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1991.09.11 :  Annual Report on the Refugee Resettlement Program

Contact:  Larry Dye (202) 401-9215
September 11, 1991

        In releasing the Annual Report to Congress on the Refugee
Resettlement Program, HHS Secretary Louis W. Sullivan, M.D.,
announced that a record 122,000 refugees were admitted into the
United States during 1990.  
        "Refugees come to America fleeing persecution based upon
their race, religion, nationality or political opinion.  Many
have never lived under a political system that recognizes the
rights and aspirations of individual citizens," Secretary
Sullivan said.  "America continues to be a haven of hope for
people fleeing repression. I am proud that the United States
remains committed to 
assisting refugees in their quest for freedom and self-sufficiency."
        Since 1975, the United States has admitted over 1.4 million
refugees.  The 122,000 refugees and Amerasians (children with a
Vietnamese mother and American father) admitted in FY 1990 was an
increase of 15,000 from the 107,000 admitted in FY 1989.  The
largest group--49,802--came from the Soviet Union.  Others included
41,021 from Vietnam, 8,719 from Laos, 4,849 from Cuba, 4,085 from
Romania, 3,113 from Ethiopia and 3,101 from Iran.
        "Our resettlement efforts help refugees to build a new life
in the United States as soon as possible after their arrival here,"
said Jo Anne B. Barnhart, assistant secretary for children and
families.  "We recognize that refugees often have special problems. 
Many have difficulty speaking or understanding English, and some
lack the kind of skills necessary to find and maintain employment.
Last year, nearly 25,000 refugees found work through employment
services funded by our resettlement programs."
     HHS provides funds to states for cash and medical assistance
to needy refugees during their initial months in the United States. 
States are also awarded funds to support a broad range of social
services.  These are critical for the development of the basic
skills and knowledge necessary to achieve economic security.
        "The Office of Refugee Resettlement's efforts do not end
with the initial assistance and employment services provided to
newly arrived refugees,"  said Chris Gersten, director, Office of
Refugee Resettlement in the Administration for Children and
Families.  "We follow their progress to ensure that refugee
communities with exceptional problems are provided with additional
help.  Over the past several years, we've established special
programs for refugee communities with high rates of welfare
dependency, and that commitment has led to increased employment and
improved opportunities."

     Recent ORR initiatives include:
     o    The Planned Secondary Resettlement Program, which
          provides unemployed refugees and their families the
          opportunity to relocate from areas of high welfare
          dependency to communities that offer favorable employment
          prospects.  More than 1,500 refugees relocated under this
          program are now fully employed.  On average, in just nine
          months the relocation costs were offset by the
          elimination of welfare payments to these families.

     o    The Key States Initiative, which provides financial
          support to states to implement strategies that increase
          employment in refugee communities with high welfare
          dependency.  States have adopted a number of innovative
          techniques, such as funding local ethnic service
          organizations for aggressive job development, providing
          agencies with bonuses for early employment of their
          clients and using refugee community leaders to motivate
          welfare recipients.  To date, KSI has placed over 3,800
          refugees into employment and saved $3.25 million over its
          costs due to welfare grant terminations.  

     The report is available from the Administration for Children
and Families, ORR, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, S.W., Washington, D.C. 
20447.

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