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Arizona Refugee Resettlement Program

The Arizona Refugee Resettlement Program (RRP) supports refugees and other eligible beneficiaries with successful transition to life in the United States through transitional benefits and services and the coordination of public and private resources. Knowing the challenges that refugees and eligible beneficiaries face in their resettlement, RRP supports linguistically compatible and culturally responsive service approaches to help ease the burden of transition. RRP contracts with Local Resettlement Agencies (LRA) that welcome refugees upon U.S. arrival and provide them essential services during their first 30 to 90 days, and link them to both longer-term refugee and other eligible beneficiary specific programs that respect their cultures and languages while helping them reach self-sufficiency as quickly as possible, such as Refugee Cash and Medical Assistance, Employment Services, English Language Training, and Case Management; along with other mainstream programs and services.

View the Refugee Arrivals Report. This report is updated monthly and the date last updated is located on the top of the report.

Afghan Nationals Placement and Assistance

The Arizona Refugee Resettlement Program is working with community partners and local organizations to support Afghan Nationals as they resettle in Arizona. The federal Afghan Placement and Assistance Program (APA) provides for the basic needs of the Afghan Nationals evacuated from Afghanistan. Learn more about APA.

Information for Asylees

Information for asylees seeking services supported by Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) is now available on the ORR website.

Welcome Corps

In Arizona, the Welcome Corps concept reflects a new opportunity for refugees to access refugee protection through resettlement and those eager to reunite with family members and friends through the United States Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) process. As word has spread, there has been a wide and growing community interest among Arizonans who want to open their homes and welcome refugees into their communities. This growing interest in Welcome Corps is a culmination of leveraging the knowledge, expertise, and resources of existing community partners and the compassion and commitment of Arizonans to develop a comprehensive and long-term approach to the way Arizona welcomes and supports refugees. The Welcome Corps Resource Guide is a valuable resource for Arizonans who are considering opening their homes to refugees. See the Welcome Corps Resource Guide for more information.

Refugee Eligibility

A "Refugee" is defined in the Immigration and Nationality Act as:

“…any person who is outside any country of such person’s nationality or, in the case of a person having no nationality, is outside any country in which such person last habitually resided, and who is unable or unwilling to return to, and is unable or unwilling to avail himself or herself of the protection of, that country because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.”

Asylees, Cuban / Haitian entrants, Special Immigrant Visa holders, victims of severe forms of human trafficking, and certain Amerasians are among the other humanitarian immigrants eligible for assistance and services under the Refugee Act.

If you have any questions on programs or services for refugees or other eligible beneficiaries, please email RRP.

Programs

Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA)

RCA is a twelve-month maximum, needs-based cash benefit for refugees and other eligible beneficiaries who are not eligible for other cash assistance programs, such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). The twelve months start from the date of the refugee's entry into the U.S. and end on the first day of the thirteenth month after entry. The arrival month is included in the twelve-month count.

Refugees entering Arizona, as a rule, first contact a Voluntary Agency (VOLAG). The VOLAG is responsible for determining eligibility for Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA). The VOLAGs are also responsible for issuing TANF Differential Payment. This is a supplemental payment for refugee households who are not eligible for RCA but receive TANF from the Family Assistance Administration (FAA). The TANF Differential payment is also valid only during the refugee household's first twelve months in the U.S.

VOLAG staff assists the refugee in completing the official Family Assistance Administration (FAA) application when any of the following applies:

  • The VOLAG determines that a refugee household is not eligible for RCA
  • The refugee household may be eligible for Nutrition Assistance (NA), Cash Assistance (CA), or Medical Assistance (MA) programs from FAA

For VOLAG's contact information see Contact Information see Arizona Refugee Resettlement Program Resources - Local Partners.

 

Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA)

RMA is a twelve-month maximum health benefit program for refugees and other eligible beneficiaries who are denied Arizona Medicaid (AHCCCS) upon arrival and who fall below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level, or who have had their Arizona Medicaid coverage terminated due to income from employment that exceeds the Arizona Medicaid income eligibility standards.

