FEATURED PROGRAM FOR
MARCH 2003

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REFUGEE YOUTH PROGRAM

Administering Organization
Refugee Family Services, Inc. (RFS) (formerly Newcomers' Network)

Program Objectives and Unique Needs Addressed
This program offers academic, emotional, and social support to help refugee children access the positive parts of American culture and maintain a strong relationship with their own cultural heritage. The program works to prevent violence, juvenile delinquency, teen pregnancy, substance abuse, and youth dropping out of school.

Program Description
The Refugee Youth Program includes free after-school activities, a one-to-one tutoring component, summer day camps, health and safety skills, community service, conflict resolution, sports and recreation, art, and environmental education. The one-to-one tutors work with children in the evenings on academic skills in English, including reading, comprehension, and grammar.

Groups Served by Program
The program serves refugee youth in grades 1-8, in after-school, summer camp, and enrichment components. One-to-one tutoring serves youth, grades 1-12, from Bosnia, Vietnam, Sudan, Somalia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Sierra Leone, Gambia, and Nigeria.

Resource Materials Used in Program
RFS's one-to-one tutoring component develops both individualized curricula for student participants and tests (pre and post) to measure youths' progress in English-language skills. The youths take these tests periodically before, during, and after participating in tutoring.

For staff and volunteer trainings, RFS utilizes videos and pamphlets from the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to enhance awareness of the "refugee experience."

Program Staffing and Required Staff Training
Volunteers assist in all parts of the Refugee Youth Program. Current staff, including part-time youth staff, are from Bosnia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Somalia, Sudan, Afghanistan, and the U.S.

Staff receive training in cultural sensitivity, classroom management, curriculum development, discipline with dignity, child abuse/neglect safety protocol, and first aid/CPR.

Defining Program Success
RFS's Refugee Youth Program is successful if the youth have improved academically (especially in English skills and with one-to-one tutoring) and if they develop more independence with homework. The program looks for improvement in self-esteem and self-reliance, and attempts to enhance community-building and socialization skills. RFS measures success on these outcomes with a number of tests in English skills given both before and after participation in the program, and with evaluations and surveys.

Program Outcomes
In one-to-one tutoring, 97% of students increased knowledge of academic English; 92% began to develop more self-esteem and self-reliance; and 97% developed a positive mentor relationship with an adult.

Other Key Elements
The Refugee Youth Program also works closely with the Refugee Family Service School Liaison Project to link refugee parents, students and schools in DeKalb County.

The program collaborates with other youth-serving agencies, including DeKalb County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA); Georgia Center for Children; Georgia Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS); and Families First. The program also collaborates with local colleges and universities, and organizations committed to the development of youth, such as Moving in the Spirit dance program, Girl Scouts, Alliance Theatre, and Oakhurst Community Gardens.

Program Contact
Katherine Dhongade
Refugee Family Services, Inc. (RFS) (formerly Newcomers' Network)
3647 Market Street, Clarkston, GA 30021

Program Dates
This program began in 1998; it is still operating.

Learn about RFS and its other programs.

You can find more programs and information about this and other organizations by searching the BRYCS Clearinghouse.