Refugees from Burma (Myanmar) spend an average of 10-15 years in a refugee camp before coming to America. They get 3 days head’s up before coming to the United States. They take out a government loan of several thousand dollars that they must pay back just to get here. They are then assigned a caseworker from a resettlement agency. This agency and the refugee(s) have 90 days to learn a completely new language and culture, understand school systems, public transportation, healthcare – everything from Winter clothing to brushing their teeth. After 90 days, the federal government stops supporting the refugees all together. The resettlement agency, due to overwhelming demand, must be off to assist the next incoming family. So who takes over?

People like me.

We (these public-private partnerships) are actually BANNED from working with the newest arrivals until after the 90 days. If you’re thinking the federal government is going to do anything to help, you are wrong. The federal government is already failing these families by offering lackluster support and having extremely unrealistic demands. (Imagine having to learn to read, write, and speak Burmese fluently in 90 days. It takes close to 7 years to attain fluency in any language.)

After 90 days, many refugees have nothing and no one to support them. Non-profits, including churches, do our best to pick up the slack. Do you want the data-driven, fact-based, cost-effective model of success for refugee assistance throughout Iowa?

THE NAVIGATOR PROGRAM.

Here’s how Navigator Programs work:

1 – Identify leaders in the community.

2 – Partner with the (private) service-providers.

3 – Develop culturally appropriate curriculum to assist the service-providers in teaching vital life skills (healthcare, for example).

4 – Once the refugee community leaders have a firm grasp on the material, they go out and teach the rest of the refugee community the skills they’ve learned.

Teach 10 navigators the skills they need to be independent and have each 1 of those 10 teach those skills to 10 other people. Now you have 100 people who are one step closer to gaining independence.

That IS a public-private partnership that is working unbelievably well. The results are astounding! Non-profits and service-providers cannot keep up financially or otherwise with the needs of the refugee community. This is where YOU come in.

The “pilot” program suggested in the bill has already seen success. It’s already happening. As a matter of fact, non-profits based in Iowa are gaining national attention for their innovation and successes. Gov. Ray did great work that had a long-lasting impact in the lives of thousands. Gov. Branstad can have the same if he backs the bill in the 2016 session. With or without the support of politicians in Des Moines or D.C., we won’t stop working 60+ hours a week for near minimum wage to show these newcomers that the American Dream is real.