Neighbor Network
Welcome to the CWS Neighbor Network!
The Neighbor Network is a collective of community groups, churches, and other organizations who are welcoming refugees and humanitarian parolees to the United States through private sponsorship.
Private sponsorship provides an additional resettlement pathway for individuals whose home countries are no longer safe. Many of these people have been displaced for years as they wait for the opportunity to be welcomed into a new country. By agreeing and preparing to sponsor, you and your neighbors can provide a safe place to land for some of the world’s most vulnerable people.
Helping someone begin their journey in a new country is both more rewarding and more challenging than many people expect. To help ensure groups are prepared for the responsibilities of sponsorship, Neighbor Network groups are partnered with CWS staff who provide training, resources, expertise, and remote technical assistance through the first 3-6 months after a newcomer arrives.
Interested in learning more about welcoming through the Neighbor Network? Fill out our interest form below to learn more.
Neighbor Network groups welcome through a variety of lawful immigration pathways, including:
Welcome Corps
In January 2023, the U.S. Department of State announced the launch of the Welcome Corps, a new program that allows community members to sponsor and welcome refugees to their communities. CWS acts as both a member of the consortium leading Welcome Corps and as a Private Sponsor Organization providing oversight and support to groups.
Humanitarian Parole
CWS supports sponsor groups welcoming newcomers through both the Uniting for Ukraine and Processes for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans pathways.
Building Bonds of Welcome
In the heart of McPherson, Kansas, a community of just over 14,000 residents, a dedicated group of individuals has come together with a singular mission: to sponsor and support Ukrainian families seeking refuge and opportunity in their town. Over the course of their first year, the McPherson Welcomers sponsored a total of nine individuals, with two more families of four expected to arrive in the near future. Now, McPherson boasts its own vibrant Ukrainian community, with newly arrived residents putting down roots and contributing to the fabric of the town.
How to Become a Sponsor Through Neighbor Network
Stay updated
Sign up for the Neighbor Network Newsletter to get information about upcoming interest calls, grant opportunities, resources, program updates and stories of community members welcoming newcomer neighbors.