JOB DEVELOPMENT AND PLACEMENT& IMMIGRATION COUNSELING
THERE IS NO GREATER SORROW ON EARTH THAN THE LOSS OF ONE'S NATIVE LAND
Euripides, 431 B C.
Please click on the programs below for more information
Overview
Program Description
Targeted Population
Job Development
Useful Resources
Legal Services
Immigration & Family Reunification & Citizenship
Overview
Welfare dependency is the most controversial issue in the domestic social program. The immense unemployment problems facing our community demands immediate action to precisely define the boundaries of current job development programs. Moreover, unqualified job seekers experience a multitude of abuses and hardships, such as unscrupulous labor practices that deny minimum wage entitlements, inequitable housing arrangements, and limited access to legal services.
Until now, two disputable approaches are espoused by agencies to fulfill the primary mandate of job development programs.
The front-end loading model: The unqualified job seeker is supported by public assistance while being provided with extensive job training, without real assistance in job search.
The dead-end entry level model: On the assumption that prolonged exposure to public assistance will be habit forming, the unqualified individual is pushed to confront the work world with the risk of serious disorientation.
In both situations, welfare recipients may face disincentives to work, while not peculiar to the unqualified job seeker, should not be overlooked. It is therefore particularly significant to make the synthesis of the two different approaches in order to develop a program network for the service delivery.
Program Description
Helping Hands International diversifies the kinds of jobs offered to refugees.
Job referrals are made based on client aptitudes, skills and interests. Non-English speakers are placed either in jobs that do not require fluent English, or in Jobs where bilingual refugees are already employed and can serve as interpreters.
Helping Hands International references the Individual Employability Plan to assess whether the salary from the job developed will enable the client to become self-sufficient. The Family Self-Sufficiency Plan serves as basis. If there is a remainder, a plan is recorded in the case file on how the family will earn the amount of the remainder (for instance, will another family member need to work, or will there be a need for a part-time job in the addition to the full-time job, will there be a need for a job upgrade).
Although a client may be placed in a first job, Helping Hands International develops second jobs for those clients who possess the skills and educational credential for professional positions and job upgrading.
Helping Hands International is responsible for providing individualized and group career counseling to assist refugees in developing short-and long-term career goals. Job clubs are developed to enhance the client's ability to seek, obtain, and maintain gainful employment.
Helping Hands Internationally:
Clarifies Status Opportunities, Rights and Entitlements
Improves Information and Referral Services
Increases Preliminary Screening for Processing Activities, and Job Placement Services
Ameliorates the Employability of Refugee Migrants and Welfare Recipients with Mainstream Training Opportunities and Counseling Support
Develops Vocational Training Programs
Tackles Illiteracy at it Core.
Targeted Population
Targeted population for the Employment Services is:
Eligible refugees are those individuals that are defined under Title IV of the Immigration and nationality Act and have been in the United States less than three years. The following is the order of priority for refugees receiving this service:
All newly arriving refugees during their first year in the U.S. , who applied for services
Refugees who are receiving cash assistance
Unemployed refugees who are not receiving cash assistance; and
Employed refugees in need of services to retain employment or to attain economic independence
Migrants and welfare recipients
Job Development
Helping Hands International runs a minimal of six employment awareness orientation groups with:
Instruction in job search technique, proper dress, employer expectations, employee rights and responsibilities, etc
Assistance with acculturation issues and case management services that will include, but will not be limited to, providing clothing, food, information and referrals to appropriate service providers, translation/interpretation assistance, or helping them resolve a personal or family problem.
On a monthly basis, Helping Hands International conducts a 2-hour Orientation session covering topics such as:
Taking Care of Yourself
Coping with feelings of loneliness or isolation, stress, frustration, disappointment, depression
Raising self-esteem
Juggling multiple roles-spouse, parent, head of family, bread-winner
Financial difficulties and budgeting
Child development and parenting skills- infants/toddlers, young children teenagers, American laws regarding child abuse and their legal ramifications
Helping children deal with peer pressure, gangs, drugs
Department of Labor: www.dol.gov/dol/odep
www.careernet.state.md.us
www.montgomeryworks.com
www.montgomerycountymd.gov www.dors.state.md.us
www.washingtonpost.com
www.irs.gov
ELIMINATION OF PREJUDICE AND DISCRIMINATION
Although the Immigration and Naturalization Service is a crucial component in the minimum safeguarding of refugee's and migrant's rights, its policies and procedures receive little public scrutiny. Aliens are too often denied the basic rights of legal due process and equal protection guaranteed by the Constitution to all person within the United States . It is primordial to preserve due process and equal protection for refugees. For new immigrants, the struggle to adapt to a new culture is usually exacerbated by limited knowledge of available resources, the language barrier, a notable and perceived differences in culture and society.
Helping Hands International is providing services of:
Orientation and Adjustment Support
Translation and Interpretation
Immigration Counseling
Crisis Intervention
Emergency Assistance
General Domestic Assistance
Tax Preparation and Counseling
IMMIGRATION & FAMILY REUNIFICATION & CITIZENSHIP
- Orientation and Assessment,
- Explanation and Guidance through Immigration Application Procedures
- Family-based Applications,
- Family Petitions
- Family Reunification
- Adjustment of Status (Application for Permanent Residency)
- Citizenship Classes, Citizenship Preparation and Naturalization Applications
- Assistance,
- Case Status Inquiries and Investigations
- A complete list of services HHINTL provides: learn more...
