Lutheran Immigration And Refugee Service

Children and family services; for more than 40 years. Lirs has provided child welfare services to refugee and migrant children who are unaccompanied or separated from family. Lirs provided residential care and community based case management services to over 20.000 children and families in 2024. These children have typically fled community violence, civil conflict, persecution, trafficking. Extreme poverty. Or maltreatment. Lirs approaches its work with integrity and upholds the following principles in serving children: decision-making based on the best interests of the child; preserving family unity; placement's of children in the least restrictive setting; prioritizing child protection; and providing services with quality and innovation.lirs partners with the federal agency. The office of refugee resettlement. State and local governments and community child welfare and refugee organizations to serve the best interests of refugee and migrant children. Lirs provides a full continuum of care. With a robust national network op partners and direct care staff located throughout the country. The continuum of care includes short and long-term foster care (basic and therapeutic placemements). Group home care and shelter care as well as safe release services and home studies and post release services.

Community engagement:1. Circle of welcome (cow) ~ facilitated volunteer church/communityteams who are matched with refugee households to provide structuredongoing support.2.new american cities (nac): global refuge revised the nac program in 2024. Nac advanced economic inclusion for newcomers in baltimore city and surrounding counties by providing holistic one-on-one support, career upskilling opportunities, and community-based referrals. The grant matched and extended federal funding, enabling a greater impact and fostering the self-sufficiency and integration of baltimore's newest residents. Global refuge md supported 39 clients in 2024.3. Lirs' mental health program offered therapy and clinical casemanagement services to 341 individuals in 2024. 4. In 2024. Global refuge connected with 1,174 new volunteers, who collectively offered more than 4,562 hours of volunteer time. This is equaly to 190 full days of service, and it represents a 31% increase in active volunteer hours compared to last year. More than 300 faith communities worked to write 10.000 hand written cards through the hope for the holidays program, sending messages of hope and dignity to new neighbors across the country. Global refuge volunteers and supportive faith communities also packed and delivered more than 1.754"fresh change" bags, a 15% increase compared to 2023. These fresh change bags provide much needed hygeiene supplies and clothing for children in our cfs program.global refuge also produced a new training for congregations which certifies them as safe for new arrivals, and teaches basic immigration policy through a lens of biblical welcome. Global refuge preached and presented in more than 80 faith communities across the country. And spoke publicly at educational and human rights events in several major cities.5. Through private donations, lirs operates international offices in guatemala and mexico, providing case management, clinical services, and access to educational and vocational services for youth who have been returned to mexico or guatemala.

