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 neighborhoods. Welcome Corps expands the resettlement capacity of the United States and equips sponsors to provide all the services refugee newcomers need in their first few months.
Read more about Welcome Corps, including eligibility and fundraising requirements, here:
Partner with CWS
Church World Service is excited to participate in the Welcome Corps program as a Private Sponsor Organization (PSO). As a PSO, CWS provides remote technical assistance to Private Sponsor Groups (PSGs) doing the resettlement work in their communities.
What is technical assistance?
Technical assistance includes guidance, support, and coaching from expert CWS staff for all the stages of resettlement:
- Preparing your Welcome Corps application (e.g. forming a group, fundraising)
- Preparing for newcomer arrival (e.g. finding housing, talking with schools)
- Welcoming the newcomers (e.g. airport pickup, applying for benefits)
- Helping newcomers adjust to the community (e.g. finding employment, enrolling in English language programs)
- Preparing newcomers for long-term integration (e.g. budgeting, managing healthcare)
We know many sponsors have never welcomed refugees to their communities before, so we’ll pair you with a resettlement agency staff member who will meet with you regularly over video or phone calls to answer questions and give advice. If your group encounters a problem or isn’t sure what to do next, your CWS staff member will be your first point of contact.
Interested in working with CWS as your Private Sponsor Organization? Fill out our Private Sponsor Group Interest Form and a CWS Neighbor Network staff member will contact you:
Downloadable Resources
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