NICE began its Reception and Placement (R&P) program in April of 2011. Since that time, the program has developed rapidly, resettling 102 individuals in 2011 from a variety of nations, including Bhutan, Burma, Burundi, Eretrea, Iraq, Iran and more. When refugees first arrive, they generally know very little about everyday life in America. Our team meets clients at the airport, ensures them a home cooked meal and orients them to their new life. We take care of everything refugees need upon arrival, such as finding and furnishing a new home, scheduling initial medical screenings, enrolling in all eligible social services and signing up children for school. NICE’s R&P team is here to break down barriers and ensure that the transition from life as a refugee to a life of self-sufficiency in America goes as smoothly as possible. If you want to learn more about the R&P Program at NICE, contact our Director of Resettlement, Cindy Cunningham, at cindy@empowernashville.org or Jordan Peoples at jordan@empowernashville.org .

Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) is an eight-month, employment-based eligibility program that assists our clients financially while searching for a job.  This program also gives our clients access to ESL classes to improve their English abilities in their pursuit of overall success and independence.

Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA) is used when our clients do not fit the criteria for TennCare.  New arrival refugees can be enrolled for up to eight months.  Because of this program, we are able to ensure all our clients have access to medical care in the United States.

If you want to find out more about the RCA or RMA programs at NICE, contact Stephanie at stephanie@empowernashville.org.

The Match Grant program is an alternative option to RCA.  Through the Match Grant program, refugees pursue economic and employment stability without using publicly funded cash assistance.  For their first four to six months in America, refugees receive housing and a cash allowance, as well as employment-seeking assistance and case management.  Match Grant is designed to help those refugees with higher levels of education find employment quickly; thus promoting self-sufficiency and reducing the need for government assistance.  If you want to find out more about the Match Grant program at NICE, contact Frances at frances@empowernashville.org.

The Preferred Communities (PC) Program is designed to break down the barriers, such as isolation and lack of knowledge of America, between refugees and their successful integration into American society.  This is accomplished through a variety of means, such as linking refugees with leaders and services in various fields within the community, teaching them how to use all of the transportation services available to them and helping them via employment assistance.  If you have a service to offer, want to inform NICE of resources available within the greater Nashville community, or just want to find out more about the PC program, contact Frances at frances@empowernashville.org.

The Refugee Social Services (RSS) Program is designed to help R&P clients find work quickly upon arrival in the United States.  When refugees arrive in America, they receive some monetary assistance from the government to adjust to their new life. That money is rarely enough for a family to exist, and it does not last long. The RSS program aims to help clients become self-sufficient so they are not dependent upon government assistance.  If you want to find out more about the RSS program at NICE, contact Koang at koang@empowernashville.org.

The Refugee Health Initiative is NICE’s health education program that pairs recently resettled refugees and their families with Wellness Partners, qualified community volunteers who conduct weekly, in-home visits with their assigned family.  Refugees often come to America with little experience or exposure to Western appliances, such as stoves or refrigerators, and this often makes adjusting to life in America difficult. Their overall wellbeing is essential to their long-term success in their new home. This program focuses on improving newly arrived refugees’ overall health and wellbeing to ensure their success in other areas of life, such as English and job attainment, while also attempting to educate them on basic healthy habits.

If you want to find out more about the Health Program at NICE, contact Stephanie at stephanie@empowernashville.org.