Immigrant & Refugee Services

LOCAL INTEGRATION & FAMILY EMPOWERMENT (LIFE) DIVISION

RESTORING FREEDOM, DIGNITY & INDEPENDENCE

Every year, thousands of refugees, asylum seekers, survivors of human trafficking, and unaccompanied minors arrive in Southern California.

In addition to Social Services, the Local Integration & Family Empowerment (LIFE) Division assists resilient people to restore their freedom, dignity and independence through comprehensive services and access to jobs, education, and health. Our staff conducts outreach to identify these populations, partners with public and non-profit agencies, and provides individualized services that address their most urgent needs and empower them to become self-sufficient.

REFUGEE RECEPTION & PLACEMENT

For many refugees, fleeing violence and persecution in their home country can be traumatic. Once they arrive in L.A., they often face additional challenges, such as feeling a loss of culture and community, adapting to a foreign environment, and lacking resources.

IILA’s Reception & Placement links refugees still overseas with local family or friends. Case managers work with these “local ties” to arrange airport reception, grant resettlement funds, conduct mental health screenings, provide community orientation, access public benefits, and find employment and housing. These comprehensive support services, along with refugees’ local ties, significantly ease their resettlement and transition to fulfilling lives in their new community.

Former MG client Ajmal Rezai (left) at work with IILA's Afghan Legal Representation Project.
MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM

IILA’s Matching Grant Program helps new Americans attain economic self-sufficiency through comprehensive case management and services leading to employment.

We work closely with refugees, asylees, survivors of human trafficking, and Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders through a variety of programs on job readiness, placement, housing, community orientation, transportation, and interview preparation.

Within several months of their arrival, we successfully place our clients in jobs at a significantly higher rate than public agencies through our one-on-one approach.

For more information, click here or email mginfo@iilosangeles.org.

Trauma Healing By IILA
SURVIVORS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING

IILA provides comprehensive and trauma-informed case management services to survivors of human trafficking and their families to help them reclaim and rebuild their lives.

Our services include rescue, legal aid, coordination with law enforcement, assistance finding housing and employment, health services, mental health counseling, family reunification, and other services survivors need to restore their independence. We are there to aid at every step in their journey from rescue to reintegration into their community.

Learn more about human trafficking here.  In inquire about our services, please contact smichael@iilosangeles.org.

FIRST 5 REFUGEE FAMILY SUPPORT

The First 5 Refugee Family Support (RFS) Program provides case managements services to refugees, SIVs, or humanitarian parolees from any country who are eligible for federal funding and arrive between September 1, 2022 and August 31, 2023 or who arrived and settled in California after August 1, 2021.  Funds support families with children 0-5 or families with a pregnant family member who reside in LA County.

Funding is available to provide direct housing assistance and child care.  To make a referral, contact Hasmik Ktoian, hktoian@iilosangeles.org.

AFGHAN HEALTH PROMOTION

The Afghan Health Promotion Program (AHP) provides assistance with accessing health care, including enrollment in Medi-Cal or Refugee Medical Assistance, scheduling medical appointments and screenings, arranging transportation to appointments, troubleshooting Medi-Cal bills, enrollment in a Medi-Cal managed care plan and selecting a primary care physician.

These services are available to all Afghan SIVs, SI/SQ and humanitarian parolees in LA, Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside, Kern and Ventura Counties.

To make a referral, contact Abdullah, amohammadi@iilosangeles.org or Nilofar, nmohammadi@iilosangeles.org.

AFGHAN LEGAL REPRESENTATION PROJECT

The Afghan Legal Representation Project (ALRP) provides legal services for Afghan humanitarian parolees, SIV applicants, asylum seekers and asylees to assist with asylum applications, family petitions, assistance with SIV applications, TPS applications and other forms of immigration relief.

These services are available to all Afghan humanitarian parolees, SIV applicants, asylum seekers and asylees residing in LA, Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside, Ventura, San Diego and Kern Counties.

To make a referral, contact Ajmal Rezai, arezai@iilosangeles.org.

AFGHAN INTEGRATION AND RESETTLEMENT SERVICES

Afghan Integration and Resettlement Services (AIRS) provides case management services to all Afghan Humanitarian Parolees, SIVs, SQ or SI Parolee, SI Conditional Permanent Residents, refugees or asylees who arrived in the US on or after July 31, 2021 and currently reside in LA and Orange Counties.

To make a referral, contact Hasmik Ktoian, hktoian@iilosangeles.org.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH

The Opportunities For Youth (OFY) Project’s goal is to provide post-placement services to unaccompanied minors that promote security and opportunities for youth by fostering parental resilience among sponsors and the socioemotional competence of the youth. The objective is to provide youth (up to age 21) with services that support their reunification with sponsors and aide their integration into their new communities.

For more information, view the OFY flyer here.

To make a referral, email hbercian@iilosangeles.org with a completed referral form.

PREFERRED COMMUNITIES

The Preferred Communities (PC) program supports refugee and Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR)-eligible populations with challenging needs that require special attention, including those with serious medical conditions, women at risk, elderly refugees, and those experiencing psychological conditions like trauma resulting from war and other violence.

For vulnerable individuals who may have difficulty navigating U.S. medical and mental care, the Preferred Communities program offers intensive case management to overcome barriers as they acclimate to life in the U.S. and learn to manage the difficulties they face on their own.

IILA partners with U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) to provide services including long-term case management, health and medical interventions, mental health interventions, social adjustment services, and housing assistance.