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Arizona Refugee Resettlement Program

The Arizona Refugee Resettlement Program (RRP) supports refugees and other federal Office of Refugee Resettlement-eligible beneficiaries with a successful transition to life in the United States through transitional benefits, services, and the coordination of public and private resources. Knowing the challenges that refugees and eligible beneficiaries face in their resettlement, RRP supports linguistically and culturally responsive service approaches to help ease the burden of the transition.

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

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 contact the Refugee Resettlement Program.

Programs

Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA)

RCA is a four-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 four months start from the date of the refugee's grant of qualifying status and ends on the first day of the fifth month after entry. The month qualifying status is granted is included in the fourth-month count. Prior to May 5th, 2025, the maximum eligibility period for Refugee Cash assistance was 12 months from date of arrival. Clients whose grant of qualifying status was prior to May 5th, 2025, maintain the maximum 12-month benefits duration.

Refugees entering Arizona, as a rule, first contact a Resettlement Agency (RA). The RA is responsible for determining eligibility for Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA). The RAs 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 four months in the U.S.

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

  • The RA 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 RA's contact information see Contact Information see Arizona Refugee Resettlement Program Resources - Local Partners.

Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA)

Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA) is a four-month maximum health benefit program for refugees and other Office of Refugee Resettlement-eligible beneficiaries who are denied Arizona Medicaid, Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (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 the coordination of the U.S. Domestic Medical Examination for Newly Arriving Refugees (DME), also referred to as the Medical Screening. The purpose of the DME is to identify communicable diseases of potential public health significance, enable clients to successfully resettle by identifying health conditions that may threaten their well-being, and provide referrals to ensure proper follow-up for refugees and other Office of Refugee Resettlement-eligible beneficiaries with medical conditions identified overseas. RMA also pays for the medical costs incurred while performing the DME for those clients who are not covered by AHCCCS and not enrolled in RMA. Refugees and other eligible beneficiaries are eligible for the DME up to 90 days after arrival or grant of qualifying status.

Prior to May 5th, 2025, the maximum eligibility period for Refugee Medical Assistance was 12 months from date of arrival or the grant of qualifying status. Clients whose arrival or grant of qualifying status was prior to May 5th, 2025, maintain the maximum 12 months of RMA benefit. For example, a refugee who arrived in January 2025 and was enrolled in RMA will continue to receive coverage through December 2026.

Arizona Refugee Medical Assistance Provider Manual - Updated May 2025

Domestic Medical Examination Service Providers

  • Maricopa County Department of Public Health
    1645 E Roosevelt St.
    Phoenix, AZ 85006
    (928) 258-9984
  • Banner University Medical Services - Tucson

Refugee Health Promotion (RHP)

The purpose of RHP is to improve the health of refugees through health literacy, health education and wellness groups, and healthcare navigation services.

The RHP program in Arizona is coordinated through the Arizona Refugee Resettlement Program (RRP), and services are provided through contracted service providers throughout Arizona.

Contact Information

  • DES Refugee Resettlement Program
    (602) 542-4446 extension 4
Statewide

DES, Arizona Refugee Resettlement Program
(602) 542-4446 extension 4
Refugee Health Promotion Specialist - Amy Branson [email protected]
[email protected]

Pima County

International Rescue Committe Tucson
Linda Kraemer
[email protected]

Owl & Panther
Abby Hungwe
[email protected]

Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest Tucson
Stephanie Thrasher
[email protected]

Catholic Community Services
Dulce Velarde
[email protected]

Tucson Family Advocacy Program
Banner University Medical Center
Suzanne Teeple
[email protected]

Maricopa County

Arizona State University
Brittany Divito
[email protected]

Ukraine Humanitarian Parolee RHP - International Rescue Committee Phoenix
Linda Kraemer
[email protected]

Valleywise Health Medical Center
Jeanne Nizigiyimana
[email protected]

Wesley Community Health Center
Parisa Souran
[email protected]

Maricopa County Department of Public Health
Shawna Fellenz
[email protected]

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

Not eligible for RRP Employment Services? Refugees who arrived in Arizona more than five years ago can access employment services available to all job seekers.

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 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
  • International Rescue Committee
    4425 W Olive Ave #400, Glendale, AZ 85302
    (602) 433-2440
  • Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest
    2502 E University Dr #125, Phoenix, AZ 85034
    (602) 248-4400 Ext. 114
Tucson
  • International Rescue Committee
    2916 E Broadway Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85716
    (520) 319-2128

Refugee School Impact (RSI) Program

The RSI Program addresses educational needs of refugee children, ages from 0-18, and parents in Arizona public schools through culturally appropriate and language sensitive services that are designed to help refugee children adjust and meet or exceed Arizona’s academic standards. Support through this program are available to refugee students for up to three years after arrival in the U.S. Services are provided by four school liaisons, two in Maricopa County and two in Pima County.