RMA also funds coordination of the U.S. Domestic Medical Examination for Newly Arriving Refugees that identifies persons with communicable diseases of potential public health significance, enables refugees to successfully resettle by identifying health conditions that may threaten their wellbeing, and ensures proper follow-up for refugees with medical conditions identified overseas through referrals to medical providers.

View Arizona Refugee Medical Assistance Provider Manual - Updated December 2020

Domestic Medical Examination Service Providers

  • Maricopa County Department of Public Health
    1645 E Roosevelt St.
    Phoenix, AZ 85006
    (602) 372-1013

Refugee Health Promotion (RHP)

The purpose of RHP is to improve the health of refugees through health literacy initiatives and connecting refugees and other eligible beneficiaries to health service providers.   

The Refugee Health Promotion Program is coordinated through the Arizona Refugee Resettlement Program and services are provided through the Maricopa Integrated Health System in Maricopa County and University of Arizona’s Tucson Family Advocacy Program in Pima County.

Contact Information

  • DES Refugee Resettlement Program
    (602) 542-4446 extension 4
  • Valleywise Health
    2601 E. Roosevelt Street
    Phoenix, Arizona 85008
    (602) 344-2542

Multilingual Disability Resources for Refugees and Other Eligible Beneficiaries in Arizona

English Resource Guides

Spanish Resource Guides

Arabic Resource Guides

Burmese Resource Guides

Dari Resource Guides

Kinyarwanda Resource Guides

Swahili Resource Guides

English Language Training (ELT)

English Language Training (ELT) for refugees and those who qualify focuses on English skills necessary for obtaining and maintaining employment and is consistent with national Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) standards.

Service Providers

Unaccompanied Refugee Minors (URM) Program

The U.S. Department of State and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services identify refugee children from birth to age 18 who are without a parent/guardian and are eligible for resettlement in the U.S as an unaccompanied refugee minor. Upon arrival in the U.S., these refugee children are placed into the URM program to receive safe and nurturing foster care placement along with other services and benefits.

The Unaccompanied Refugee Minors Program is currently coordinated through Catholic Charities.

Contact Information

Catholic Charities
(602) 997-6105

Case Management and Employment Services

Case management and employment services that respect the cultures and languages of refugees are provided to help refugees successfully resettle in the U.S. and achieve self-sufficiency as quickly as possible. These services are linked to initial Reception and Placement Services and can be available for up to five years from an eligible beneficiary’s arrival or grant of legal status in the U.S. (services are prioritized based on statutorily defined categories of need).

Services Providers

Phoenix
  • Catholic Charities, Community Services
    (602) 997-6105
  • International Rescue Committee
    (602) 433-2440        
  • Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest
    (602) 248-4400 Ext. 114
  • Arizona Immigrant & Refugee Services
    (602) 944-1821    
Tucson
  • Catholic Community Services of Southern Arizona
    (520) 623-0344
  • International Rescue Committee
    (520) 319-2128
  • Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest
    (520) 721-4444
  • Jewish Family and Children's Services
    (520) 795-0300

 

Refugee School Impact (RSI) Program

The RSI Program addresses educational needs of refugee children in Arizona public schools through culturally appropriate and language sensitive services that are designed to help refugee children culturally adjust and meet or exceed Arizona’s academic standards.  Supports through this program are available to refugee students for up to three years after arrival in the U.S.  Services are provided directly by schools, along with the support of two refugee school liaisons, one in Maricopa County and one in Pima County.

Coordination Services Providers

  • The International Rescue Committee (Phoenix)
    (602) 433-2440
  • Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest
    (520) 721-4444

Services for Older Refugees

Educational and case management services and socio-cultural opportunities for older refugees (60 years of age and older), including assistance with acquiring U.S. Citizenship, are available until U.S. citizenship is achieved.

Service Providers

 

AmeriCorps VISTA Project

The Arizona RRP works in partnership with AmeriCorps VISTA to support non-profit agencies in central and southern Arizona with creating and developing sustainable projects that promote and enhance effective refugee resettlement and integration. The projects range in scope from job preparation and prevention programs to naturalization preparation.

Contact Information

DES Refugee Resettlement Program
(480) 647-2309

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