The U.S. State Department, in collaboration with the Department of Health and Human Services, recently launched the Welcome Corps. This new private sponsorship program will enable Americans over the age of 18 to directly sponsor refugees arriving through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP).

Check out the Welcome Corps FAQ page here.

For 17 years, Amani Family Services has been involved in supporting refugees who have newly arrived in our community. Through our challenges and successes, we have a deep understanding of the investment of time and resources it takes to ensure the safety and mental well-being of refugee families. While we cheer on the progress of creating more welcoming communities, we feel a responsibility to educate our neighbors on this new federal program and its impact on agencies supporting refugees.

Amani, in partnership with St. Joseph Community Health Foundation, Catholic Charities, and International House will host a presentation on Refugee Resettlement Programs at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, March 30 at Allen County Public Library. Reserve a seat here.

“As an agency with the history and experience of helping immigrants and refugees navigate the aftermath of resettlement, we are already working to prepare and educate our community about how this will impact the city,” Ewelina Connolly, Amani CEO, said. “We are partnering with St. Joseph Community Health Foundation, Catholic Charities, and International House to launch quarterly learning communities to provide a space for nonprofits, for-profits, and individuals to learn about some tools and resources for how we can be a welcoming community. Unlike the traditional resettlement process where we already have an expectation of new individuals for the year, this new program will bring an unknown influx to Fort Wayne and we need to consider how we can build capacity to serve those in need, especially when working with the healthcare and legal systems.”