Refugee Services
For the past 40 years, the Jewish Federation has contracted with the State of Illinois (specifically with the Illinois Department of Human Services) to administer federally funded Refugee Services programs across the State. In that capacity, we currently subcontract with 15 Refugee Services agencies across Illinois, and those agencies carry out the day-to-day work of serving refugees and other qualified immigrants. Our role is the administer the programs, providing programmatic, administrative, and fiscal oversight, as well as providing technical assistance and support and coordinating services across the statewide network of providers.
From 7/2024 – 2/2025 these programs served more than 9,000 individuals in Illinois:
- Employment & Case Management Services – primary program in Illinois that assists refugees, asylees, and other eligible immigrants to achieve stability, secure employment, and become financially self-sufficient.
- Housing Assistance – provides housing assistance funds to refugees, asylees, and other eligible immigrants who have access to no other sources of housing support, with a focus on creating stability that facilitates movement toward employment and financial self-sufficiency.
- Job Readiness English Language Training (JRELT) – provides English language training to refugees, asylees, and other eligible immigrants with a focus on the English skills required to secure and maintain employment.
- Refugee School Impact Services – provides support to refugee, asylee, and other eligible immigrant children birth through 12th grade, with a focus on academic support, school support, kindergarten preparedness, and social adjustment.
- Youth Mentoring – provides social, educational, and vocational supports to refugee, asylee, and other eligible immigrant youth and young adults.
- Services to Older Refugees – seeks to ensure that refugee, asylee, and other eligible immigrant seniors aged 60 and older have access to services for the aging and provides senior services not otherwise available in the community.
- Behavioral Health – provides group and individual behavioral health services by qualified providers to refugees, asylees, and other eligible immigrants.
3,262
clients received health screenings in FY 2025
1,763
individuals were served in the Refugee Health Promotion program
67%
of participants in the Job Readiness English Language Training program advanced to a higher English class or graduated from their English program
Learn more about the Illinois Refugee Resettlement Program
Contact: Alison Bell, Assistant Vice President of Refugee Services | [email protected] | 312‑357‑4946