RECEPTION AND PLACEMENT

RECEPTION AND PLACEMENT

The Reception and Placement Program begins its work before refugees even arrive in the U.S. Once our staff is notified by the Federal Government that a refugee will be settling in our area, we help them fill out all of the paperwork they will need and find them appropriating housing, furnishings for their new apartment, and seasonally appropriate clothing. On the day of their arrival, ECDC staff meets them at the airport and takes them to their new home where we have prepared a culturally appropriate hot meal. After they have settled in, ECDC conducts a cultural orientation to help the newcomers acclimate to American customs and culture. Because most refugees are unable to immediately start working, we provide them with enough direct cash assistance to ensure their financial stability until they can sustain themselves. Next, we provide assistance in setting up required documents like a social security card, support in applying for benefits like food stamps and Medicaid, and help in enrolling them and their children in ESL classes and K-12 education. Our goal is that within 90 days, the refugees we help are well on their way to building safe, sustainable lives in their new home.

MAMBO PROGRAM

Funded by the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth, the MAMBO program is a Youth Tobacco Prevention Program. Both ACC clients and the community-at-large are served. The program uses the Botvin LifeSkills Training curriculum; weekly, one-hour, interactive lessons delivered over a two month period. Our goal is to protect the youth in our community from the dangers of tobacco use and addiction through education and empowerment.

RHEO Program

The Refugee Health Education Outreach Program provides educational services and referral based case management to refugees attempting to navigate the health care system. To do this we educate through the delivery of workshops and the distribution of informative materials, both in English and native languages. Through our workshops, clients gain the skills needed to manage their own health in the United States. Additionally, the Health Liaison makes referrals to medical professionals, non-profits focused on providing health services for under-insured and/or low-income clients, and additional educational opportunities.