Refugee 101 Resources
Global Refugee Information:
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
The agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. http://www.unhcr.org
UNHCR Statistical Yearbook 2007 (provisional) - comprehensive annual statistical publication: http://www.unhcr.org/statistics/STATISTICS/4852366f2.pdf
U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI)
A nonprofit advocacy group that addresses persons in forced or voluntary migration worldwide through… “public policy, facilitating and providing direct professional services, and promoting the full participation of migrants in community life.”
USCRI World Refugee Survey 2008 - reports on conditions for refugees around the world http://www.refugees.org/article.aspx?id=2114&subm=179&area=About%20Refugees&
United States Refugee Resettlement Information (government agencies):
US Department of Homeland Security
Immigration Statistics
DHS is responsible for providing immigration-related services and benefits such as naturalization and work authorization as well as investigative and enforcement responsibilities for enforcement of federal immigration laws, customs laws, and air security laws. DHS maintains a website with useful statistics on refugee arrivals. http://www.dhs.gov/ximgtn/statistics/
DHS Annual Flow Report: Refugees and Asylees 2007 - synopsis of 2007 data on refugees and asylees in the United States: http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/statistics/publications/ois_rfa_fr_2007.pdf
US Department of State, Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration
Responsible for formulating policies on population, refugees, and migration, and for administering U.S. refugee assistance and admissions programs. www.state.gov/g/prm
2008 Refugee admissions fact sheets - Information from Dept of State on specific groups http://www.state.gov/g/prm/refadm/rls/fs/2008/
US Department Health and Human Services
Administration of Children and Services
Office of Refugee Resettlement
The ORR oversees the resettlement process and other services for refugees and certain other immigrants (asylees, victims of trafficking for example). This site provides information about the resettlement process and a variety of other federal programs for refugees, as well as data on resettlement, state profiles, and other useful information. www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/orr/index.htm
Additional information on refugees in the United States
Cultural Orientation Resource Center
Provides orientation resources for refugee newcomers and service providers throughout the United States and overseas. Housed at the Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL), the COR Center combines CAL's linguistic expertise, the cross-cultural and technical knowledge of COR's many consultants, and the field experience of refugee service practitioners. www.cal.org/co/
Refugee Backgrounders - COR produces publications on new groups of refugees (Priority 2—groups of special humanitarian concern). Here are a few recent backgrounders:
List of Voluntary Refugee Resettlement Agencies (VOLAGS)
These 10 nonprofit agencies each have a contract to provide resettlement services to refugees. Each agency has a network of offices in communities throughout the United States. http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/orr/partners/voluntary_agencies.htm
Serving refugees in libraries
Welcome to your Library
WTYL was a UK-based project that sought to connect public libraries with refugees and asylum seekers. The project recently ended, but this site has a lot of useful information and ideas. There is a also a listserv that continues to send out interesting information.
Serving immigrants in libraries (including, but not focused on refugees)
USCIS Report: Library Services for Immigrants: A Report on Current Practices
A report identifying current practices and suggesting ideas for libraries offering services to immigrants. Produced by US Citizenship and Immigration Service (formally INS)
ALA Study: Serving Non-English Speakers in U.S. Public Libraries
American Library Association (ALA) study provides new information about library services and programs developed for non-English speakers, including effectiveness of services, barriers to library use, most frequently used services and most success library programs by language served.
ULC Report: Welcome Stranger: Public Libraries Build the Global Village
The Urban Library Council reports on a survey of members regarding ways in which urban public libraries are involved with the transition of immigrants into American life.
