICES: FOR ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR THE WELL-BEING OF OUR CLIENTS, REC AND OTHER AGENCIES REFERRED ELIGIBLE CLIENTS WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES TO OUR ON-SITE PROVISIONALLY LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH PRACTITIONER, WHO OFFERED GUIDANCE THROUGH REC'S PREFERRED COMMUNITIES PROGRAM. PREFERRED COMMUNITIES (PC) AIDED REFUGEES WITH SPECIAL NEEDS WHO REQUIRED INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT. TO BE REFERRED TO THIS PROGRAM, THE REFUGEE HAD TO HAVE COMPLETED THE R&P PERIOD AND BE WITHIN 3 YEARS OF RESETTLING TO THE U.S. THE PC PROGRAM PROVIDED FURTHER FINANCIAL AND INTEGRATIVE SUPPORT FOR REFUGEES WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT, AND EMPLOYMENT NEEDS. PC-BEHAVIORAL HEALTH IS MANAGED BY OUR PROVISIONALLY LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH PRACTITIONER.

OTHER REFUGEE RELATED PROGRAMS