Refugee Services

Refugee Resettlement Program (RRP) services in California are comprised of many program partners at the federal, state, county, and community level. The RRP in California is 100 percent federally funded by the Office of Refugee Resettlement and is state administered by the California Department of Social Services, Refugee Programs Bureau (RPB). The RPB oversees county operations and delivery of RRP services. The RRP assists the individuals "Who We Serve" to adjust socially and attain the skills needed for finding employment and becoming self-sufficient.

Vital to the success of RRP services is the contributions made by the voluntary Resettlement Agencies (RAs), Ethnic Community-Based Organizations (ECBOs) and faith/community-based organizations (CBOs). These organizations provide culturally and linguistically appropriate services and assist refugees with acculturation into American society. RAs assist refugees during their initial placement and provide services for a minimum of 90 days after arrival in the United States (U.S.).

The RRP services administered in California by RPB are:

• Refugee Social Services programs provide job training and employment services such as vocational training, English-as-a-second language, education, on-the-job training, job search, and other related services;
• Refugee Discretionary programs provide services to specialized refugee populations, such as the elderly through the Services for Older Refugees (SOR) program; and
• Refugee Cash Assistance provides cash aid to needy refugees for up to 12 months from their date of eligibility for the program. To learn more about the administration of RRP services, see our County Refugee Program Guidelines.