Refugee Resettlement Program
About Us
The Refugee Resettlement Program (RRP) receives grants from the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) and funds local statewide organizations to provide critical services to refugees. RRP ensures provision and coordination of services that help refugees achieve economic self-sufficiency and social adjustment upon their arrival in Oklahoma.
- Programs
- Eligibility
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Resources
Refugees are eligible for numerous state-administered programs. The following programs, however, are uniquely offered to refugees resettling within the State of Oklahoma:
- Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA)
Time limited financial assistance provided to incentive early job acceptance and economic self-sufficiency
- Refugee Support Services (RSS)
Services/activities that promote English language training, early employment, and social adjustment including but not limited to interpretation/translation assistance as well as citizenship and naturalization preparation.
- Refugee School Impact (RSI)
Services/activities that promote academic performance and successful integration of children and youth ages 5 (or the age at which they enter school) until the age of 18 through facilitating educational access, and increasing school districts’ capacity to support children, youth and families.
- Refugee Health Promotion (RHP)
|Services/activities that promote the health and well-being of refugees and by providing opportunities to increase health literacy, coordinating health care and organizing wellness groups.
- Refugee Youth Mentoring (YM)
Services/activities that match eligible youth (ages 15 – 24) with positive adult mentors who provide the youth with positive personalized interaction to promote positive civic and social engagement and support individual educational and vocational advancement.
- Services to Older Refugees (SOR)
Services/activities that support integration and wellness for refugees aged 60 and above allowing individuals to increase integration and independent healthy living.
Individuals under humanitarian protection who have been approved with any of these statuses are eligible for resettlement program benefits.
Refugees are generally people outside of their country who are unable or unwilling to return home because they fear serious harm. For a legal definition of refugee, see section 101(a)(42) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).
Yes. “Refugee” is a legal status and is a form of protection that may be granted to people who meet the definition of refugee and who are of special humanitarian concern to the United States.
Refugees help Oklahoma’s economy by:
- Actively participating in the workforce;
- Paying taxes;
- Owning their own businesses;
- Buying homes;
- Learning English; and
- Becoming U.S. citizens
The state offers affordable housing, a comparatively low cost of living, and one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country. Oklahoma is also known for expanded Medicaid and its immigration and legal service providers assisting refugees with timely adjustment-of-status help.
The U.S. Department of State has created several avenues for individuals and groups to support refugees during and after their arrival in the United States. These programs included Sponsor Circles, Uniting for Ukraine, Welcome Corps and the Processes for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans.
The Refugee Resettlement Program (RRP) collaborates with local organizations to provide services to refugees across the state of Oklahoma. To find the partner organization nearest to your area, visit the Benefit and Service Providers page.
