IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE SOCIAL SERVICES
RESTORING FREEDOM, DIGNITY & INDEPENDENCE
IILA’s Immigrant and Refugee Social Services assist resilient refugees, asylum seekers, survivors of human trafficking, and unaccompanied minors in restoring their freedom, dignity and independence through comprehensive programs and access to jobs, education, and healthcare. Our staff conducts outreach to identify these populations, partners with public and non-profit agencies, and provides individualized services that address their most urgent needs and empower them to become self-sufficient.
PROGRAM OF INITIAL RESETTLEMENT
For many refugees, fleeing violence and persecution in their home country can be traumatic. Once they arrive in L.A., they often face additional challenges, such as feeling a loss of culture and community, adapting to a foreign environment, and lacking resources.
IILA’s Program of Initial Resettlement links refugees still overseas with local family or friends. Case managers work with these “local ties” to arrange airport reception, grant resettlement funds, conduct mental health screenings, provide community orientation, access public benefits, and find employment and housing. These comprehensive support services, along with refugees’ local ties, significantly ease their resettlement and transition to fulfilling lives in their new community.
REFUGEE EMPLOYMENT & ACCULTURATION SERVICES PROGRAM
For refugees and other immigrants who are new to the United States, navigating a different job market can be overwhelming and present unexpected challenges. IILA’s Refugee Employment & Acculturation Services (REAS) Program helps individuals gain the tools they need to achieve independence and integrate successfully into their new environment.
We help clients rebuild their lives by offering support with job placement, cultural orientation, and skill development. The program connects participants with employment opportunities, provides training to help them succeed in the workplace, and offers resources to ease the transition into their new community.
Participants must qualify for the LA County DPSS Refugee Employment Program and have entered the United States within the past 5 years.
HEALTH PROMOTION PROGRAMS
IILA’s Refugee Health Promotion (RHP), Afghan Health Promotion (AHP), and Ukrainian Health Promotion (UHP) programs provide assistance with accessing health care, including enrollment in Medi-Cal or Refugee Medical Assistance, scheduling medical appointments and screenings, arranging transportation to appointments, troubleshooting Medi-Cal bills, enrollment in a Medi-Cal managed care plan and selecting a primary care physician. The programs also provide workshops for health education such as the importance of preventative care.
AHP services are available to all Afghan SIVs, SI/SQ and humanitarian parolees in LA, Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside, Kern and Ventura Counties. To make a referral or request for any health promotion program, please contact IILA’s Director of Refugee Projects, Jamie Wipf at jwipf@iilosangeles.org.
PREFERRED COMMUNITIES
The Preferred Communities (PC) program supports refugee and Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR)-eligible populations with challenging needs that require special attention, including those with serious medical conditions, women at risk, elderly refugees, and those experiencing psychological conditions like trauma resulting from war and other violence.
The PC program offers these vulnerable individuals services such as long-term case management, health and medical interventions, mental health interventions, social adjustment services, and housing assistance as they acclimate to life in the U.S. and grow in self-sufficiency.
For more information or to make a referral, please contact IILA’s Director of Case Management Services, Susay Michael, at smichael@iilosangeles.org.
SURVIVORS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING
IILA provides comprehensive and trauma-informed case management services to survivors of human trafficking and their families to help them reclaim and rebuild their lives.
Our services include rescue, legal aid, coordination with law enforcement, assistance finding housing and employment, health services, mental health counseling, family reunification, and other services survivors need to restore their independence. We are there to aid at every step in their journey from rescue to reintegration into their community.
Learn more about human trafficking here. In inquire about our services, please contact smichael@iilosangeles.org.
RAPID RESPONSE
IILA’s Rapid Response Program supports unaccompanied minors with challenging needs that require special attention, such as medical and psychological conditions through case management services and system navigation.
To learn more or make a referral, please contact smichael@iilosangeles.org.
UKRAINIAN/AFGHAN NEWCOMERS SUPPORT PROGRAMS
IILA’s Ukrainian Newcomer Support Program (UNSP) and Afghan Newcomer Support Program (ANSP) provide linguistic appropriate case management services, social adjustment services, and outreach and education workshops in critical areas such as financial literacy.
These programs are only available to ORR-eligible Ukrainian and Afghan populations.
To learn more or make a referral, please contact IILA Director of Refugee Resettlement Services, Shahrokh Samadi at ssamadi@iilosangeles.org for ANSP or IILA Director of Refugee Projects, Jamie Wipf, at jwipf@iilosangeles.org for UNSP.