Partners For Refugee Empowerment

Programs: Community support groups (enhanced cultural orientation & education) one of the unique features of pre is the practice of hiring cultural ambassadors reflective of the refugee communities they serve. These cultural ambassadors serve as cultural facilitators between their communities and service providers. Each cultural ambassador conducts weekly support group meetings in which a variety of topics are covered: us culture, employment, safety, finances, english as a second language, citizenship, etc. Volunteers are often engaged as expert speakers. Through 2017, pre has served a total of 1,138 clients. A total of 159 clients attended community support groups during 2017.

case management refugees needing case management assistance are screened by the cultural ambassadors and referred to the case manager for assistance. The case manager links and refers those refugees to available resources in their community. In addition, the case manager makes home visits, completes needs assessments, does the planning, and makes follow ups. The case manager refers clients to mental health counseling for those who need it. Case management services include assistance in applying

mental health counseling and referrals post-traumatic stress syndrome is a common problem with refugees arriving from war-torn countries. Refugees needing counseling are identified by cultural ambassadors and the case manager and are referred for counseling. The counselor visits clients in their homes, thus eliminating issues of transportation. In 2017, pre provided mental health counseling to 38 clients.

english as a second language (esl) training in 2017, pre received a new grant which enabled it to offer esl training to 94 clients.