FY 2009 Reception and Placement Program

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The Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (hereinafter referred to as the "Bureau") welcomes the submission of proposals for the FY 2009 Reception and Placement (R&P) Program for the initial resettlement of refugees in the United States, overseen by the Bureau. The deadline for submission of proposals is July 23, 2008. The purpose of the R&P Program is to promote the effective resettlement of all persons who are admitted to the United States under the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. To accomplish this goal, the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) recognizes the desirability for public or private non-profit organizations to provide initial reception and placement services and to assist refugees to achieve economic self-sufficiency as quickly as possible. The goals of the R&P Program administered by the Bureau are: (1) to support maintenance of appropriate national capacity for the resettlement of refugees, in accordance with admissions ceilings determined annually by the President after consultation with Congress; (2) to ensure the ability to receive into the United States, promptly after their approval, all refugees approved for admission under applicable provisions of the INA; (3) to ensure that all refugees approved for admission to the United States are provided with sponsorship and resettlement services appropriate to their personal circumstances; and (4) to assist refugees in achieving economic self-sufficiency in coordination with other refugee services and assistance programs authorized by the INA.The Bureau's purpose in entering into Cooperative Agreements as part of its R&P Program is to provide partial financial support to non-profit organizations that have experience in refugee resettlement. Participating organizations are expected to combine such financial assistance with existing and projected private resources for the provision of placement and initial resettlement services for refugees admitted to the United States during the period October 1, 2008 through September 30, 2009. The Bureau intends to award a limited number of Cooperative Agreements in FY 2009 to well-qualified non-profit organizations able to offer a broad range of services in multiple geographic areas in the United States. This will include agencies that have demonstrated satisfactory performance under previous agreements with the Bureau and/or agencies that have demonstrated capacity to provide core services, including: • Sponsorship assurances;• Pre-arrival resettlement planning;• Airport reception;• Basic needs support for at least 30 days, including the provision of: decent, safe, and sanitary housing; essential furnishings; food or a food allowance; necessary clothing and other basic necessities;• At least one home visit, other than initial housing orientation visit, within the first 30 days by affiliate staff, co-sponsor, or other designated representative;• Case management, including counseling, adjustment, and referral services throughout the initial 90-day R&P period;• Community orientation;• Referral to physical and mental health services; and• Referral to employment services.If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact:Ashley Marcus 202-663-1051marcusab@state.gov Office of AdmissionsBureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationU.S. Department of State2401 E Street, NW, Suite. L505Washington, DC 20522

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