Resource Finder

Church World Service (CWS) and Foundation Hope Ayiti partner to offer virtual Lakou Tanama healing spaces for Haitian community members in the U.S. These Haitian-led, evidence-based community mental health spaces invite open, honest dialogue about healing from trauma and supporting one another, and are held in Haitian Kreyòl. The spaces are free and open to Haitian community members age 18 and older. Service providers can read more on the CWS page, which also lists contact information for questions and partnerships, but the spaces themselves are reserved for Haitian community members.

This practice alert and template from the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) (October 2026) explains that USCIS may conduct neighborhood visits for naturalization applicants and has discretion to waive them, and that new guidance invites applicants to submit two character reference letters for that purpose. These letters are not required to be eligible for naturalization. ILRC provides a sample letter for writers to adapt, and notes that people without lawful immigration status should consult a legal worker before writing one.

This community explainer from the National Immigration Project (published August 2026) offers practical steps for protecting pets if a family member is detained by immigration enforcement.

This guide from the National Immigration Law Center (NILC) helps eligible voters, including naturalized citizens, vote safely in federal elections in the 2026 midterms and beyond. It explains who is eligible to vote in federal elections, states that harassment or intimidation that keeps eligible people from voting is against the law, and shares what to do if you see interference at a polling site.

Alma is a free virtual assistant created by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) to help refugees, Special Immigrant Visa holders, and other newcomers get reliable answers about life in the United States, anytime through WhatsApp. It can guide users on public benefits and social services, employment, financial literacy and housing counseling, rights and responsibilities, documentation, and local services. Alma is a chatbot, not a person or legal advisor, but it can point users to next steps and trusted resources.

This toolkit from Switchboard and Refugee Housing Solutions gives resettlement and service provider staff the knowledge and tools to help newcomers find and keep stable housing. It includes a Housing Needs Assessment, guidance on managing housing expectations, and tips for setting housing goals with clients. It comes with a Newcomer Housing Stability Assessment Tool, plus FAQs, a resource list, and a scoring summary sheet to guide next steps.

Hear directly from survivors of labor trafficking in this video playlist from Framework, a former project of the International Rescue Committee dedicated to giving service providers tools to combat labor trafficking. Through first-person testimonies and stories, survivors share their experiences of trafficking in industries such as agriculture, restaurants, traveling sales, and household work. They also offer their ideas on how providers can create tailored outreach campaigns that reach people at risk.

This archived Switchboard webinar (hosted September 2, 2026) explores how food insecurity affects newcomers' health, family stability, and success at school and work. Presenters from Switchboard and the International Rescue Committee share culturally responsive, trauma-informed strategies, including financial assistance programs, meal services, community gardens, and community partnerships. The session does not cover eligibility barriers to food assistance. Slides and a transcript are available.

Newcomers’ housing challenges reflect the ongoing housing crisis in the United States. Newcomers to the U.S. enter a housing system that is already lacking affordable housing and burdening renters with high costs, leading many refugee clients to face a risk of homelessness. Shelters and emergency housing can offer a critical bridge to stability during a vulnerable period.

This page from the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) gathers outreach materials for Coverage Ambassadors, including the Medi-Cal Changes Toolkit, guidance on choosing a Medi-Cal health or dental plan, and information on why Medi-Cal matters to families. It also links to Medi-Cal for Kids & Teens brochures (free health care for children up to age 21) in 19 languages, plus videos on income requirements and renewals.

This page from the Elk Grove Unified School District (EGUSD) collects family brochures for its Newcomer Welcome Centers in Chinese, Dari, English, Hmong, Pashto, Punjabi, Spanish, and Vietnamese. The brochures help newcomer families learn about the centers and the support they offer, and a QR code on the page links to the full set.

This guide from the California Health and Human Services Agency (CalHHS) helps individuals and families understand the federal public charge rule that took effect September 18, 2026. The rule changes how certain public benefits are considered when the federal government decides whether someone is likely to rely on government support, which can affect immigration status. It explains that the rule does not apply to everyone and encourages people to seek advice from a qualified immigration legal service provider.