Domestic Violence Immigration Program (DVIP)
- Assistance to Immigrants Affected by Domestic Violence
This program provides immigration services and representation to eligible survivors of domestic violence to apply for legal status for themselves and their children under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Our primary purpose is to assist immigrant victims of domestic violence to work and live legally in the United States , achieve independence and simply survive. Domestic Violence Immigration Program: learn more...
Citizenship & Immigration
Citizenship preparation and application assistance
Family reunification Adjustment of status
Assistance to immigrants affected by domestic violence
A complete list of services HHINTL provides:
• Orientation and assessment of immigration procedures
- Case status inquiry and investigations
- 245(a) & 245(i) Adjustment of Status packets
- Consular Processing packets from the National Visa Center (NVC)
- VAWA, U & T Visas- Fiance(e) Visas (K1 & K2, K3 & K4)- LIFE Legalizations - CSS/LULAC/Thornburgh/Meese Adjustments- TPS- Diversity Visas- ABC Adjustments- RFE's to applications
- Fingerprinting for FBI criminal background checks
- Translation of Documents (English/Spanish/French )
- Bilingual (English/ Your Language) Representation at adjustment interviews
- Bilingual (English/ Your Language) Representation at naturalization interviews
- Bilingual (English/ Your Language) Representation at VAWA interviews
- Replacement of lost documents
- Referrals to appropriate agencies
- Occasional pro-bono immigration casework done by attorneys
- Citizenship preparation classes (check calendar for current classes)
- Community educational presentations to inform public about citizenship and immigration procedures and services provided by Catholic Charities of Idaho. To schedule a Helping Hands International, Inc. Citizenship & Immigration presenter in your region, please contact the main Washington, DC Office at (202-986 HELP) (202-986-4357) . Our Citizenship & Immigration Staff are available to speak about immigration processes, domestic violence, immigration, and citizenship procedures.
Note: Services may vary slightly by location.
Specific applications filed by HHINTL's Citizenship & Immigration Program:
- AR-11 Change of Address
- DS-230 Part I & II, Application for Immigrant Visa
- DOJ-361 Certification of Identity
- G-14 Information Form
- G-28 Notice of Entry of Appearance (as Representative)
- G-325A Biographic Information
- G-639 Freedom of Information/Privacy Act Request
- G-731 Inquiry About Status of I-551 Alien Registration Card
- I-90 Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card
- I-129F Petition for Alien Fiance(e)
- I-130 Petition for Alien Relative
- I-131 Application for Travel Document
- I-212 Application for Permission to Reapply for Admission into the U.S. After Deportation or Removal (available only in some CCI locations)
- I-360 Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant
- I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or to Adjust Status
- I-485 Supplement A to Form I-485
- I-485 Supplement D for LIFE Legalization
- I-539 Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status
- I-601 Application for Waiver of Grounds of Excludability (available only in some CCI locations)
- I-751 Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence
- I-765 Application for Employment Authorization
- I-817 Application for Family Unity Benefits
- I-821 Application for Temporary Protected Status
- I-824 Application for Action on an Approved Application or Petition
- I-847 Report of Complaint
- I-864 Affidavit of Support
- I-864 Affidavit of Support Contract Between Sponsor and Household Member
- I-865 Sponsor's Notice of Change of Address
- I-914 Application for T Nonimmigrant Status
- N-400 Application for Naturalization
- N-565 Application for Replacement Naturalization Citizenship Document
- N-600 Application for Certification of Citizenship
- N-600K Application for Citizenship and Issuance of Certificate under Section 322
- N-648 Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions
- Selective Service Status Letter of Inquiry
Note: May vary slightly by location
Learn more about our Domestic Violence Immigration Program
Helpful Resources:
Citizenship & Immigration: Domestic Violence Immigration Program
Assistance to immigrants affected by domestic violence
How to get Legal Immigration Status if your Spouse Abuses You and he is or was a US Citizen or Legal Permanent Resident
Does your spouse:
Threaten to deport you or turn you in to Immigration officials?
Control where you go, what you can do, and whom you can see?
Threaten to take your children away or hurt them?
Threaten to beat you or your children or terrorize you and your children?
Hit, punch, slap, kick, push, or hurt you or your children in any way?
Insult you or your child at home or in public?
Force you to have sex when you do not want to?
If the answer to any of these questions is " Yes", you and your children may be able to receive:
- Permission to work and live the in United States and get a green card without your spouse's help.
- Assistance from Helping Hands International, Inc. (HHINTL) to submit a "Violence Against Women Act Application" to Immigration Services to get legal status.
DVIP services HHINTL provides:
Advocacy and liaison between clients and Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) officers
Initial assessment and safety plan
CIS documentation preparation
Immigration case management
Representation before the Board of Immigration appeals
Counseling Services (with HHINTL, MSW staff worker)
Educational session of VAWA eligibility
Referrals
Learn more about Citizen & Immigration Services
Helpful Resources:
Violence Against Women Office
How do I apply for Immigration Benefits as a Battered Spouse or Child?
The National Domestic Violence Hotline :
1-800-799- SAFE (7233)
1-800-787-3224 (TTY)
National Sexual Violence Resource Center
1-877-739-3895 (toll-free)
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services: www.uscis.gov
US Department of Justice: www.usdoj.gov
Adm. For Children and Families: www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/ORR
UNHRC: www.unhcr.org
www.state.gov
