Using Partnerships to Support Refugee Self-Sufficiency
Evidence | Publications

Using Partnerships to Support Refugee Self-Sufficiency

OPRE Report #2023-188
Published: Aug 25, 2023
Publisher: Washington, DC: Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Associated Project

Evidence Capacity Support for the Administration for Children and Families

Time frame: 2020-2025

Prepared for:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation

Clients
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Authors

Sarah Catherine Williams

Andrea Vazzano

Samantha Ciaravino

Lisa Kim

Key Findings
  • Securing matching funds
    • Volunteers are the most common way to meet the required match.
    • Local affiliates use a variety of in-kind and material donations to meet client needs.
    • Local affiliates use cash donations for the match less frequently than other approaches.
    • Approaches to meeting the match requirement differ by local affiliate size and capacity.
  • Partnerships
    • Local affiliates partner with a variety of businesses to provide clients with employment opportunities and training.
    • Local colleges and vocational schools are also important partners in supporting self-sufficiency.
    • Partnerships with faith-based organizations are a valuable source of volunteers and donations.
    • According to local affiliates, both affiliates and partner organizations make initial outreach attempts.
    • Regular communication and personal relationships are imperative to maintaining long-term partnerships.
    • Program visibility is critical for attracting new partners.
    • Community engagement is key to sustaining partnerships.
  • Identifying challenges and solutions
    • Challenge: Variability in refugee arrivals and availability of volunteers and in-kind donations can affect how grant recipients manage partnerships.
      • Solution: Cultivate opportunities and partnerships that are responsive to changing circumstances.
    • Challenge: Some resettlement agencies and local affiliates sometimes struggle to dedicate staff solely to developing and maintaining partnerships.
      • Solution: Encourage and train all staff to build relationships with potential partners.
      • Solution: Work with resettlement agencies to expand or replicate partnerships developed by other local affiliates.
    • Challenge: Managing and storing donations that are not aligned with refugee needs can impose a substantial burden on staff.
      • Solution: Educate the community about refugee and program needs.
    • Challenge: Volunteers sometimes struggle to set boundaries with clients.
      • Solution: Robust training programs for volunteers can help them learn how to set appropriate boundaries.

This brief describes common approaches that resettlement agencies and their local affiliates used for securing matching funds and building partnerships. It also summarizes challenges and lessons learned from grant recipients. MG grant recipients and other refugee-serving organizations can use these lessons to secure matching funds and build and maintain successful partnerships.

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