Resettlement Agencies - Scope of Work

The US State Department contracts with The Church World Service Immigration and Refugee Program Affiliates to resettle refugees in the United States. These affiliates create a nationwide network which the government reviews for recommendations on placement. The affiliated refugee resettlement agencies working in the Kalamazoo area are Bethany Christian Services and Samaritas.


Bethany’s primary focuses are foster care, refugee resettlement, adoption, and refugee employment in that order. As far as refugees are concerned, Samaritas is more focused on family resettlement whereas Bethany focuses more on unaccompanied minors (refugee foster care and transitional homes for older teenagers).


There are compliance requirements for the Resettlement Agencies and the refugee families as part of the resettlement process and associated contracts. As a result, the co-sponsor resettlement teams will need to defer to the Agency responsibilities during that first 3 month resettlement period under their contract.


Tasks that the resettlement agencies perform and are accountable for as part of their 3-month scope of work include:


  • Locating decent, safe, and furnished housing

  • Enrollment in food, medical, and other benefits

  • Enrollment in an employment program

  • Assistance in applying for Social Security and Michigan Identification cards

  • Initial health assessment and immunizations at the health department

  • Enrollment of children in school

  • Registration with a doctor’s office for ongoing medical services

  • Referrals to attend English classes

  • Training on how to use the bus system

  • Cultural and community orientation

  • Education on personal finances/budgeting and managing a bank account

  • Learning how to contact someone when you have a question or need.


What is the co-sponsor team responsible for? The co-sponser team is there to help, but in coordination with the Agency caseworker. Problem solving for the family should be done in partnership with the caseworker. The co-sponsor team is often the first to learn of issues the family may face, and then those needs will need to be relayed to the caseworker. The co-sponsor team members should be trained that if the family has any particular needs, material or service, that this be communicated to the co-sponsor team leader who then informs the agency caseworker.