Services for Refugees and Immigrants

USCRI Albany acts to meet the immediate basic needs of refugees first arriving in the Capital region, to assist them in obtaining early employment and achieving self-sufficiency, and to nurture community integration. USCRI Albany works in collaboration with state and local partners, by providing case management, employment assistance, Family Support Services and English Language Training.

Case Management
Reception & Placement (R&P) Case Managers provide newcomers with direct transitional services as well as with coordination of services and appointments. Assistance with housing, school enrollment, medical visits, and social security registration are some of the many tasks taken on by case managers. After a refugee’s first few months in the United States, case managers begin to refer clients to other service providers for additional assistance. Case managers provide assistance in a linguistically and culturally appropriate manner.

Employment Assistance
Many of our clients receive additional case management services focused on employment and self-sufficiency. Employment counselors work with refugees to help them obtain gainful employment in their communities. Employment services include an introductory instruction about the American workplace, job searching, and assistance with completing job applications and interviews. USCRI Albany strives to empower adults to begin employment as soon as possible after arrival, whether or not they speak English.

Refugee Job Club
Refugee Job Club is our newest resource to help refugees looking for employment. Refugee Job Club meets every Friday, from 2-4 pm in the USCRI Albany Classroom.

We also offer one-on-one career counseling to refugees on a drop-in basis on Mondays, 10-11 am; Wednesdays, 3-4 pm; and Thursdays 10-11 am.

All refugees who are participating in the Match Grant program are required to attend Refugee Job Club.

For more information, please contact Jill Faison at jfaison@USCRI-Albany.org or by calling (518) 459-1790 X133.

English Language Training
English language lessons are required of each adult. USCRI Albany offers free English classes for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), taught by community volunteers. Clients who arrive with higher level English skills are referred to other educational centers in the community. When an adult member of a family cannot attend English classes due to work or child care related scheduling conflicts, we attempt to find an in-home tutor to work with that individual.

Contact our office for the current schedule, to register for classes, or to volunteer as an ESOL instructor or tutor.

Family Support Services (Refugee Healthy Marriages Program)
This program helps families stay strong, united and happy while they are adapting to the many changes they are experiencing here in America. The program includes activities and courses to help families celebrate and strengthen their traditional ways of maintaining family harmony. The program also provides training in some new skills that will help the family adapt to life here in America. Courses focus on communication, financial literacy, parenting, and constructive problem solving. Contact our office to learn more; any refugee can take part in classes. We are looking for community leaders to help teach Relationship Enhancement workshops.

Immigration Clinic
USCRI Albany is a BIA accredited agency with a staff of two Accredited Representatives who consult with clients interested in filing family-based immigration applications. The Clinic offers assistance in filing adjustment of status and naturalization applications, family based petitions and some humanitarian based immigration benefits. These services are open to any eligible person in the community, whether or not they were resettled by USCRI.

If you would like to make an appointment with our Immigration Clinic, contact our office.

Please note: USCRI Albany does not offer translation or interpretation services.