Refugee Integration
Every year, thousands of refugees who are fleeing war and persecution are resettled to cities across the United States where they are able to rebuild their lives. Unlike other newcomers to the U.S., refugee integration starts in the country of asylum. First contact and cultural orientation begin before refugees depart for the U.S., and orientation continues as communities are resettled in the USA.
According to the most recent data from the Department of Homeland Security, Bhutan,Burma, and Iraq are the leading countries of nationality for refugee admissions, with 71% of admissions in 2012 being from these countries. On average, refugees are younger than the native-born population. In 2012, thirty-two percent of refugees were younger than 18 years, suggesting that refugee children may have a strong presence in schools in the cities where they are resettled.
CAL has been a leader in refugee education and orientation since 1975, helping refugee newcomers understand fundamental aspects of life in the United States and helping service providers and other interested parties understand the rich cultures and linguistic heritages of the new members of their communities. CAL serves as a national technical assistance provider on both overseas and domestic refugee orientation and on the backgrounds and resettlement needs of new refugee groups. Activities include training; development of print, audiovisual, and web resources; research; dissemination and exchange of information throughout an international network of refugee service providers; and serving as a national clearinghouse of information on refugee orientation and refugee groups.
Projects
Cultural Orientation Resource (COR) Center
The Cultural Orientation Resource (COR) Center, housed at CAL from 2000 to 2015, provided technical assistance regarding the cultural and community orientation refugees receive, either before their resettlement in the United States or after their arrival, as well as about their likely resettlement needs.
The Linking Communities Project: Building Welcome for Refugees
CAL's Immigrant and Refugee Integration team is working in partnership with HIAS and several other agencies on this pilot project, supported by the J.M. Kaplan Fund, to facilitate the creation of linkages between refugees and receiving communities.
Resources

Welcome to the United States: A Guidebook for Refugees
The Welcome to the United States guidebook provides valuable information to help refugees prepare for the first few months in the United States.

Connecting Diverse Cultures: A Video Guide for A New Day and Be Who You Are
Developed as a companion to the DVD Refugee Families and Youth in the United States, this informative guide incorporates segments of the video into engaging activities. Connecting Diverse Cultures features practical and effective activity plans designed to help facilitators, teachers, and trainers increase understanding of and appreciation for other cultures and beliefs.

Refugee Families & Refugee Youth Videos: A New Day; Be Who You Are
Two videos, combined on on DVD, designed to assist refugees and refugee service providers in learning about the adjustment of refugee families and youth to their new lives in the United States.

Making Your Way: A Reception and Placement Orientation Curriculum
This comprehensive curriculum is designed to equip refugee service providers with an effective and efficient approach to orientation. Orientation is part of a package of mandated core resettlement services provided for newly arrived refugees during the Reception and Placement (R&P) period, a refugeeās first 30 to 90 days in the United States.
Services
CAL supports refugee and immigrant integration through the development of orientation programs for newcomers, their service providers, and other members of their receiving communities. Programs and services can be customized to meet your needs.
Learn more.
News & Events
For Chin Refugee Kids, Lewisville ISD's New Language Test is a Credit Toward Graduation -- and to Their Culture
Students whose families have settled in Texas from Myanmar's Chin state can take an exam to earn dual credit if they demonstrate proficiency in English and their native Hakha language.
Creating Safe Spaces for Diverse Populations: How to be Culturally Humble
Innovative Oakland High School for New Immigrant Students a Model in California
For many years, Oakland International High in Oakland, CA, has provided a point of entry for immigrant students, and a model for educating newcomers.
The Schools Transforming Immigrant Education
The Internationals Network for Public Schools is working to improve graduation rates for English learners through the opening of targeted programs that place ELs on a level playing field with their peers.
In This Kentucky Town, Refugees Can Go to a Public High School Designed for Them
A public high school in Bowling Green, KY aims to help immigrant and refugee students succeed by providing them ways to develop their English language skills and deal with traumas they may have encountered in their home countries.
Providence Program Gets Young 'Newcomer' Refugees Integrated into its School System
A Rhode Island school district is partnering with a refugee resettlement organization to offer language support and help from social workers as part of the district's newcomers program.