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Resource Finder

Resources for California Newcomers

There are numerous resources out there, but finding the ones you need, when you need them can be a daunting task. We've curated a list of the most helpful links and resources for California newcomers, and the caseworkers and community members who support them.

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Trafficking and Crime Victims Assistance Program (TCVAP) Information Session

The TCVAP provides cash assistance, food benefits, health care, employment services, and other social services to support eligible noncitizen survivors of human trafficking, domestic violence, and other serious crimes. To learn more about TCVAP, the RPB will be hosting these information sessions quarterly. We encourage you to attend a session. Please find below the dates, times, and registration links for each session. July 28, 2026, 10-11 a.m. https://cdss.us13.list-manage.com/track/click? u=e40fc0e5159d0fea2d2d0dd2b&id=4b22cf4281&e=89b9f6e609 October 6, 2026, 10-11 a.m. https://cdss.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e40fc0e5159d0fea2d2d0dd2b&id=7b3a5cbdc2&e=89b9f6e609

Source:

CDSS - Refugee Programs Bureau

Best for:

Service Providers

Emergency Response Guide for Educators of Immigrant-origin Students

This guide outlines school policies in California, ideas from the field, crafting a school plan, supporting students and immigrant families, and Sacramento information.

Source:

Sacramento Region Refugee Coalition

Best for:

Service Providers, Clients & Community

Five Early Ways to Respond to Newcomer Youth Mental and Behavioral Health Concerns

This tip sheet provides practical guidance for service providers and caregivers, such as foster parents. It focuses on supporting the mental and behavioral health of newcomer teens and emerging adults, including youth in the Unaccompanied Refugee Minor (URM) program. This guidance is not a clinical or diagnostic tool. Instead, it encourages noticing changes, listening with curiosity, and offering supportive first responses when a youth shares a concern.

Source:

Switchboard

Best for:

Service Providers

Choosing the Right Media for Newcomer
Programming

Caseworkers often spend valuable time walking clients through the same basic processes again and again. Multimedia resources, like short videos, allow service providers to communicate more efficiently by replacing repetitive, time‑consuming one‑on‑one explanations with accessible and scalable resources. Creating a brief tutorial once in an accessible format and sharing it broadly ensures information is delivered consistently while freeing up staff time. Videos, in particular, allow clients to access information when it’s convenient for them and are especially effective for individuals with lower literacy or limited English proficiency. By integrating multimedia into newcomer programming, you can expand capacity, improve clarity, and devote your energy to more intensive case needs.

Source:

Switchboard

Best for:

Service Providers

Demystifying Strengths-Based Services: Fostering Refugees’ Resilience in Resettlement

Recognizing the inherent strengths of refugee individuals, families, and communities is an important starting point for health, social work, and human service professionals. This brief information guide aims to equip those working in U.S. refugee resettlement with evidence-informed strategies to deliver strengths-based programming.

Source:

Switchboard

Best for:

Service Providers

Introduction to Strengths-Based Services

Switchboard's free online self-paced course, Introduction to Strengths-Based Services, introduces a strengths-based approach to services that recognizes clients as capable, resourceful, and resilient. You will learn how to incorporate these principles into your work to empower clients to achieve their goals as they build a life in the United States.

Source:

Switchboard

Best for:

Service Providers

Navigating Difficult Conversations with Newcomers

Offers concrete, trauma-informed strategies for preparing for, managing, and recovering from high-stakes interactions with clients—whether you're sharing disappointing news, setting boundaries, or navigating a language or cultural barrier.

Source:

Switchboard

Best for:

Service Providers

Newcomer Housing Funding Strategies Toolkit: Solutions for Housing Stability in Refugee Housing Initiatives

This resource explores diverse funding sources for newcomer housing, ranging from governmental grants and private donations to community initiatives and partnerships with housing authorities. These avenues offer tailored opportunities to support newcomer housing initiatives as they include funding for vital areas such as affordable housing development, emergency housing shelter assistance, and supportive housing programs.

Source:

Switchboard, Refugee Housing Solutions

Best for:

Service Providers

Welcome to Your New Home: A Simple Guide for Home Maintenance

Resettlement agency staff can use this guide as part of their housing orientation curriculum to educate newcomers about key home maintenance topics. English - https://www.switchboardta.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Written-Resource-Home-Maintenance-Toolkit.pdf Arabic - https://www.switchboardta.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Arabic-SB_Welcome-to-Your-New-Home-20260424.pdf Burmese - https://www.switchboardta.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Burmese-SB_Welcome-to-Your-New-Home-20260424.pdf Dari - https://www.switchboardta.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Dari-SB_Welcome-to-Your-New-Home-20260424.pdf Haitian Creole - https://www.switchboardta.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Haitian-SB_Welcome-to-Your-New-Home-20260424.pdf Kinyarwanda - https://www.switchboardta.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Kinyarwanda-SB_Welcome-to-Your-New-Home-20260424.pdf Pashto - https://www.switchboardta.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Pashto-SB_Welcome-to-Your-New-Home-20260424.pdf Russian - https://www.switchboardta.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Russ-SB_Welcome-to-Your-New-Home-20260424.pdf Spanish - https://www.switchboardta.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Spanish-SB_Welcome-to-Your-New-Home-20260424.pdf Ukranian - https://www.switchboardta.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/UKR-SB_Welcome-to-Your-New-Home-20260424.pdf Swahili - https://www.switchboardta.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Swahili-SB_Welcome-to-Your-New-Home-20260424.pdf

