General Resources

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General Resources

Helping Refugees Adjust to American Culture

Refugee Resettlement RefugeeOne and the resettlement process
RefugeeOne services & timeline
Journey to Self-Reliance
Inter-cultural Communication Culture shock and diversity
Iceberg Concept of Culture
Cultural Humility Links to a website that introduces the reader to different facets of understanding culture
Setting and Keeping Boundaries
USAHello Comprehensive guide to resettlement in the US

Culture Guides
In the first quarter of 2022, we'll be welcoming mostly Afghan evacuees.

Afghan Culture Guide

But, we expect arrivals of refugees from all over the world to pick up again in the spring! In last few years, RefugeeOne has served large numbers of refugees from Burma, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Syria, plus others from countries like Eritrea, Central African Republic, Moldova, Iran, Iraq, Palestine, and more.

Click here to find information on more cultures and countries.

Additional Training Opportunities:

Literacy Works (Adult Literacy and ELL Tutoring Resources)
Illinois Secretary of State (Adult Literacy Online Training)
LINCS: Community, Courses, and Resources for Adult Education (Online Training) LINCS offers free online classes. They can be completed in 1-5 hours and are self-paced.
New American Horizons (Online Training) These trainings are geared toward teachers working in a classroom, but a lot of the principles and skills cross over into tutoring.
Switchboard Webinars and guides for refugee service providers.
MENTOR National Webinars and guides for mentoring both youth and adults.

Refugee Reading and Resource Lists
These reading and resources lists point you to great books, films, and podcasts that address refugees and the refugee experience. They have been curated by RefugeeOne staff, interns, volunteers, and supporters.

Refugees globally and the resettlement process
Find information about the US resettlement program, statistics on refugees globally, or current data on refugee resettlement trends.

United Nations High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR)
International Organization for Migration (IOM)
U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (Department of State)
United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS)

Supporting Survivors of Trauma
Many refugees have experienced trauma in their home country, on their journey to Chicago, or even after they arrive. You don't have to know all the details of your refugee partner's experience in order to offer trauma-informed care.

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