INFORMATION SHARING

The sharing of information, both to arriving refugees and asylum seekers, as well as to the receiving community, is a key integration strategy that is most effective when implemented in a proactive and transparent way. Refugees and asylum seekers need information about their legal status, the educational system, employment and local cultural practices, among other important topics. Communities need to know who is arriving and why, the needs and cultural practices of the newcomers, and how best to assist them. The resources here offer proven approaches and modalities for the sharing of information with refugees, asylum seekers and their new communities as well as how to coordinate the provision of services among refugee service providers.

Messaging around COVID-19

A Round-Up of Multilingual Resources on COVID-19

This SWITCHBOARD post contains fact sheets, posters, multimedia resources, and links to live updates in multiple languages about COVID-19, its symptoms, how to prevent it and handwashing.

10 Ways to Manage Respiratory Symptoms at Home

This guidance from the US Center for Disease Control includes 10 tips for managing respiratory symptoms at home.

How to Include Marginalised And Vulnerable People in Risk Communication And Community Engagement

This guidance document from the Inter Agency Standing Committee outlines how to include marginalised and vulnerable people in risk communication and community engagement, supporting them in decision-making for response, recovery, preparedness and risk reduction.

Steps to Help Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 If You Are Sick

These leaflets available in Arabic, Dari, English and Farsi from the US Center for Disease Control outline the steps individuals should take to stop the spread of COVD-19 if they feel sick.

COVID-19 Leaflet

This guidance document, developed by the IOM and available in 26 different languages, explains what COVID-19 is, what the symptoms are, and how individuals can prevent the spread of the virus.

COVID-19: Understanding Guidance and Rules Fact Sheet

This Fact Sheet, developed by CORE and available in 7 languages, briefly explains the symptoms of COVID-19 and the measures people should follow to limit its spread.

COVID-19: How to Protect Yourself And Stop The Spread of The Virus Video

This CORE video, Coronavirus (COVID-19): How to protect yourself and stop the spread of the virus, highlights the main symptoms of the disease, prevention tips, and steps to take if you feel sick. It is available in Arabic, Burmese, Dari, English, Kinyarwanda, Russian, and Swahili.

COVID-19: Helping Clients Cope

This EURITA guidance document contains a number of suggestions for supporting clients and their families during the COVID-19 pandemic.

IT Guidance on COVID-19 Fraud

This EURITA guidance document includes a number of tips about recognising fraudulous communications surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and what steps to take when it is identified.

COVID-19 Vaccine resources

The National Resource Center for Refugees, Immigrants, and Migrants (NRC-RIM) has a number of resources and fact sheets that support vaccine efforts among refugee, immigrant, and migrant communities in multiple languages. 

Welcoming Refugees Pre- And Post-Arrival

This resource from the Church World Service includes a number of suggestions for supporting refugees during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Psychological First Aid During COVID-19 Response

This guidance from the IRC is aimed at people working with forcibly displaced populations in countries of asylum and refuge during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Supplemental Lesson Plan - Resettling to The United States During The COVID-19 Pandemic

A CORE supplemental lesson plan on the topic of resettlement during the COVID-19 pandemic that can be incorporated by trainers into an existing pre- or post-arrival cultural orientation curriculum.

Wellbeing for Refugee Service Providers During COVID-19: Am I Ok?

This post, developed by Switchboard, is one in a series on self-care and emotional wellbeing for refugee service providers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Best Strategies for Emergency Preparedness and Emergency Information Dissemination among Resettled Refugees

This evidence summary, published by Switchboard, aims to identify the best strategies for emergency preparedness and emergency information dissemination among resettled refugees.

COVID-19 Informational Videos

This set of videos, aimed at refugee communities and available in 11 languages, aims to help people protect themselves from COVID-19.

Information for Receiving Communities about Refugee Populations

A Practical Guide to Resettling LGBT refugees And Asylees

A field manual developed by Heartland Alliance that aims to support service providers in meeting the specific needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender refugees and asylees.

My Neighbor Is Muslim

A book written by Professor Todd Green on behalf of Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota exploring the foundations of Islam and the Muslim faith.

Refugee Council USA

A coalition of 25 member organizations dedicated to refugee protection, welcome, and excellence in the U.S. refugee resettlement program.

Refugee Health Profiles

Health profiles published by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention that provide key cultural and health information on specific refugee groups resettling in the United States.

Refugees from Iraq

A document published by the Center for Applied Linguistics that provides resettlement communities with information on refugees from Iraq.

Refugees from Syria

A document published by the Center for Applied Linguistics that provides resettlement communities with information on refugees from Syria.

Refugees from The Democratic Republic of The Congo

A document published by the Center for Applied Linguistics that provides resettlement communities with information on refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Sexual And Gender Minority Refugees

ORAM an organization that provides access to tools, research and assessment programs for service providers working with vulnerable refugees and asylum seekers.

