Refugee School Impact Grant
The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), within the Department of Health and Human Services, provides funds through state departments of educational agencies in the form of discretionary grants. The purpose of this program is to assist refugee children in improving their academic performance and social adjustment to school. The term newly arrived refugees refers to individuals who were not born in this country and who have been attending schools in one or more states for less than three complete academic years. Grant activities include: (1) After-school/summer programs that support remedial work or promote school readiness; (2) Provide parent training on school board, school system, and effective instructional programs for refugee families; (3) Improve academic performance by providing after-school tutoring services in content areas; (4) Provide technology learning opportunities for children and refugee families; (5) Interpreter services for parent/teacher meetings and conferences; and (6) Provide college access programs to refugee students.
What is the definition of a refugee?
Any person who is outside any country of such person's nationality or, in the case of a person having no nationality, is outside any country in which such person last habitually resided, and who is unable or unwilling to return to, and is unable or unwilling to avail himself or herself of the protection of that country because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.
Individuals granted refugee status overseas by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security are brought to the United States for resettlement by the U.S. Department of State. Voluntary agencies and ORR through their programs assist with their resettlement and integration into the U.S. Refugees are eligible to receive ORR benefits and services from the first day they arrive in the U.S. - https://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/orr.
Wisconsin’s Refugee School Impact Grant Application
Application/Plan, form PI 2975, DUE DATE- September 15 (for 2012-2013)
Enrolling Older Refugees Students: Counting Students Who Are 20 and 21 Years old
Refugee Resources:
Bridging Refugee Youth and Children Services
Refugee Education and Integration Service Center
Working with Refugee Students in Secondary Schools (State of Minnesota)
Wisconsin Department of Children and Families (Refugee Program)
Pan African Community Association (PACA)
Increasing Success for Immigrant and Refugee Students by Supporting Family & Culture
Involving Refugee Parents in Their Children's Education
For additional information, please contact Brenda Noy Aphayrath, Education Specialist, 608.267.2443, or Jacqueline Iribarren, Ph.D., Education Consultant, Bilingual/ESL Education Program, 608.266.7297