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Welcomes and assists refugees in the Portland, Vancouver and Seattle
areas. Volunteer sponsors—often family members, close friends,
congregations or other organizations—are recruited to greet arriving
refugees at the airport, arrange accommodations, provide food and furniture,
and orient the refugees to daily life in their new home. Case managers—able
to speak the refugee’s language—help newly-arrived refugees
process paperwork and secure governmental assistance, enter employment
programs, attend ESL classes, and generally find solutions to any problems
that arise in the resettlement process. The Reception & Placement
Program is vital in advancing refugees towards self-sufficiency.
Reception and Placement Coordinator: Jan Stephens
206 694-5700
Provides low-cost immigration counseling to Seattle’s refugee
and immigrant populations. Our staff is well-trained and experienced
in the practice of immigration law, and members of our staff are certified
by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) Board of Immigration
Appeals (BIA). ICAP counsels refugees and immigrants about their rights
and responsibilities pertaining to their immigration status, helps clients
with all immigration forms and applications, and represents clients
before the INS. ICAP staff also provides translation and interpretation
services; public notary services; attorney referrals; immigration and
passport photos; and fingerprinting services. In addition, ICAP engages
in advocacy for the preservation of immigrants’ rights in the
legal system at all levels of government. We have the capacity to serve
clients in English, Russian and Ukrainian.
ICAP Coordinator: Jan Stephens
206 694-5700
Provides social services to refugees who have resettled in the Puget
Sound region. These services include immigration assistance (especially
green card applications after one year of residence), assistance in
applying and qualifying for low income housing programs and advocacy
for refugees with health clinics, public schools and other public and
private agencies. We also provide mental health counseling for families
who may have difficulty adjusting to life in the US, and assist families
in locating resources for childcare.
Social Services Coordinator: Jan Stephens
206 694-5700
On Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter, Lutheran Community Services
coordinates a gift giving program, in which our neediest refugee families
can receive gifts of furniture, household items, clothing and food.
Families let us know what their greatest needs are, and we find individuals,
organizations, churches or businesses who are willing to provide these
items in new or good condition. Gift certificates are also very much
appreciated. Your items will be picked up by the families in need or
delivered to them. This program is very flexible, and we try to accommodate
both the refugee family's needs, as well as the gift givers' needs.
If you are interested in becoming a gift giver,
or learning more about this program, please contact Jan Stephens
206 694-5700 |