Enhancing Services for Migrants And GBV Survivors

The Survivor website is an online resource platform run by IRC Hellas, with tools to support practitioners working with refugees and migrants who are Gender-Based Violence survivors. Illustrative website topics include prevention and response to GBV, empowerment, policy and advocacy and integration. 

Cultural Backgrounder: Refugees from Eritrea

This EURITA guidance document provides resettlement communities with information on refugees from Eritrea.

Cultural Backgrounder: Refugees from Syria

This EURITA guidance document provides resettlement communities with information on refugees from Syria.

Cultural Backgrounder: Refugees from Iraq

This EURITA guidance document provides resettlement communities with information on refugees from Iraq.

Cultural Backgrounder: Refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo

This EURITA guidance document provides resettlement communities with information on refugees from the DRC.

Cultural Backgrounder: Refugees from Somalia

This EURITA guidance document provides resettlement communities with information on refugees from Somalia.

A Round-up of Resources for Serving Afghan Evacuees

The resettlement network is working to support Afghan evacuees in the US. This Switchboard blog post lists resources you may find helpful in serving these clients, including resources in Dari and Pashto.

Cultural Backgrounder: Refugees from Ukraine

This EURITA guidance document provides resettlement communities with information on refugees from Ukraine.

Information for Refugees & Asylum Seekers

CORE Resettlement Navigator

A website with content developed by the Cultural Orientation Resource Exchange providing official and accurate information about the United States Refugee Admissions Program.

EUROPA, An Illustrated Introduction to Europe for Migrants And Refugees

A multilingual book initiated by photographers and journalists introducing newcomers to the European Union and the relevant debates that will determine its future.

Raising Teens in A New Country

A guide published by the organization, Bridging Refugee Youth & Children’s Services, on raising teenagers in the U.S.

Refugee.Info

An online platform with goals to protect and empower vulnerable populations through increased access to timely, reliable information and enhanced communication between service providers and beneficiaries.

U.S. Refugee Admissions Program Overview Video

A video created by the Cultural Orientation Resource Center that guides viewers through the steps of the U.S. resettlement process starting with the pre-screening interview through arrival into the United States.

Welcome to Europe! A Comprehensive Guide to Resettlement

A guide published by ICMC covering global resettlement policy and partnerships, needs and processes, with a focus on the growth and development of resettlement in Europe.

Welcome to The United States Workbook

A guidebook published by the Center for Applied Linguistics that helps refugees prepare for their first few months in the United States.

Reports & Findings

European Resettlement Network

The European Resettlement Network supports the development of resettlement and complementary forms of admission to Europe for refugees by connecting and engaging a variety of relevant stakeholders.

How Local Voices Can Help Us Understand Refugee Integration

A podcast recorded by the Monitoring and Evaluation Technical Assistance Project highlighting the interesting approach of the Refugees in Towns project.

Improving The Responses to The Migration And Refugee Crisis in Europe

A report published by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation covering conflict to equilibrium, beyond crisis management, from fragmentation to integration, and the EU and the refugee crisis.

LINK IT – EU Integration Practices Brochure

A brochure on innovative practices that link pre-departure and post-arrival support to facilitate the socioeconomic integration of resettled refugees in the EU.

Protecting And Welcoming Refugees in Europe

A joint statement issued by ICMC Europe on behalf of the SHARE Network on protecting and welcoming refugees in Europe.

Refugee Policies for The Intercultural City

A policy brief published by the Council of Europe on refugee policies for the intercultural city.

Taking Stock of Refugee Resettlement

A report published by the Migration Policy Institute Europe covering policy tradeoffs, practical tradeoffs and the evidence base.

Time for Europe to Get Migrant Integration Right

An issue paper published by the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights that reviews the key areas of integration, among other topics.

Towards A Whole-of-Society Approach to Receiving And Settling Newcomers in Europe

A report published by the Migration Policy Institute covering four main areas: current and future trends in integration, policy approaches, and situating integration in policies that build public trust.

Strengthening the COVID-19 response within refugee and migrant communities

An IRC report that outlines the lessons learned and best practices in responding to COVID-19 within refugee and migrant communities. The report includes recommendations to the EU and member state governments on how to improve programming, tackle misinformation and build inclusion for refugees and migrants.

Switchboard Resource Library

With the support of the Office of Refugee Resettlement, Switchboard is a one-stop resource hub for refugee service providers and offers tools and materials, learning opportunities, research, and technical assistance on resettlement-related resources.

CRISP Website

CRISP, the Sustainable Resettlement and Complementary Pathways Initiative is an initiaitive launched by IOM and UNHCR, the online resource platform supports capacity building and partnerships.

