Refugee Services

The Bureau of Migrant, Refugee & Labor Services, on behalf of the State of Wisconsin, manages and monitors contracts for programs that are designed to assist refugees achieve economic self-sufficiency and social self-reliance.  The services are provided by partner agencies who are responsible for comprehensive, bilingual & bicultural employment services as well as supportive services that may include health screening, English as a Second Language & family-focused case management.  Employment services may include assessment, vocational training, job application support, job referral, job retention, and job upgrading.

Path to Resettlement

BMRLS is not alone in the effort to assist refugees. In fact there are many related agencies, both governmental and private, that are involved in this mission. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees works with member countries coordinating international action to protect refugees.  Once a refugee qualifies for U.S. admission and completes the necessary processing through the U.S. Department of State, that person's case is assigned to a Voluntary Resettlement Agencies, also known as a VOLAG. Each VOLAG has a national network of offices to which they, in turn, assign their respective cases.  The VOLAGs that currently bear this responsibility are the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (which operates in Wisconsin as Catholic Charities), Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services (operating in Wisconsin as Lutheran Social Services) & International Institute, which works in partnership with the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants.  You can read more about the refugee resettlement process in a report published by the Brookings Institute.