AWARENESS & TRAINING RESOURCES

Serving Refugee Neighbors

Tucson Refugee Ministry

Access training videos and handouts to help you and your church community build relationships and care for your refugee neighbors. Training covers: The Refugee Journey, Resettlement, Loss Simulation, Communication, Country Overview, Cultural Basics, Prompting Self Sufficiency, Faith and Bridges.

We Welcome Refugees

Resources to help you better understand, talk about, & engage with the Syrian refugee crisis. Access FAQs and articles, learn about the refugee application process, read statistics from UNHCR, view the timeline of the crisis, gain an understanding of how churches can respond, add your voice to those who want our Governors to welcome refugees, find contact information for resettlement agencies in your area, and sign up to receive updates.

Journey With Me – Guide

Online toolkit includes a 90-minute interactive workshop and materials covering biblical reflections, worship resources, children’s materials, stories, resources for sponsors, skits and more.

Status: welcomed

Site includes a 52-week challenge with practical ways to welcome refugees. View videos highlighting the role of hospitality in welcoming refugees.

Helping Communities Heal – Curriculum

David C. Cook has developed a Crisis Response Curriculum for organizations working with refugee children, called “Helping Communities Heal: Refugees”. It is designed to help parents and/or volunteers who serve refugee children with the trauma they have experienced. This short curriculum booklet contains six lessons, including: I Can Trust God, Even Though We Left Our Home; God Listens To My Fears; Someone I Know Died; God Can Heal My Emotions; I Know There Is Life After Death; A Prayer Walk.

Global & Biblical Awareness

International Association for Refugees (IAFR)

The IAFR toolbox offers creative, concise and well-documented ministry resources (documents and multi-media) for use by both novice and seasoned veterans serving forcibly displaced people all along the Refugee Highway. Gain an understanding of the global movement of refugees and guidance for how the Church can respond. These materials are continually updated to help you be well-informed and equipped to effectively break isolation, strengthen community, build capacity, facilitate healing, promote reconciliation, deepen faith and generate hope. There are resources for both church leaders as well as individuals who work with refugees in their neighborhoods and around the world.

React Services

The worldwide effort to bring both humanitarian assistance and relevant exposure to the gospel is staggering, yet it regularly suffers from duplication and lack of coordination. Resources on this page help address how to bring needed partnering and collaboration strategies into work with the vulnerable and least reached.

Religion & Faith

5 Fish

This is a free resource that provides the story of Jesus in more than 6,300 languages/dialects. It is accessible as a mobile app or website.

Catholic Social Services — Migration & Refugee Services (MRS)

Grounded by their belief in Jesus Christ and Catholic teaching, Migration and Refugee Services (MRS) fulfills the commitment of the U.S. Catholic bishops to protect the life and dignity of the human person. They serve and advocate for refugees, asylees, migrants, unaccompanied children, and victims of human trafficking.

Exodus World Service

Exodus World Service mobilizes the Christian community to welcome refugees. They do this by educating churches about refugee ministry, connecting volunteers with newly arriving refugees through practical service projects, and equipping leaders to advocate on behalf of refugees.

JESUS film for Refugees

Many refugees come to America with limited English and other cultural misunderstandings that make it hard to explain to them Christ’s love that compels us to help them. Giving them a JESUS film in their language is an easy way to overcome these language and cultural barriers. Jesus speaks up to 16 languages on most of the JESUS DVDs. The DVDs include the languages of Burmese, Bhutanese, Somalis, Iraqi, Syrian and other refugee groups. To order or learn more visit the website.

The Hub Community

Many Christians want to connect with Muslims in their community to share the love of Christ with them, but often feel lost in the “how?” The “Hub Community Booklet” provides an outline of the Hub Community model — a place where individual Christians who have Muslim friends can connect with each other as a support team. This Hub Community culture is being reproduced and networked in cities across North America, and gives members a time, place, and culture to pray together for their Muslim friends and learn from each other in an open source, peer-mentoring environment. The “Hub Community Booklet” can be requested at the Hub Community website. Coaching is available for those who would like help championing the formation of a community in their area.

Peace Catalyst International (PCI)

Peace Catalyst International (PCI) exists to stimulate peacemaking between individuals and between peoples, and promotes multi-dimensional reconciliation (with God, people, and creation). Because two of the greatest areas of conflict in the world today are between Christians and Muslims and between the West and the Muslim world, PCI gives special priority to these relationships. Their site provides links to many books, websites, and other resources that provide an overview of the theology and practice of peacemaking and the nature of multi-dimensional reconciliation.

U.S. Process & Programs

Bridging Refugee Youth & Children’s Services

Bridging Refugee Youth and Children’s Services (BRYCS) strengthens the capacity of refugee-serving and mainstream organizations across the U.S. to ensure the successful development of refugee children, youth, and their families by increasing information sharing and promoting collaboration at the local, state, regional, and national levels.

Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL)

CAL offers a variety of resources to both help communities welcome and assist refugees and that help refugees to become self-sufficient in their new communities. Materials include: “Refugee Families & Refugee Youth Videos: A New Day; Be Who You Are”, “Welcome to the United States: A Guidebook for Refugees”, “Making Your Way: A Reception and Placement Orientation Curriculum”, “Faces of Resettlement: Refugees in U.S. Communities (Video)”, “Refugees from Syria”.

Government: Bureau of Population, Refugees & Migration (PRM)

The Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration provides aid and sustainable solutions for refugees, victims of conflict and stateless people around the world, through repatriation, local integration, and resettlement in the United States. PRM also promotes the United States’ population and migration policies.

Higher

Higher provides newcomer workforce solutions to corporations across the U.S. while supporting career entry and advancement for resettled refugees and other new Americans. Begun as RefugeeWorks, this program has served as the U.S. Office of Refugee Resettlement’s training and technical assistance arm for employment and self-sufficiency activities for 15 years.

Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR)

The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) helps new populations maximize their potential in the United States by linking them to critical resources that assist them in becoming integrated members of American society.

The Refugee Council USA (RCUSA)

Refugee Council USA (RCUSA), established in 2000, is a coalition of U.S. non-governmental organizations focused on refugee protection.

U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI)

USCRI’s mission is to protect the rights and address the needs of persons in forced or voluntary migration worldwide by advancing fair and humane public policy, facilitating and providing direct professional services, and promoting the full participation of migrants in community life.

U.S. Refugee & Asylum Process

A detailed overview of the U.S. resettlement program and asylee process including recent stats and demographics.

Screening Process for Refugee Entry into the U.S.

This infographic is a step-by-step guide to the rigorous process for refugee entry into the U.S. ‎Refugees undergo more rigorous screening than anyone else allowed into the United States.

Canadian Process & Programs

Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO)

Access publications and information about Canadian refugee law in simple language.

Canadian Council for Refugees

Canada’s national advocacy and information group for refugee related matters provides a lot of relevant information about current issues.

Human Resources and Skills Canada (HRSDC)

HRSDC’s mission is to build a stronger and more competitive Canada, to support Canadians in making choices that help them live productive and rewarding lives, and to improve Canadians’ quality of life.

Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB)

The IRB is Canada’s largest independent administrative tribunal. Its mission, on behalf of Canadians, is to resolve immigration and refugee cases efficiently, fairly and in accordance with the law.

Refugee Sponsorship Training Program (RSTP)

Site provides resources for those interested in sponsoring refugees. Access a free webinar of an overview of the Canadian refugee sponsorship program.

“Ready Guide”

This is a comprehensive and practical guidebook to helps refugee claimants (and service providers) prepare for their refugee hearings. Updated with specific information for six regions of Canada and in 10 languages.

Settlement.org

This site provides newcomers with information and answers to settle in Ontario, Canada. It is funded by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) and the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration.

Toronto Community Housing

This is the largest social housing provider in Canada; providing homes to seniors, families, singles, refugees, recent immigrants and people with special needs with low to moderate incomes.

Global Links & Resources

American Refugee Committee (AFC)

The American Refugee Committee (ARC) is an international nonprofit, nonsectarian organization that has provided humanitarian assistance and training to millions of beneficiaries over the last 35 years. ARC works with refugee communities in 11 countries around the world, helping people regain control of their lives.

Church World Service (CWS)

Church World Services (CWS) provides comprehensive solutions to meet the needs of refugees; whether accompanying them in their journey, ensuring protection from harm and exploitation, helping them to adjust to a new life, or advocating on their behalf for policies that afford them a chance at a better life.

The Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS)

HIAS is the only Jewish organization whose mission is to assist refugees – whoever they are and wherever they are. Around the world, they help refugees find safety and freedom and regain control of their lives. Their work is guided by their Jewish values and historical experience of forced migration.

Human Rights Watch

Established in 1978, Human Rights Watch is known for its accurate fact-finding, impartial reporting, effective use of media, and targeted advocacy, often in partnership with local human rights groups.

International Organization for Migration (IOM)

With 157 member states, a further 10 states holding observer status and offices in over 100 countries, IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing services and advice to governments and migrants.

International Rescue Committee (IRC)

IRC teams provide health care, infrastructure, learning and economic support to people in more than 40 countries, with special programs designed for women and children. They resettle thousands of refugees each year in 26 U.S. cities.

Jubilee Campaign

Jubilee Campaign assists individuals and families seeking asylum in the West from religious based persecution as well as promoting the care and well-being of larger groups of refugees fleeing religious and ethnic persecution.

Refugees International (RI)

Refugees International (RI) is a global, independent advocacy organization that successfully challenges governments, policy makers and administrations to improve the lives of displaced people around the world.

The United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees (UNHCR)

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was established on December 14, 1950 by the United Nations General Assembly. The agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. It strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally or to resettle in a third country. It also has a mandate to help stateless people.