Tools and Resources for Cultural Orientation Trainers

Lesson Plans for Cultural Orientation

This EURITA resource, designed for Cultural Orientation (CO) providers, is a compilation of supplemental lesson plans on eight key topics which are essential to newcomers in Europe and can be incorporated into an existing pre or post arrival CO training.

Cultural Orientation Insights

A EURITA guidance document for practitioners on implementing standards of CO for refugees and asylum seekers. It provides an overview of CO; who should attend, what topics should be covered, modalities for delivery and how to make sessions interactive.

Cultural Orientation Program Assessment Tool

A EURITA self-assessment tool to help resettlement and integration practitioners identify the current stage of their cultural orientation program in the areas of Orientation Provider, Class Content & Structure, Delivery, and Program Monitoring & Evaluation, and to better understand the key components of program maturity.

Refugee Training And Orientation: A Workbook for Trainers

A workbook published by the Cultural Orientation Resource Center for trainers to use when they plan and deliver cultural orientation trainings for refugees.

Exploring Cultural Concepts: The Culturagram

A tool developed by Elaine Congress, D.S.W. that includes ten assessment areas and aims to promote cultural competence through its utilization.

Training Refugee Youth: Pre‑departure Orientation

This handbook, developed by IOM, aims to support the delivery of pre-departure orientation (PDO) sessions for young refugees being resettled in a third country. It includes lesson plans and activities on a range of key topics for trainers to use when delivering PDO.

Cultural Orientation Resource Exchange

A technical assistance program designed to support and strengthen the linkages between pre-departure and post-arrival cultural orientation programs for refugees on their journey to resettle in the United States.

EURITA presentation on Information Sharing Practices in Resettlement And Integration

A EURITA presentation on information sharing practices that identifies the priority information needs of receiving communities and refugees/asylum seekers, lists eight general categories of information to share, and describes methods of sharing information with each audience.

EURITA Recorded Webinar: Information Sharing Practices in Resettlement And Integration

A recorded EURITA webinar video on information sharing practices that identifies the priority information needs of receiving communities and refugees/asylum seekers, lists the eight general categories of information to share, and describes methods of sharing information with each audience.

Making Your Way, A Reception And Placement Curriculum

A curriculum published by the Center for Applied Linguistics and the Cultural Orientation Resource Center providing basic orientation information for newly arrived refugees in the U.S.

Mainstreaming Gender in Pre-departure Orientation Sessions – Guidelines for Practitioners

These guidelines, developed by the IOM, aim to guide practitioners in the implementation of a comprehensive gender-sensitive approach to pre-departure orientation training.

EURITA Presentation on Strategies for Delivering Cultural Orientation

A EURITA presentation on Strategies for Delivering Cultural Orientation (CO) it outlines proven approaches and modalities through which CO can be delivered, including who should attend, what topics should be covered, modalities for delivery, how to make sessions interactive and how to measure the effectiveness.

Telephonic Refugee Resettlement Cultural Orientation Guidance And Curricula

This document, developed by CORE, provides guidance on conducting telephonic refugee resettlement cultural orientation (CO) to be used when in-person CO is not possible.

EURITA Presentation on Refugees from Iraq

A EURITA presentation about the history, culture and political situation in Iraq and resettlement considerations practitioners should take into account when working with refugees from Iraq.

How to Deliver Remote Cultural Orientation

This EURITA guidance document provides some considerations to take into account when delivering remote cultural orientation sessions.

Student-Centered Learning

A poster published by the Cultural Orientation Resource Exchange describing the key qualities and strategies of student-centered learning, an educational method that shifts the focus of instruction from teacher to student.

Mentoring Refugees: A Handbook for Volunteers

A EURITA handbook that serves as a resource manual and training guide for volunteer mentors providing one on one cultural orientation to refugee families in the community.

Facilitating Virtual Meetings

This EURITA guidance document outlines a number of tips for holding effective virtual meetings.

EURITA Presentation on Creating Engaging Virtual Trainings and Meetings

A EURITA webinar presentation which outlines a number of tips for holding effective virtual trainings and meetings, including collaboration tools to use to boost engagement and strategies for handling common issues.

EURITA Presentation on Refugees from Eritrea

A EURITA presentation about the history, culture and political situation in Eritrea and resettlement considerations practitioners should take into account when working with refugees from Eritrea.

Cultural Competence in Refugee Settings

This guide highlights key culturally competent approaches in refugee service settings, based on an original literature review conducted by Switchboard in 2020.

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Featured Resources

Educator Briefing Pack: Supporting Ukrainian Students

This IRC briefing pack provides an overview of education in Ukraine, considerations for working with Ukrainian students & families and approaches to welcome and support Ukrainian studentsRead more...

Cultural Backgrounder: Refugees from Ukraine

This EURITA guidance document provides resettlement communities with information on refugees from Ukraine.Read more...