Resettlement and Integration

Helping refugees and immigrants RISE in their new communities.

As the only resettlement agency in Washtenaw County, RISE (Resettlement, Integration, Support, and Empowerment) at Jewish Family Services assists refugees and immigrants, other special immigrant visa holders 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. 

Welcome Your New Neighbors:
Get Involved

​Volunteering

JFS is busier than ever serving the community's existing and emerging needs, including but not limited to support for food pantry and food delivery, refugee housing move-ins, bus training, community navigation and more.

​Resource Drives

Donation drives allow individuals and groups to donate new, unused or used items to individuals who utilize JFS services. For example, personal care items, household items and gift cards are all popular donation items that could keep people warm, safe and fed. 
​

​Neighbor to Neighbor

N2N is a group of 5-8 people who come together to provide supplemental support for a family that has arrived to our local community. Activities may include providing housing assistance, English language support, community navigation and more.

​Co-Sponsorship

A co-sponsor is a group of 30 or more people who come together to partner with JFS to provide core services like greeting a refugee family at the airport, assisting them in securing and furnishing initial housing, connecting them with local services, and helping them acclimate to their new community.

VOLUNTEER

LEARN MORE

CONTACT US

CONTACT US

How JFS Helps Our Clients

• Reception & Placement: JFS provides assistance for refugees to settle in the United States for the first three months after arrival.
• Integration Programs: JFS assists refugees with intensive case management for up to 12 months beyond the Reception & Placement (R&P) period.
• Afghan Supplemental provides financial support for immediate needs and legal services.
• Refugee and Entrant Assistance Program provides assistance for refugees, asylees, Cuban and Haitian entrants, SIV’s, and victims of human trafficking with assistance to  settle in the United States.
• Ukrainian Initial Services provides assistance for Ukrainian humanitarian parolees to settle in the United States. Funded by federal government.
• Immigration Services offers immigration services to eligible populations including application assistance for adjustment of status, naturalization, travel documents, and employment authorization documents including translation if needed.
• Youth Empowerment Programs: 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. Learn More
• Women's Empowerment Programs: Providing psychosocial support for refugee women as well as language learning. 
• ​Gender Based Violence (GBV) Program: Offering group programming and education on GBV.
• Preferred Communities (Intensive Case Management and Group Programming): JFS assists refugees with intensive case management for up to 12 months beyond the Reception & Placement (R&P) period.

 
Health and Wellness Programs

• Refugee Health Screening provides health services from arrival to self-sufficiency, ranging from attending health orientation and education classes, to accessing health services, and obtaining affordable ongoing health care.
• Health Promotion provides case management services to help overcome health and mental health challenges.
• Afghan Family Strengthening Initiative is a program in which two community-based interventionists will work with Afghan families and provide support with education and resources.
• Refugee Behavioral Health Services provides mental health services to refugees and immigrants. Programs include individual, family, and group counseling services, psychosocial support groups, women's groups, as well as support in-schools for children and youth.

How Can You Help JFS?

Below is a list of ways 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! Contact us.
 
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 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.