 Preferred Communities
Program Goal
To support the resettlement of newly arriving refugees in Preferred Communities where they have ample opportunities for early employment and sustained economic independence and, to address special populations who need intensive case management, culturally and linguistically appropriate linkages and coordination with other service providers to improve their access to services.
General Background
This program has been in existence since the early 1990’s and provides resettlement services to newly arrived refugees in Preferred Communities where refugees have the best opportunities for integration and support for populations who have special needs.
Program Description
The purpose and objectives of this program are to support the resettlement of newly arriving refugees with the best opportunities for their self-sufficiency and integration into new communities, and to support refugees with special needs that require more intensive case management. There are two types of Preferred Communities programs for the purpose of this grant. The first type of Preferred Communities program should expect to receive a minimum of 100 new refugees annually. The second type of Preferred Communities program will expect to receive a proposed number of cases that will need intensive case management. If the Preferred Community plans to focus resources on special needs cases, a history of its qualifications and experience with serving special needs cases should be provided.
Eligible Applicants
Ten national voluntary agencies that currently resettle refugees under a Reception and Placement Cooperative Agreement with the Department of State or with the Department of Homeland Security. The Preferred Communities program is restricted to these agencies because placements of new arrivals occur under the terms of the cooperative agreements, and no other agencies place new arrivals or participate in determining their resettlement sites.
The ten eligible applicants are the following: Church World Service, Inc.; Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society; Ethiopian Community Development Council, Inc.; Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, Inc.; International Rescue Committee; Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service; State of Iowa; US Conference of Catholic Bishops; US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants; and World Relief Corporation.
Target Population
Newly Arrived Refugees
Geographic Areas
Currently funded areas
States |
Preferred Community Sites |
|---|---|
| Arizona | Phoenix and Tucson |
| Florida | Jacksonville and St. Augustine |
| California | Los Angeles and San Diego |
| Colorado | Denver |
| Georgia | Atlanta |
| Idaho | Boise , Treasure Valley, and Twin Falls |
| Illinois | Aurora, Chicago, and DuPage |
| Iowa | Des Moines |
| Kansas | Kansas City |
| Kentucky | Bowling Green |
| Maryland | Baltimore , Silver Spring, and Takoma Park |
| Massachusetts | West Springfield |
| Michigan | Dearborn and Grand Rapids |
| Minnesota | Minneapolis |
| Nebraska | Omaha |
| New Jersey | Camden |
| New Mexico | Albuquerque |
| New York | Albany , Buffalo, and Syracuse |
| North Carolina | New Bern and Raleigh |
| Ohio | Akron and Columbus |
| Pennsylvania | Erie , Lancaster, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh |
| South Dakota | Sioux Falls |
| Tennessee | Chattanooga , Knoxville, and Nashville |
| Texas | Abilene , Amarillo, Dallas, Ft. Worth, and Houston |
| Vermont | Barre and Colchester |
| Virginia | Richmond |
| Washington | Spokane |
| Wisconsin | Milwaukee |
Current Grantees
Grantee |
Award |
|---|---|
| Church World Service, Inc. | $250,000 |
| Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society | $164,351 |
| Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society | $280,000 |
| Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society | $294,628 |
| Ethiopian Community Development Council, Inc. | $367,500 |
| Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society | $320,000 |
| International Rescue Committee | $130,000 |
| International Rescue Committee | $243,082 |
| Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service | $337,706 |
| Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service | $300,000 |
| US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants | $320,000 |
| US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants | $220,000 |
| US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants | $218,391 |
| US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants | $80,000 |
| United States Conference of Catholic Bishops | $835,718 |
| World Relief Corporation | $315,145 |
Forms
Applicable forms for grant application submission can be found at this web address: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/open
Resources
Technical assistance providers
Web address: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/orr/resources/tech_asst_providers.htm
Funding Opportunities (Program Announcement)
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/open/HHS-2008-ACF-ORR-RP-0112.html
Contact Information
Susan Benjamin
Project Officer
Office of Refugee Resettlement
Administration for Children and Families
901 D Street, SW
Washington, DC 20447
Phone: 202.401.4851
Fax: 202.401.5487
Susan.Benjamin@acf.hhs.gov