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Social Services Program

The purpose of the Social Services program is to help refugees achieve economic self-sufficiency and social adjustment within the shortest time possible following their arrival to the United States.

The federally funded Social Services program supports a variety of services to refugees, including English language training, employability services, case management, social adjustment services and interpretation services and citizenship and naturalization services. Employment services are designed to assist refugees to obtain jobs within one year of becoming enrolled in order to achieve economic self-sufficiency as soon as possible. Case management services include the development of a self-sufficiency plan, employability assessment services (including aptitude and skills testing) job orientation, job development, job referral, job placement, and follow-up.

Social services funds are not used for long-term training programs such as vocational training that last for more than a year or educational programs that are not intended to lead to employment within a year. Social adjustment services may include emergency services and health-related services. Other services may include information and referral services, outreach services, and citizenship and naturalization services.

Refugees who are eligible for the program must be in Wisconsin 60 months or less. However, citizenship and naturalization preparation services and referral and interpreter services can also be provided to refugees who have been in the United States more than 60 months.

Agencies under contract for the Social Services program must submit quarterly program reports and comply with other contract obligations.