Opinion: Immigration models worth paying attention to

Between the border crisis and election-year politics, immigration is frequently in the news. I don’t want to get into the politics that are going on right now, but it’s good to balance out some of the current negative stories with positive immigration stories, so here’s my take on Ukrainian refugee efforts here in Alaska. I would like to share my experience. For the past two years, I have been involved in community sponsorship efforts supporting four Ukrainian refugee families resettling in the Juneau community.

It was an uplifting and positive experience on many levels. At the top of the list is being a part of making a life-changing impact on families fleeing invasions and wars. Second, I really enjoyed being a part of a project that harnesses the heart of Juneau as a caring and giving community. These are the rewards I expected and kind of expected. However, one positive experience I didn’t expect was dealing with all the paperwork and many tasks related to housing, employment, etc. You will have the capable assistance of Catholic Social Services and New Chance Inc. – Ukraine Relief Program. These two organizations have been committed to our family every step of the way.

Thanks to the collaborative efforts of these two organizations, more than 1,000 people now call Alaska home since Alaska began accepting Ukrainian refugees in 2022.

Catholic Social Services (CCS) serves as the State of Alaska’s alternate designee, administering federal refugee agency-funded refugee services and providing Alaska’s only refugee intake and placement program. CSS currently serves more than 725 clients in Ukraine. They worked with arrivals to secure public benefits and refugee benefits while they looked for work.

With a 250% increase in refugees coming to Alaska, CSS reached out to New Chance Inc., an ethnic-based community organization in Ukraine. Two of our family members, including her, participated through a partnership between New Chance and the federal program “Unite for Ukraine.” But regardless of where a family’s connections were made, New Chance Inc. has provided valuable support to all families.

Through their cooperation, these two organizations have found 710 job placements or job upgrades for the Ukrainian community. In addition, they helped create 20 new businesses and helped 27 Ukrainians find college credits and career training.

These two organizations have been doing the heavy lifting of integrating Ukrainian refugees into Alaska, but they have also received help along the way. For example, New Chance Inc. partnered with the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation to find independent housing for 324 families. Taken together, these are impressive numbers that demonstrate how well we are supporting families along the path to independence.

Just as important as housing is sending children to school. To achieve this goal, schools in Anchorage, Massu, and Delta Junction accepted large numbers of students at once and, although it was not easy, they managed to integrate Ukrainian children into their schools. By all reports, children are loving their new school. Providence Family Medicine Center, Anchorage Neighborhood Health Center, Delta Junction Family Health Center, and Southeast Alaska Community Health Consortium completed refugee health screenings and connected arriving refugees with primary care. Alaska Literacy Program, Alaska Literacy Council, Nine Star, and the Southeast Regional Resource Center filled English classrooms to give arrivals a voice.

Remember that behind the numbers above there are people seeking relief and integration into their communities. This is where a sponsored circle (consisting of 5 or more community members) makes a big difference. It’s also where you get paid directly. Their joy is palpable when they ride a big boat or hike to a glacier for the first time. When your child wins a local chess tournament, you’ll be just as proud as your parents.

Although the creation of Sponsored Circles is a State Department reservation program designed to address Afghan refugees, we thought it was a useful model for welcoming and integrating Ukrainian refugees into Juneau. This model is still available through “Uniting for Ukraine”. However, forming a sponsor circle is not mandatory. Individuals can sign up to become a mentor online through New Chance Inc. or Catholic Social Services. Want to take your family fishing or hiking? Want to help with a holiday gathering? Be part of an immigrant success story as a volunteer.

Kate a troll The Red Cross has deployed four times to date, including to help repatriate Afghans after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. This sparked her interest in helping Ukrainian refugees.

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