Resettlement & Integration Services
As the only resettlement agency in Washtenaw County, JFS has resettled thousands of individuals from all over the world since it’s conception. We have resettled individuals and families from Afghanistan, Burma, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Moldova, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, Venezuela, and Yemen. Languages spoken include Arabic, Dari, English, Farsi, Hazaragi, Hindi, Pashto, Turkish, Urdu, Uzbek, Burmese, Karen, Malay, Mon, Thai, Spanish, Bemba, French, Kibembe, Kinyarwanda, Kiswahili, Mashi, Portuguese, Russian, Afar, Amharic, Hebrew, Tigrinya, Oromo, Gujarati, Azerbaijani, Chaldean, Ukrainian, Kurdi, and Turkish.
The Resettlement & Integration Services Program at Jewish Family Services assists refugees and immigrants, and their families with critical social services needed to ease their transition into their new communities. With our help, individuals become self-sufficient and are able to not only create a stable living environment, but are able to thrive in our community. JFS has dedicated bi-lingual and bi-cultural professionals who fulfill our mission by promoting and delivering individually focused social services through a variety of programs.
Please see the list below for some ways that you can help JFS in our resettlement efforts.
Housing: JFS is in need of apartments. Do you own a rental/property management company or know someone who does? Please send them our way! Email us at: info@jfsannarbor.org
Host Families: JFS is not currently housing refugees in community member’s homes, however this may change at any moment due to increase in capacity. If this is something you would like to offer, please check back or sign up to recieve our newsletter where we’ll provide updates as available.
Donations:
- Funds – Donate online or mail a check to: JFS, 2245 S State St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
- Gift cards (Visa, Meijer, Kroger, Target). Gift cards offer us the flexibility to meet the needs of our clients. Please drop off in-person or mail gift cards to:
JFS of Washtenaw County
Development department
2245 S State St
Ann Arbor, MI 48104. - Check out our Amazon wish list! (Click here).
- In-Kind Donations –
- To donate cleaning supplies, personal care items, or various household items, click here.
- To donate furniture, click click here.
Volunteers—JFS is in need of volunteers! We need help with the below volunteer opportunities. Click here to register:
- Move-In Assistance: help JFS move a family into their new home. This role involves lifting furniture and moving boxes, organizing home items, decorating the homes, putting furniture together, and grocery shopping.
- Interpreters: We are in need of interpreters who speak Pashto, Dari, Spanish, and Ukrainian.
Contact us:
Phone: (734) 769-0209
Email: info@jfsannarbor.org
JFS PROGRAMS
Co-Sponsorship: JFS provides training and technical support to a group of 20-30 volunteers who raise $10-20,000 on behalf of a refugee family. Co-sponsor groups commit to providing all core resettlement services in partnership with JFS and supporting the refugee family for 6-8 months.
Neighbor to Neighbor: an initiative to mobilize support for Ukrainian arrivals in our local community. A group of 5-8 volunteers who raise $2,000-5000 to support a Ukrainian family that has already arrived in Washtenaw County. The N2N Team will provide support such as community navigation, English support, housing assistance, and more.
This initiative is funding in part through a grant from the Jewish Federations of North America and the Shapiro Foundation.
PRIVATE SPONSORSHIP
Private sponsorship is when local individuals or groups provide all the initial services to newcomers.
JFS can support sponsors by providing guidance and advice. Once eligible, JFS can also enroll newcomers into its employment support programs.
- JFS does not connect sponsors with individuals overseas who are seeking to come to the US. Please see below for additional resources.
Welcome Corp: In January 2023, the Biden administration announced the launch of Welcome Corps – a new initiative that will allow Americans to privately sponsor refugees from around the world.
Please see Welcome Corps Landing Page for more information
For technical support, please contact HIAS
Venezuelans, Haitians, Cubans: These individuals can be sponsored and receive humanitarian parole status here: Processes for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans | USCIS
For technical support, please contact Community Sponsorship Hub
Uniting for Ukraine
Uniting for Ukraine offers a pathway for Ukrainians to enter the United States through private sponsorship
- To become a private sponsor, an individual must file a Form I-134A, Online Request to be a Supporter and Declaration of Financial Support and complete the application process through USCIS
- Please visit gov/ukraine for more information about the requirements and application process
For technical support, please contact HIAS.
Reception & Placement
JFS provides assistance for refugees to settle in the United States for the first three months after arrival.
Preferred Communities
JFS assists refugees with intensive case management for up to 12 months beyond the Reception & Placement (R&P) period.
Youth Empowerment Services
JFS works with Refugee Youth and other eligible populations in the process of integration into life in Michigan. Services include education and support services; all geared toward achieving social adjustment and integration for refugee youth.
Youth Mentoring Program: promotes positive civic and social engagement and support individual educational and vocational advancement.
JFS Support: one-on-one school tutoring, held during the school year.
Refugee Summer Youth Group: promotes social engagement, education and connection to community.
Youth Scoop Newsletter: monthly newsletter sent to youth who are enrolled in services.
Thrive Counseling Services: provides therapy and group programming to refugee and immigrant youth in the community.
Women's Empowerment Services
Details coming soon.
Refugee Health Services
JFS works with local partners to support newly arrived refugees with obtaining initial health screening appointments and follow-up care to promote good health practices which help to facilitate successful integration and self-sufficiency.
Refugee Behavioral Health Services
JFS provides mental health services to refugees and immigrants. Programs include individual, family, and group counseling services as well as support in-schools for children and youth.