News from Elizabeth, NJ

The IRC in Elizabeth's mentor program offers clients and volunteers the opportunity to connect, develop, and support as clients grow into their new homes in New Jersey.

Assemblywoman Quijano from the New Jersey legislature joined the IRC in Elizabeth for a meal, following her sponsorship of a bill to recognize World Refugee Day in New Jersey.

Refugee clients received fun and informative safety training from the Elizabeth Police Department and Fire Department to strengthen community engagement and safety.

The IRC in Elizabeth's Refugee Summer Academy (RYSA) is currently hiring for both paid and unpaid positions. RYSA serves academically and socially vulnerable youth, ranging from kindergarten to 12th grade, to promote school readiness by the fall.

Our office welcomed IRC employees' children for a fun an interactive day learning about our office's work!

New cohort of Haitian-Creole women find new success with Elizabeth's Women In Action Program.

SCOPE OF WORK: The goal of the refugee school impact program is to help recently arrived refugee and immigrant children and youth adapt successfully to Union County elementary, middle, and high schools while meeting their short-and long-term educational needs. Program staff will work directly with parents and school representatives and will provide after-school, weekend and summer academic programming for refugee and immigrant youth. The Refugee YouthProgram supports newly arrived refugee and immigrant youth, their families, and their schools with the school adjustment process. Refugee Youth Program Intern will provide assistance with a variety of support services, such as school enrollment, parent workshops, summer school referrals, summer programming, and developing academic resources for refugee students. Youth Program Intern will also provide other direct services to youth and their families as needed.

Over the past five years, the Refugee Youth Program has developed partnerships with Union County public schools, community-based organizations and local colleges and universities to support the positive development of refugee youth and their communities in Union County, New Jersey. The Refugee Youth Program provides year-round programming working directly with refugee youth, their parents and families, and their schools.

Since 2011, the IRC has resettled hundreds of refugee youth to Elizabeth, New Jersey. The trauma of being forced from their homes, prolonged separation from loved ones, displacement, language barriers and poor or lapsed education compounds the academic challenges faced by refugee youth. IRC currently works with over 100 refugee students enrolled in 17 Elizabeth Public Schools, as well as 4 Roselle Public Schools, with new students arriving each month. IRC’s youth program works in collaboration with schools and families to overcome barriers and promote the academic and social success of refugee students.

Since 2011, the IRC has resettled hundreds of refugees youth to Elizabeth, New Jersey. The trauma of being forced from their homes, prolonged separation from loved ones, displacement, language barriers and poor or lapsed education compounds the academic challenges faced by refugee youth. IRC currently works with over 100 refugee students enrolled in 17 Elizabeth Public Schools, as well as 4 Roselle Public Schools, with new students arriving each month. IRC’s youth program works in collaboration with schools and families to overcome barriers and promote the academic and social success of refugee students.