World Relief - Where We Work - United States

World Relief began offering services in DuPage County in 1979 and then opened an additional office in Aurora in 1999. We are a Christ-centered organization that partners with local churches and works with hundreds of individuals as well as community groups to offer a comprehensive range of services to refugees and immigrants living in DuPage and Kane County. The goal is to holistically assist refugees, immigrants and members of their communities to be fully functioning integrated participants in society. Each year World Relief DuPage/Aurora helps more than 5,000 clients, 90 percent of whom are low income. The focus is on helping clients who, because of language or income barriers, cannot be served by other area agencies.

Our most intensive service provisions are in Refugee Resettlement. The primary focus of this program is to assist refugees, who have fled war, torture, and persecution, to resettle in the United States with U.S. government approval. Our model of service is to link newly arriving refugees with community volunteers and churches to assist them in the process of adjusting to their new life. World Relief helps refugees by providing for their initial housing needs, connecting refugees to government services like social security and public aid, orienting refugees to American culture, and assisting with the essential needs refugees have during their first months in America. The Illinois Department of Human Services Liaison Program ensures refugees access to available public benefits and services while they transition to total self-sufficiency. Extended case management and family adjustment provides longer term support to refugees s they continue the adjustment to the cultural and social differences they face in the new culture.

The goal of our Employment Services program is to support refugees in specific ways as they transition to independence in the U.S. Early employment is critical to the overall stability and success of refugee families, so the goal is to place refugees in appropriate jobs as soon as possible as well as helping them succeed at work. Shuttle services are available to help refugees get to and from work in the first weeks of employment.

Our Youth Services Program guides parents and children through the new world of the American school system, providing orientation, communication assistance and individualized support. Private funding also helps provide for 10 after-school clubs, a refugee summer school and a high school tutoring program.

Counseling Services are available to help refugees overcome the trauma that they or their families experienced while living or escaping from their country of origin. Both individual and group counseling are offered in the refugee’s native language. The Family Strengthening Program empowers families to better cope with stressors they encounter as they adjust to life in the new culture. The Senior Services Program (Bright Ideas) teaches seniors basic English and promotes adjustment into the community through advocacy and cultural adjustment groups.

Education Services are provided by World Relief to help refugees and immigrants become self-sufficient. The following services are offered:

The Citizenship and Immigrant Legal Services of World Relief help more than 4,000 eligible area residents. Immigration services are available in Wheaton, Aurora, and Evanston. World Relief also offers group and individual citizenship application services.

Two other programs provide rent assistance, employment, case management and volunteer support. The Match Grant Program serves newly arrived refugees. The Transitional Housing Program provides support to homeless refugees and immigrants.

Volunteer and Church Relations services link refugee and immigrant families served by World Relief with local churches and Christian volunteers to facilitate life changing relationships. Recruitment, training, volunteer management and support are all offered through this program.