Supporting newcomers can feel overwhelming when you are navigating it alone—especially as policies shift and complex regulations continue to evolve. When you join the Welcome.US Haiti or Ukraine affinity groups, you’re connecting with fellow Welcomers who share your commitment to helping Haitian and Ukrainian newcomers and families thrive. These communities provide the space to connect, learn from fellow Welcomers, and turn shared goals into coordinated action.

This free, self-paced Switchboard course (about 60 minutes) introduces a strengths-based approach that sees clients as capable, resourceful, and resilient. Caseworkers, case managers, and employment specialists learn to apply strengths-based strategies in client meetings, identify client strengths and community resources, and empower clients to reach their goals. This version is approved for ASWB continuing education (CE) credit.

This self-paced Switchboard course (about 75 minutes) helps career navigators and employment staff strengthen career pathway programs for newcomers by building institutional partnerships. Learners practice mapping key stakeholders, researching and choosing potential partners, and developing strategic partnerships that combine shared strengths to solve common challenges.

Safespace is a weekly online support group for Ukrainians building a new life in the U.S. Sessions are led by a psychologist and coach. It's a warm, safe space to talk about stress, uncertainty, change, and everyday challenges, alongside people who are going through something similar. Each month has one theme. The first session of each month is free and open to everyone. The next three go deeper, with hands-on practice in the same small group: exercises, reflection, and tools for everyday life.

Switchboard's free online self-paced course, Introduction to Adult Education Principles, introduces the core principles of adult learning alongside evidence-based instructional strategies tailored to adult students. You will learn how to incorporate these principles and strategies into your adult learning facilitation within the context of newcomer service provision.

This one-page flyer from the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) shares five key reminders about constitutional rights when confronted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). It reinforces that everyone in the U.S. has rights regardless of immigration status, and it is easy to print and share with community members.

This FAQ from the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) answers common member questions about the January 1, 2027 move from a Medi-Cal health plan to Fee-for-Service Medi-Cal. It helps members understand how to keep their coverage, how to find doctors and clinics that accept Medi-Cal FFS, and where to get help.

This fact sheet from the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) explains that, starting January 1, 2027, some Medi-Cal members will move from a Medi-Cal health plan to Fee-for-Service (FFS) Medi-Cal, where Medi-Cal pays providers directly. Members keep their coverage if they renew on time and do not pay co-pays. It encourages members to ask their doctor or clinic if they accept Medi-Cal FFS, watch for mail about the change, and call the Medi-Cal Help Line (1-800-541-5555) with questions.

This report by immigration scholar Sophia Rodriguez, PhD, in partnership with the National Immigration Law Center (NILC), looks at how increased ICE activity near public schools affects students, staff, and families. It describes a culture of fear, serious stress for students at risk of family separation, and a "chilling effect" that can lower attendance and enrollment. It also highlights steps schools and communities can take, such as safety protocols for arrival and dismissal, expanded legal aid, and treating schools as protected spaces.

This two-page resource from Immigrant Connections (dated September 8, 2026) helps educators and school staff understand and respond when changes to Temporary Protected Status (TPS) affect students and their families. It explains what TPS is, clarifies that losing TPS does not automatically mean deportation, and describes what families may face, including loss of work, health insurance, and housing stability. It lists signs that may show up at school and offers four practical steps: respect privacy, listen, empathize, and connect families to resources. Three case examples, reflection questions, and a reminder that a student's right to attend school does not depend on immigration status round out the guide, and it lists the countries whose students and families may be affected.

This updated backgrounder from Switchboard gives resettlement and other service providers historical, political, and cultural background to better understand and support Congolese refugees in the U.S. It covers topics like cultural adjustment, faith and family life, and the long-running displacement crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, along with practical tips for providers. It stresses that the guidance is general and should be adapted to each client.

This backgrounder from Switchboard offers historical, political, and cultural context to help service providers better understand Guinean newcomers arriving in the U.S. It is designed to support Cultural Orientation and other services from initial and local resettlement providers, and explains how decades of political instability in Guinea shape the reasons many people seek asylum. It is general guidance, so staff are encouraged to adapt their support to each client.

This guide from SettleIn US explains that, by law, no one can be turned away from medical care because they do not speak English, and free interpretation must be provided by clinics that receive federal funding. It walks through exactly how to request an interpreter, including the phrase "No English, I speak ___," and explains why a child should never be asked to interpret for a family member.