Source:

Switchboard, Settle In

Best for:

Service Providers


Understanding Emotional Well-Being, Part 2

From Awareness to Action: Finding Balance in Daily Life Upcoming supportive discussion group, "Understanding Emotional Well-Being, Part 2: From Awareness to Action: Finding Balance in Daily Life." This session is designed to support community members with practical ways to manage daily stress and strengthen overall well-being. See flyers: Pashto (https://52c3ee85-2c5f-4870-a5e4-0a4f3981d84d.usrfiles.com/ugd/52c3ee_b9ac35b6c1264978aab9d8fe473ef4ec.pdf) Dari (https://52c3ee85-2c5f-4870-a5e4-0a4f3981d84d.usrfiles.com/ugd/52c3ee_213ce2c7b2274567b0b610de221af452.pdf).

Source:

Muslim American Society

Best for:

Clients & Community

California DMV Flashcards

Self‑paced flashcards to help prepare for the California DMV written test.

Source:

Jen Barkley

Best for:

Clients & Community

CANP: Resource Roundup

Newsletter that shares community updates, announcements, and important information relevant to for California newcomers, and the caseworkers and community members who support them.

Source:

Support Guide

Best for:

Service Providers, Government Staff

CANP: February Resource Release

Newsletter that shares community updates, announcements, and important information relevant to for California newcomers, and the caseworkers and community members who support them.

Source:

Support Guide

Best for:

Government Staff, Service Providers

CANP: March Resource Release

Newsletter that shares community updates, announcements, and important information relevant to for California newcomers, and the caseworkers and community members who support them.

Source:

Support Guide

Best for:

Service Providers, Government Staff

CANP: April Resource Release

Newsletter that shares community updates, announcements, and important information relevant to for California newcomers, and the caseworkers and community members who support them.

Source:

Support Guide

Best for:

Service Providers, Government Staff

Find Your Local Rapid Response Hotline

This California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice tool helps individuals quickly find their local rapid response hotline. These hotlines provide immediate support during immigration enforcement, including legal referrals, accompaniment, and community advocacy.

Source:

California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice

Best for:

Everyone, Clients & Community, Service Providers

Regional Network Hubs for Immigrant Families

Created by the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, this resource connects immigrant families to regional network hubs across California. These hubs coordinate legal services, community education, and referrals tailored to local needs.

Source:

Immigrant Legal Resource Center

Best for:

Everyone, Clients & Community

Referral Lists for Immigration Attorneys

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) offers statewide referral lists of nonprofit and low‑cost immigration attorneys and legal service providers. This resource helps individuals find qualified legal assistance throughout California.

Source:

California Department of Social Services (CDSS) 

Best for:

Service Providers, Government Staff, Clients & Community

For Afghan Community Members in Dari: Green Card Interview – What to Expect (Part 2)

Part two of Pars Equality Center’s Dari‑language series walks Afghan applicants through what to expect during their green card interview. It explains how interviews are conducted, common questions, and how applicants can prepare emotionally and practically.

Source:

Pars Equality Center

Best for:

Government Staff, Clients & Community, Service Providers

For Afghan Community Members in Dari: Green Card Interview Preparation – Part 1

This Dari‑language resource from Pars Equality Center explains how Afghan community members can prepare for the Adjustment of Status (green card) process. It focuses on required documents, application steps, and helpful tips to avoid common mistakes.

Source:

Pars Equality Center

Best for:

Government Staff, Service Providers, Clients & Community

For Lawyers: Toolkit for Refugee Re-vetting and Adjustment of Status Interview Preparation

This IRAP toolkit is designed for legal professionals assisting refugees with re‑vetting processes and Adjustment of Status interviews. It includes interview preparation tips, legal considerations, and best practices to help ensure refugees are well prepared for these critical immigration steps.

Source:

International Refugee Assistance Project

Best for:

Service Providers, Government Staff

For Lawyers: Rapid Response to Feb. 18 DHS Memo

Provided by Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC), this legal advisory helps immigration attorneys understand and respond to the Department of Homeland Security’s February 18 memo. It outlines policy implications and offers practice guidance for representing impacted clients.

Source:

Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC)

Best for:

Service Providers, Government Staff

Rapid Response Network Hotlines Across the U.S.

This resource compiles Rapid Response Network hotlines from across the United States that individuals can call if they experience or witness immigration enforcement. These hotlines typically offer real-time support, legal referrals, and community-based follow‑up during ICE activity.

Source:

National Association for Public Defense

Best for:

Service Providers, Clients & Community, Everyone, Government Staff

Request a Copy of Your U.S. Refugee Application

Developed by the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP), this resource explains how refugees can request a copy of their original U.S. refugee application. Access to this information can be important for immigration applications, legal reviews, and correcting errors in government records.

Source:

International Refugee Assistance Project

Best for:

Clients & Community, Everyone, Service Providers

ICE Detainee Locator

The ICE Detainee Locator is a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement online system that allows family members, advocates, and legal representatives to find individuals currently in ICE detention. Searches can be conducted using biographical information or an alien registration number (A‑Number).

Source:

U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement

Best for:

Clients & Community, Everyone, Service Providers, Government Staff

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