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A practical, human-centered micro-lesson offering creative strategies for communicating with newcomers when interpreters are unavailable, using visuals, pacing, empathy, tone, and stress-aware techniques.

A practical micro-lesson on how staff can work effectively with interpreters by building a three-person communication team that strengthens clarity, rapport, and client trust.

A guide to show case workers, clients, and community members how they can quickly find, download, and save an I-94 record online for benefits, ID, and work authorization.

Learn how unconscious bias appears in everyday service delivery and discover simple, practical strategies to slow down assumptions and strengthen fair, respectful client interactions.

A quick lesson to introduce simple, practical skills for communicating respectfully and effectively with clients from diverse cultural backgrounds, including how values, norms, and cultural patterns shape interactions.

Newsletter that shares community updates, announcements, and important information relevant to for California newcomers, and the caseworkers and community members who support them.

Every year, Switchboard receives an abundance of questions from case managers about how to balance caseloads, paperwork requirements, and other challenging aspects of case management, such as setting boundaries with clients and creating self-care regimens. This webinar provides guidance on some of our most frequently asked questions on these topics. While there are no easy answers to these complex challenges, we share ideas that have helped many experienced case managers.

Refugee and newcomer clients face a wide range of stressors that can contribute to crises before and during their resettlement, yet service providers are not always trained or licensed to respond to mental or physical health crises. This guide shares recommendations for non-clinical service providers to offer health crisis management to clients. Content warning: This resource discusses suicide.

As of January 1, 2026, all newly arrived refugees and Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders are eligible to be served under the Program of Initial Resettlement (PIR). This new program, operated by the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Servies (HHS), provides case management, housing placement, direct financial assistance, and referrals to support new arrivals with their immediate and essential needs. Keep reading for guidance on meeting the needs of your clients and the requirements outlined in ORR’s PIR instructions issued January 7, 2026.

Service providers who want to build healthy working relationships with clients must establish clear boundaries early and maintain them throughout the service period. Appropriate boundaries are crucial to trauma-informed care. They help set realistic expectations for the service relationship and engender safety and accountability for clients and staff alike.

This tip sheet will help you incorporate digital literacy into your case management practice to support newcomer clients in building self-sufficiency. When clients improve their digital literacy skills, they gain confidence and are better equipped to engage with you, other service providers, and their new communities.

Family Emergency Preparedness & Know Your Rights presentation, each weekly webinar will have a different themed presentation such as Mental Health & Community Wellness, Rapid Response & Community Safety, Dental Coverage Updates & Resources, just to name a few.

Developed by the City of San Diego, this Immigrant Resources Toolkit is a centralized guide designed to help community organizations and service providers connect immigrants and asylum seekers with trusted support services. The toolkit includes extensive listings of immigration legal providers, rapid response hotlines, and access to critical resources such as healthcare, food assistance, housing and shelter, childcare, and mental health services. It serves as a practical, easy-to-navigate reference to support newly arrived individuals and families in meeting their immediate needs and accessing ongoing community care.

Hosted on July 9, 2025, the training was delivered byKristen Nilsen, Mentoring Attorney, VECINA; Patty First, Executive Coach, Patty First Coaching, LLC and Chief Strategy & Impact Officer, Raben; Jori McChesney, LHMC, NCC, Psychotherapist, West Seattle Wellness; and, Kathy Purnell, JD, PhD, Director and Managing Attorney of Human/Civil Rights Law Center. Working in a field where compassion meets complexity, immigration legal service providers often face relentless emotional and systemic pressures that can quietly build into burnout. In this roundtable, our panel of experts will dive deep into the realities of burnout among immigration legal service providers. We’ll explore the root causes that contribute to burnout and how to recognize early warning signs. We’ll also discuss tangible strategies at both the personal and professional levels to support sustained well-being. This roundtable will offer participants the opportunity to engage with our expert panelists through case scenarios and a Q&A session. By the end of this webinar, you will be able to: – Explain general and current causes of burnout among immigration legal service providers – Identify 12 warning signs of burnout for immigration legal service providers – Apply organizational and personal strategies to minimize burnout and maximize personal well-being

Webinar Overview Resettlement work is deeply meaningful and impactful, but it comes with challenges such as complex client needs, evolving organizational dynamics, and difficulties sustaining personal well-being. This workshop offers trauma-informed strategies to help staff recognize and manage compassion fatigue while maintaining healthy professional boundaries. This session will include discussions using real-world scenarios that will challenge participants to explore practical strategies for self-care, peer support, and sustained engagement in their work. What I Will Learn After participating in this event, you will be able to: Describe how sustained empathy and commitment to clients can impact emotional well-being Identify signs of compassion fatigue and moral distress in yourself and others Apply core trauma-informed strategies for setting and maintaining healthy professional boundaries Implement self-care techniques and peer support approaches in your day-to-day work to reduce isolation and support well-being Who Will Benefit? Community members who support newcomers Service providers working with newcomers

The second in a two-part series, this Settle In video guides newcomers through the next steps of their mental health care. Building on Part one, this video answers two key questions: “How do I find the right support?” and “What should I expect?” This video covers: • How to choose a provider: A guide to considering health insurance, location, language needs, and professional qualifications. • Your first session: A walkthrough of what to expect, from consent forms to the questions a provider might ask. • Different professional roles: An explanation of what case managers and counselors do. • Continuing care: Advice on deciding if a provider is a good fit and why follow-up appointments matter. This video clarifies the process of finding and beginning treatment with a mental health provider, helping newcomers access care with confidence. This content is available in Arabic, Burmese, English, Kinyarwanda, and Swahili.

