The Idaho Office for Refugees works to promote mutual understanding between refugees and the larger community by sharing information, encouraging social interaction and developing opportunities for refugees to participate in all aspects of community life.
The Idaho Office for Refugees (IOR) has statewide responsibility for the provision of assistance and services to refugees. The IOR is a private sector initiative, replacing the traditional State-administered program for refugee assistance and services. Under agreement with the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement, the IOR endeavors to ease the difficult transition refugees experience as they adjust to life in the USA.
Our nation’s interest in offering refuge and safe haven to persecuted people informs and guides the work of the IOR with local service partners. Refugees arrive in Idaho from many areas of the world, forced to flee their native lands because of the persecution they have endured on account of their beliefs, opinions or ethnic heritage. Once newly arriving refugees have been resettled, the IOR provides assistance and services designed to help these new Americans become integrated into their communities as productive, contributing members of society.
The IOR supports, through contracts and cooperative agreements, the provision of interim financial assistance, English language training, employment services, immigration assistance, language assistance, case management and social adjustment services in the communities where refugees are resettled. In addition, the IOR works to promote mutual understanding between refugees and the larger community by sharing information, encouraging social interaction and developing opportunities for refugees to participate in all aspects of community life.
Did you know?
In 2008, 1,193 refugees and special immigrants arrived in Idaho, from 23 different countries, speaking 27 different languages.