Mr. Chairman, I appreciate this opportunity to appear before you on behalf
of the Department of Health and Human Services to discuss the role of private
organizations in refugee resettlement. As the Director of the office of Refugee
Resettlement, I am responsible for administering the refugee and entrant
assistance program. During the past 3 years this Administration has worked
closely with States and the private sector in focusing attention on the goal of
economic self-sufficiency and social adjustment as soon after a refugee's
arrival in the United States as possible. I would like to share some of the
positive changes we have been able to implement in order to move towards
achieving this goal and discuss some of our experiences in working with private
organizations.
Background
Since 1975, over 2 million refugees have been resettled in the United
States. The major goal of the refugee resettlement program is to provide
assistance to these refugees so that they can achieve economic self-sufficiency
and social adjustment within the shortest time possible following their arrival
in the U.S. For FY 1996, approximately $417 million was available to serve
refugees through five different programs: cash and medical assistance,
employment services, preventive health services, the voluntary agency matching
grant program, and the targeted assistance grant program.
Cash and medical assistance is available to those needy refugees who are not
eligible for other cash or medical assistance programs, such as Aid to Families
with Dependent Children (AFDC), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or Medicaid
and who arrive in the U.S. with no financial resources. This refugee assistance
is paid entirely from federal funds and is available only for 8 months following
arrival in the U.S.
To help refugees become self-supporting as quickly as possible, we also
provide employment services funding to state governments and private, non-profit
agencies which are responsible for providing services, such as English language
and employment training. Refugees receiving cash and medical assistance are
required to be enrolled in employment services and to accept offers of
employment.
In addition, in FY 1996 funds were provided to the Public Health Service to
monitor overseas medical screening for U.S. bound refugees and to provide grants
to state public health departments for preventive health assessment and
treatment services to refugees for protection of the public health against
contagious diseases.
Under the Voluntary Agency Matching Grant Program, agencies match Federal
funds from private funds or in-kind goods and services. During the refugees'
first four months in the U.S., several voluntary resettlement agencies take
responsibility for resettling refugees and assisting them to become
self-sufficient through private initiatives without recourse to public cash
assistance.
The Targeted Assistance Grants program provides additional resources to
communities facing extraordinary resettlement problems because of a high
concentration of refugees and a high use of public assistance by the resident
refugee population. Special efforts are directed to those refugees who depend
upon public assistance.
Recent changes in the program
In 1995, we began sharpening our focus on newer refugee arrivals, stressing
the need to provide refugee-specific, culturally and linguistically appropriate
services. Final regulations were published which, for the first time, directed
states to target refugee specific employment and other social adjustment
services funded by our Social Services and Targeted Assistance programs, to
refugees and entrants who have been in the United States for less than five
years. As a result of this change in direction, major funding shifts have
occurred in the program. For example, in FY 1996, 18 (counties no longer
qualify for Targeted Assistance funds while 15 new counties will receive this
impact aid.
The domestic program also must be able to respond quickly, visibly, and
flexibly in providing refugee-specific services in response to sudden refugee
needs. Our new discretionary initiatives in Preferred Communities and
Unanticipated Arrivals grant programs have had an excellent start. These
initiatives provide timely funding to public and private providers in order to
respond to unforeseen refugee impacts. In addition, in coordination with the
Department of State and the public and private sectors we have begun a review of
refugee placement planning which will be the focus of all effort to improve
placement decisions.
Other initiatives involving private organizations
At the State and local level, there has been a good deal of activity around
creating alternative programs using the "Fish/Wilson" authority. Under this
authority, we develop alternative projects which promote early employment of
refugees.
It provides to States, voluntary resettlement agencies, and others the
opportunity to develop innovative approaches for the provision of cash and
medical assistance, employment services and case management. Some projects were
established when the State government decided not to continue administering the
program, such as in Kentucky, and some projects are being established as
refugee-specific alternatives to categorical aid programs, such as AFDC.
In the Kentucky Fish/Wilson project, administered by Catholic Charities, a
private agency is running the refugee program for the state. Six agencies in
various communities throughout Kentucky are able to continue the vital work of
resettlement. It usually takes less than 70 days to find employable adult
refugees a job at above minimum wage. In nearly half of the cases, these jobs
come with benefits including health care.
The first Fish/Wilson project awarded directly to a private-sector agency
went to a U.S. Catholic Conference (USCC) affiliate in San Diego. This project
serves USCC sponsored new arrivals and provides a range of in-house services
aimed at increasing the rate of refugee self-sufficiency and decreasing the
average length of time on cash assistance. During its first year of operation,
nearly three-quarters of the refugees enrolled in the project became self-sufficient before the end of the 12 months.
I hope I have presented to this committee a concise overview of some of the
changes we have made in the refugee program in conjunction with our State and
private sector partners, along with the highlights of our efforts in working
with voluntary agencies. The opportunity to have this discussion today can
serve as an important first step in the reauthorization process next year.
Along with these changes, we must also keep in mind the potential impact on
refugees of major legislative changes currently under consideration by this
congress, as well as the impact of the numerous welfare reform waivers approved
by this Administration.
As we begin the reauthorization process for FY 1998, one other point is
critical to keep in mind. Any new legislation must be flexible and responsive
to refugee admissions decisions and provide integrated, culturally and
linguistically appropriate services so refugees can become economically
self-sufficient as soon after arrival as possible.
I would be pleased to answer any questions.
