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A Syrian Family’s Empowering Path Forward.
Abdul and Fatemah arrived with their three children, who ranged in age from 2 to 13, in Bellingham two years ago under the United States Refugee Admissions Program. Our Whatcom County team met with them and immediately walked with them through the time-tested support sequence we offer to all refugees in their first 90 days.
For Abdul and Fatemah and their children, that meant case management, language skills, cultural orientation and finding an apartment. For them, however, achieving self-sufficiency required more than 90 days. So, too, for many other new arrivals.
Beyond 90 Days: Intensive Support for Refugee Families
World Relief Western Washington responded. Though our Bellingham team has excelled in 90-day reception and placement work since its opening in 2021, they realized the time had come to expand beyond that. They launched a longer-term program called Intensive Case Management (ICM), offering extended ESL classes and employment assistance, and customized support with dedicated case managers.
Geared toward helping program participants create goals and overcome barriers to self-sufficiency, the ICM program can last from 1 to 2 years. Participants are encouraged to set their own goals alongside a caseworker, and they have regular check-ins to ensure progress is being made toward the goals.
Achieving Refugee Self-Sufficiency Through Community Support
Over the following year, with ongoing assistance from our Whatcom ICM caseworker and community volunteers, the family was able to move into more affordable housing, find a good-paying job for the father and begin the process of applying for permanent residency. Their children participated in school readiness programs put on during the summer by World Relief, and Fatemah had many opportunities to put her considerable culinary skills to use by cooking meals for new Syrian arrivals as well as for large community events. Through it all, the family put down deeper roots in the local community.
This past fall, Abdul and Fatemah achieved all of their goals. With the extra time and support offered through the program, their situation is considerably more stable and they are walking into the next chapter of their lives with confidence.
Continuing Refugee Support in Western Washington
Meanwhile, the ICM program in Whatcom has expanded to help many other participants who have enrolled since Abdul and Fatemah. As needs arise and situations change, we stand ready to continue providing this kind of empowering approach to case management for refugees and other immigrants as they find their way toward flourishing in Western Washington.
We invite you to learn more about our Whatcom County Office, how you can advocate for refugee and immigrant families, and donate to continue the mission.
Click here to read more stories like Abdul and Fatemah’s in our 2024 Year in Review.