Other program services:lirs services travel loans issued by the international organization of migration to transport lirs-sponsored refugees from their original location to their resettlement location in the united states. Collections from these non-interest bearing loans are, in part, used to offset loan servicing expenses of lirs, with 75% of the collections returned to the international organization of migration to replenish the loan fund, which finances transportation for resettlement of future refugees.lirs north dakota (global refuge nd) state programs refugee support services program (rss): ): rss program delivered comprehensive case management and community connector services to refugees and other office of refugee resettlement (orr) populations in north dakota. Through community connectors, participants received tailored support in key areas such as family support and integration services, access to health services, school navigation and educational support, and community orientation workshops. These services were designed to promote successful resettlement, foster community integration, and support the long-term well-being of refugee individuals and families. Global refuge nd served 869 rss clients in 2024refuge cash assistance (rca) program: : rca program provided monthly cash assistance to refugees and other orr-eligible populations to help meet basic needs such as food, shelter, and transportation. In addition, supported individuals in achieving self-sufficiency and reducing dependency on welfare services through case management, english language training, and employment referrals. Global refuge nd served 325 rca clients in 2024.services for older refugees (sor): the sor program provided support to eligible refugees aged 60 and older, ensuring they had access to appropriate aging-related services. Sor offerings included case management, transportation, interpretation, referrals to supportive services, connection to community resources, volunteer engagement, social activities, and citizenship and naturalization preparation for eligible refugee elders. The program also aimed to deliver services not otherwise available in the community. Overall, sor services promoted physical and emotional well-being, supported integration into new communities, and encouraged independent living. Global refuge nd served 23 sor clients in 2024. Refugee youth mentoring program (ymp): the ymp program addressed the needs of refugee youth and young adults, ages 15-24, by promoting their civic and social engagement through mentoring. The program recruited, screened and trained mentors to support newcomer youth. Global refuge nd connected 6 youth with mentors in 2024.refugee health promotion: the program provided refugee health navigation services to refugees and other orr-eligible populations in north dakota. Key services included coordinating refugee medical screenings, facilitating timely communication among state agencies, medical providers, and resettlement staff, offering guidance on health care coverage options, and supporting access to essential medical services. Additionally, the program worked to eliminate transportation barriers for both initial screenings and follow-up medical appointments. Global refuge nd assisted 51 clients through health promotion in 2024. Refugee agricultural partnership program (rapp): the rapp supported refugees and other orr-eligible populations in improving their livelihoods and achieving economic self-sufficiency by increasing their knowledge and skills in agriculture, food systems, nutrition, and access to farmers markets. Global refuge nd served 21 rapp clients in 2024. Employer engagement program (eep): through the eep, global refuge nd strengthened collaboration with employers to support the integration and self-sufficiency of refugees and other orr-eligible populations within the resettlement community. Global refuge nd established formal partnerships with employers to develop training curricula, provide career counseling, and expand opportunities for workplace-based training, apprenticeships, and internships all aimed at enhancing clients' access to sustainable employment. Global refuge nd onboarded 8 employer partners in 2024. Thirteen employees from those firms participated.global refuge san antonio (global refuge sa) programsamerican rescue plan act (arpa) support services: the program addressed negative covid-19 impacts on economic security for immigrants residing in san antonio through the provision of case management and employment services. Global refuge sa served 79 individuals in 2024. Refugee support services program (rss): the rss program helped refugees and other orr eligible population in texas achieve economic independence by assisting them in finding and maintaining employment while removing barriers to self-sufficiency. Refugee support services offers case management, job development and training, vocational training, job placement, and connections to social adjustment support, such as english language classes, daycare, and citizenship assistance. Additionally, the program provided social support services to help clients overcome obstacles to cultural and social integration. Global refuge sa served 117 rss clients in 2024. Refuge cash assistance (rca) program: rca program provided monthly cash assistance to refugees and other orr-eligible populations to help meet basic needs such as food, shelter, and transportation. In addition, supported individuals in achieving self-sufficiency and reducing dependency on welfare services through case management, english language training, and employment referrals. Global refuge sa served 199 rca clients in 2024. Refugee medical assistance (rma): staff assisted clients in accessing rma, which provides insurance coverage for refugees and other orr-eligible populations. Support included assessment, enrollment, and coordination with service providers. Global refuge sa assisted 184 clients in 2024.global refuge baltimore and alexandria (global refuge md) programsbaltimore new american access coalition (bnaac): the bnaac program provided six-month case management and benefits navigation to help baltimore city's immigrants and refugees. Global refuge md served nineteen (19) bnaac clients in 2024.employer engagement program (eep): through the eep, global refuge md strengthened collaboration with employers to support the integration and self-sufficiency of refugees and other orr-eligible populations within the resettlement community. Global refuge md established formal partnerships with employers to develop training curricula, provide career counseling, and expand opportunities for workplace-based training, apprenticeships, and internships all aimed at enhancing clients' access to sustainable employment. Global refuge md onboarded three (3) employer partners in 2024. 24 employees from those firms participated.case management pilot program (cmpp): the cmpp provided voluntary case management and other services to non-detained noncitizens enrolled in alternatives to detention. Cmppservicesincluded, among others:mental health services; trafficking screening;legal orientation programs;cultural orientation programs;connections to social services;anddeparture planning and reintegration servicesfor individuals returning to their home countries. Global refuge md managed this program consortium members and collaboratively served 488 clients in 2024.microenterprise development(med): med empowered refugees with economic inclusion opportunities intended to facilitate integration into the u.s. Economy. It provides training. Technical assistance as well as credit builder and small business loans to help them create or expand their own small businesses. Global refuge supported 21 med clients in 2024 through training and distributed $240,000 loans.individual development account (ida): ida supported refugees and other orr eligible population save toward an asset that will help increase financial independence. The program helped participants understand what- assets are, how the u.s. Financial system works, and how to manage their money. It matched savings at a one-to-one for each dollar deposited. Savings goals can be used towards home purchase, rental assistance, vocational trainings, education,and entrance exam fees. Global refuge supported 46 ida clients in 2024 through training and distributed $110,000 in matching funds.