Resource Finder

This FAQ from Switchboard answers common questions service providers have about using artificial intelligence (AI) in their work with newcomers. It covers whether AI tools are safe to use with client information, the importance of transparency and consent when using AI with clients, and where to find additional guidance on evaluating AI tools responsibly.

DetentionHelp is a free tool built by nonprofits that helps people in immigration detention, and their loved ones, prepare a habeas corpus petition requesting release from a federal court, without needing a lawyer. The tool walks users through creating a ready-to-print legal document and offers guidance on next steps, including how to request a court-appointed attorney.

This blog post from Switchboard offers practical strategies for helping newcomer clients prevent unnecessary health care bills and know what to do once a bill arrives. It emphasizes that bills should never be ignored, and shares tips for confirming insurance coverage, setting up payment plans, and connecting clients with local organizations that can help with medical costs.

This archived Switchboard webinar explores how organizations in three U.S. locations use community health workers (CHWs) and patient navigators to help clients with a preferred language other than English access health care. Presenters share strategies for building trust, connecting with public health initiatives, and bridging gaps between communities and the health care system.

Developed with Leah's Pantry, this blog post from Switchboard helps service providers confidently talk about food and nutrition with newcomers, without needing to be a nutrition expert. It highlights how factors like stress, sleep, and food access affect health alongside diet, and honors newcomers' traditional eating habits while sharing tools like EatFresh.org for finding culturally relevant recipes.

In this webinar, attorneys from the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) cover key travel considerations for noncitizens, with a focus on undocumented individuals and those with temporary relief. Topics include domestic travel after the REAL ID compliance deadline, navigating airport security and privacy, and using Advance Parole for travel.

This video explains that ICE has been arresting some noncitizens during domestic air travel, even those with a valid work permit or Social Security number. It highlights who may be at higher risk, including people who are undocumented, have prior removal orders, or have pending immigration applications, and recommends consulting an immigration attorney or DOJ Accredited Representative before traveling.

This guide from the Asian Law Caucus explains what to expect and how to prepare when traveling through U.S. airports, whether domestically or internationally. It covers rights during searches and questioning, including the ability to opt out of photos or body scans, request a private search, and keep religious head coverings on, plus what to do if detained or denied entry.

This community alert from the National Immigration Law Center (NILC) explains how immigration officials are using passenger information to arrest travelers at U.S. airports, including people with pending applications, expired status, or old deportation orders. It offers travel safety tips to help people understand their risk level and prepare before flying, and recommends speaking with an immigration lawyer about individual circumstances.

This micro-lesson shows service providers how to search Support Guide's Provider Directory to refer clients to the right services, and how to add or update their own agency's listing. It's a quick, practical resource for anyone who regularly connects clients with local service providers.

This micro-lesson walks through how to filter Support Guide's Resource Finder by topic, audience, and county to quickly locate the right resource for a client or family. It also covers how to add a resource, making it a useful tool for both finding and contributing to the shared resource library.

This short micro-lesson introduces Support Guide, the CANP hub for finding and sharing services for refugees and other ORR-eligible newcomers. It's a quick way for new users, whether service providers or community members, to get oriented to the platform and understand how it can support their work.

This August newsletter from Support Guide highlights the platform's growing Resource Finder, with fresh picks on topics like cultural adjustment, language access, and self-care. It also includes new micro-lessons for a quick tour of Support Guide's tools and a reminder to complete the ongoing disaster readiness surveys for community members, service providers, and emergency response organizations.

This guide from Switchboard summarizes the range of federally funded benefits and services available to refugees and other humanitarian immigrants through the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). It covers cash and medical assistance, employment services, English language instruction, and other supports available to families with children, adults, older adults, and individuals with disabilities.

This guide from Switchboard outlines the key rules governing Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA), distinguishing between requirements set by federal regulation and areas where states have flexibility to shape their own programs. It serves as a comprehensive reference for understanding where states must comply with uniform federal rules and where they can adapt RCA to local needs.

This blog post from Switchboard explains recent legislative changes affecting Medicaid, CHIP, and other health coverage programs for newcomers, following passage of the Working Families Tax Cut. It walks through what the changes mean for eligibility and identifies six alternative health services and supports newcomers may still qualify for, including Emergency Medicaid.

This trauma-informed blog post from Switchboard offers practical strategies for supporting newcomer clients through program disruptions caused by funding uncertainty or policy changes. It emphasizes safety, transparency, and collaboration, with specific guidance on preparing clients in advance, ensuring continuity of care, and acknowledging the emotional toll disruptions can take on both clients and staff.

This blog post from Switchboard offers strategies for state-level actors and service providers working through transitions in how refugee services are administered. Drawing on conversations with states that have navigated similar changes, it covers ways to manage change, preserve service continuity, and build organizational readiness during periods of transition.

This blog post from Switchboard offers practical strategies for capturing institutional knowledge and sustaining teams during periods of staff transition. It covers ways to prepare for leadership changes, like cross-training staff, pairing newer team members with experienced mentors, and building clear plans for who takes on key duties when someone departs.

This archived Switchboard webinar offers crisis prevention strategies and outlines the core actions of de-escalation to help service providers support clients experiencing high emotional distress. It's especially useful for staff working with newcomers who have experienced trauma or prolonged stress that can resurface after resettlement.

Developed with research from Boston College's School of Social Work, this guide from Switchboard explains key concepts of grief-related distress among newcomer Afghan youth. It offers best practices for supporting both adolescents and their caregivers as they process loss and adjust to life after resettlement.

This guide from Switchboard offers tools and best practices for addressing the mental health and psychosocial support needs of newcomers. It is designed to help service providers recognize common challenges, respond in culturally sensitive ways, and connect clients with appropriate care and resources throughout the resettlement process.

This blog post from Switchboard breaks down recent federal changes to Employment Authorization Documents (EADs), including the end of automatic extensions and shorter validity periods for many categories. It offers practical strategies for service providers, like tracking clients' EAD expiration dates early, coordinating across departments, and partnering with trusted immigration legal experts to help keep clients employed and connected to services.

This guide from SettleIn US explains why every household should have an emergency kit ready, since disasters like storms or earthquakes can cut off electricity, water, food, and communication for days or weeks. It lists the essential items to pack, from a three-day supply of food and water to a first aid kit, flashlight, important documents, and cash, so families can stay prepared no matter what happens.

This guide from SettleIn US explains the difference between heat exhaustion and the more severe heat stroke, along with the warning signs of each. It offers practical prevention tips, like staying hydrated, wearing light-colored clothing, limiting time in direct sun, and finding a cooling center, with special attention to protecting infants, older adults, and those with existing health conditions.