Refugee Services Programs
The Refugee Employment Program at the Glendale office provides case management and employment services for over 850 refugees to help them become self-sufficient. Over 25 IILA employees and interns work one-on-one with refugees to help them overcome the barriers they face to employment. REP case managers provide referrals to job club, English as a Second Language instruction, skills development, child care, and provide transportation payments to ensure that refugees are able to become employed or continue employment. A second REP office is located in El Monte and primarily works with Vietnamese, Chinese and Cuban clients.
The Refugee Resettlement and Placement Program helps link refugees overseas with local families or friends (called “local ties”) who are willing to provide help to resettle refugees. Three case workers work with the “local ties” to let them know when the refugees will arrive, give resettlement grants to newly arrived refugees, provide orientation, and ensure that new refugees find adequate housing. The program resettles approximately 400 refugees a year. The refugees arrive primarily from Iran, Iraq, Vietnam, and Cuba.
The Refugee Healthy Marriages/California Healthy Marriages Program provides workshops for refugee and immigrant couples on healthy communication and relationships. This is a highly successful program that is expanding from serving 250 refugees a year to 600 refugees and immigrants.
