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Who We Serve
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS), Refugee Programs Bureau (RPB) has statewide administrative responsibilities for the Refugee Resettlement Program (RRP) and Cuban/Haitian Entrant Program (CHEP), as well as oversight of the Unaccompanied Refugee Minor Program and the Repatriation Program . These programs are funded 100 percent by the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement and are operated at the local level by county welfare/social services departments.
The RRP/CHEP provides culturally-sensitive and linguistically-appropriate services to assist refugees and other vulnerable populations to adjust socially in the U.S., and attain the skills needed for finding employment and becoming self-sufficient. See our Getting Services page for information on available benefits and services.
Refugees are individuals who have been granted special immigration status ("refugee") by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services while outside the U.S. These refugees are unable to return to their country of origin because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. The definition for refugee also includes individuals who have been subject to or have a well-founded fear of being subject to coercive population control methods such as forced abortion or involuntary sterilization.
Asylees are individuals who are in the U.S., either legally or without documents, and fear that they will be persecuted if they return to their home country. To become an asylee, the person must go through an immigration hearing or court process and granted asylum by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Cuban and Haitian Entrants are nationals of Cuba and Haiti who are in the U.S. and may be determined to be unable to return to their respective countries, and granted a special status by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Human Trafficking Victims are victims of modern-day slavery, which include young children, teenagers, men, and women. Victims of human trafficking are subjected to force, fraud, or coercion, for the purpose of sexual exploitation or forced labor. The Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 made adult victims of severe forms of trafficking who have been certified by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services eligible for benefits and services to the same extent as refugees. The Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2003 made certain family members of trafficking victims also eligible for benefits and services to the same extent as refugees. Victims of severe forms of trafficking who are under 18 years of age are also eligible for benefits to the same extent as refugees but do not need to be certified.
Certain Amerasians from Vietnam who are admitted to the U.S. as immigrants pursuant to Section 584 of the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1988.