Services Providers

Phoenix
  • The International Rescue Committee
    4425 W Olive Ave #400, Glendale, AZ 85302
    (602) 433-2440
  • Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest
    2502 E University Dr #125, Phoenix, AZ 85034
    (602) 248-4400 Ext. 114
Tucson
  • International Rescue Committee
    2916 E Broadway Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85716
    (520) 319-2128
  • Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest
    3777 E Broadway Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85716
    (520) 748-2300

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

  • Area Agency on Aging Region One
    1366 E Thomas Rd #108, Phoenix, AZ 85014
    602-264-HELP (4357)
  • International Rescue Committee
    2916 E Broadway Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85716
    (520) 319-2128

Refugee Medical Screening (RMS)

Refugee Medical Screening (RMS) is a comprehensive domestic medical examination made available to all newly arrived Office of Refugee Resettlement beneficiaries, generally within the first 90 days of arrival to the United States. The primary purpose of the refugee medical screening is to screen new arrivals for illnesses of public health concern, with a secondary purpose of assisting new clients in connecting with local medical systems.

Maricopa County Department of Public Health
1645 E. Roosevelt Street
Phoenix, AZ 85006
(928) 258-9984

  • Dr. Renuka Khurana, Medical Director and Clinical Services
  • Michelle Castenada-Martinez, Division Administrator
  • Heather Herr, Refugee and TB Clinic Supervisor

Banner University Medical Center
707 N. Alvernon Way
Tucson, AZ 85711

  • Dr. Sommer Aldulaimi, Co-Director of Global Health Programs
  • Tosha Bell, Refugee Health Coordinator
    [email protected]

Coordination Services Providers

Case Coordination Services assist refugees to be successfully resettled in th U.S. and achieve self-sufficiency as quickly as possible. The services focus on clients who are at increasing and heightened risk of lack of safety and well-being (including homelessness), loss of or not achieving economic self-sufficiency, and family instability due to local displacement, trauma, and re-tranuatization, socio-economic hardships, and related social transition hardship.

  • Catholic Charities, Community Services
    5151 N 19th Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85015
    (602) 997-6105
  • The International Rescue Committee (Phoenix)
    4425 W Olive Ave #400, Glendale, AZ 85302
    (602) 433-2440
  • Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest
    2502 E University Dr #125, Phoenix, AZ 85034
    (602) 248-4400 Ext. 114
  • Arizona Immigrant and Refugee Services
    10240 N 31st Ave #112, Phoenix, AZ 85051
    (602) 944-1821
  • The International Rescue Committee
    2916 E Broadway Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85716
    (520) 319-2128
  • Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest
    3777 E Broadway Blvd, Suite 100, Tucson, AZ 85716
    (520) 748-2300
  • Catholic Community Services of Southern Arizona
    268 W Adams, Tucson, AZ 85705
    (520) 623-0344

Youth Mentoring Services

Educational and case management services for refugee youth (ages 15-24) to promote positive civic, social engagement, individual education, and vocational advancement.

  • Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest
    2502 E. University Dr. #12 , Phoenix, AZ 85304
    480-386-3795
  • Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest
    3777 E Broadway Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85716
    (520) 721-4444

ASA Case Management and Employment Services

Afghan Supplemental Assistance (ASA) Case Management and Employment Services provides intensive case management and employment services for Afghan Humanitarian Parolees, Refugees, and Special Immigrant Visa Holders (SIVs). Services address a wide range of needs for individuals and families. Funded through congressional appropriations, the programs help Afghans achieve stability, self-sufficiency, and long-term integration after initial resettlement.

Contact information

Service Providers
Phoenix
  • Welcome to the America Project
    1711 W University Dr # 158, Tempe, AZ 85281
    (602) 490-0088
  • Matthew House
    1122 South Greenfield Road, Suite 104, Mesa, AZ 85206
    [email protected]
  • Somali American United Council
    2425 E Thomas Rd # 11, Phoenix, AZ 85016
    (602) 522-2100
Tucson
  • Tucson Refugee Ministry
    3355 N Fontana Ave, Tucson, AZ 85705
    (520) 222-6115

ASA Support to School

The "Afghan Supplemental Assistance Support to School" (ARSI S2S) grant is a program that provides funding to states to suppot the effective integration and education of eligible Afghan children and youth who arrived in the U.S. under the Afghanistan Supplement Appropriations Act. It is a supplement to the existing Refugee School Impact (RSI) program and is intended to provide support services for recently resettled families to help their children succeed in school and adjust to a new life.

  • Washington Elementary School District
    4650 W Sweetwater Avenue
    Glendale, AZ 85303
    602-347-2639
  • Tucson Unified School District
    1010 E Tenth Street
    Tucson, AZ 85719
    520-225-6000
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