The first in a two-part series, this Settle In video helps newcomers understand and access mental health care in the U.S. It explains the different types of support available. This video covers: • Recognizing when adults and children may need support, with common signs like changes in sleep, mood, or social habits. • The different types of support, from personal relationships to professional services. • An explanation of professional care, including therapy, support groups, medication, and emergency help through the 988 Lifeline. • A review of patient rights and responsibilities, such as consent, interpretation services, and confidentiality. This video gives newcomers the information to make confident decisions about their mental health. Part two explains what to expect in your first counseling session. This content is available in Arabic, Burmese, English, Kinyarwanda, and Swahili.

Moving to a new country is a major life change, and stress is a normal feeling. This Settle In video explains how to manage stress and provides practical tools to help newcomer families build resilience and support their well-being. This video covers: • How to recognize common physical and emotional signs of stress in adults and children. • Positive coping skills for newcomers, such as keeping routines, getting enough sleep, moving your body, and honoring your culture. • A simple, four-step guide to building new coping skills in just 5 to 15 minutes a day. • How to spot signs of stress in young children and how caregivers can help them feel safe and manage their feelings.

This Settle In video helps newcomers understand emotional health and wellness as they adjust to life in the U.S. It explains what emotional wellness means and how it affects all parts of life, including relationships, work, physical health, and decision-making. The video introduces five ways to support your emotional health, including being mindful, connecting with others, managing stress and caring for your body. The video also shows how to recognize signs that you may need professional help, such as prolonged sadness, changing sleep patterns, or trouble with daily tasks. It guides viewers on how to find support and explains the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — a free, confidential resource available 24/7 in more than 240 languages by phone or text. This content is available in Arabic, Burmese, English, Kinyarwanda, and Swahili. The goal is to empower newcomers to take charge of their well-being and find the support they need.

Stress is a normal reaction to various changes in life. Stress is both physical and emotional. People feel stress in their bodies through changes in sleep, appetite, energy levels, or general health. People also experience stress emotionally through feelings of fear, anger, excitement, or sadness.

Hosted on September 4th, 2025, the training was delivered by ​​Jenna Christie-Tabron, LMSW, MFT, Senior Training Officer, Switchboard​ and ​​Megan Rafferty, MA, LPC, LAC, Mental Health and Wellness Training Officer, Switchboard. While filled with hope and possibility, resettlement can be an extremely stressful process. Newcomers often face unfamiliar systems, new employment, high living costs, cultural adjustments, and the emotional toll of loss and isolation. These pressures during this formidable time of change can sometimes become overwhelming, resulting in heightened emotions and potential escalation. Not every crisis is avoidable, but many can be prevented through trauma-informed approaches to client care. This webinar will explore prevention strategies and the four core actions of de-escalation so you can respond calmly and effectively when tensions rise. You will learn how to support clients through high-stress moments in ways that promote safety, connection, and trust. By the end of this webinar, you will be able to: – Describe escalation and recognize early warning signs in newcomer clients – Explain trauma-informed approaches to crisis preparation at the client, staff, and organizational levels – Apply the four core actions of de-escalation in resettlement settings

Many mental health screening tools are designed and tested with Western patients and clients in mind, and do not take into consideration how mental health problems present or are perceived within varying cultural contexts and communities. To provide truly effective mental health care and service referrals, screening must be conducted with attentiveness to these individual contexts and perspectives, fostering trust and improving treatment outcomes. This webinar will delve into the critical aspects of mental health screening practices for newcomers. Participants will receive practical guidance on selecting the most suitable screening tools, asking sensitive questions, and effectively utilizing interpreters during screening. Additionally, the webinar will explore insights from a recent research project on the development of a culturally validated mental health screening tool for resettled Afghan youth and their caregivers. This webinar is designed for refugee service providers who want to learn more about mental health screening with refugee and newcomer populations. It will also be valuable for researchers interested in culturally adaptating assessment tools.

This tip sheet provides practical guidance for service providers and caregivers, such as foster parents. It focuses on supporting the mental and behavioral health of newcomer teens and emerging adults, including youth in the Unaccompanied Refugee Minor (URM) program. This guidance is not a clinical or diagnostic tool. Instead, it encourages noticing changes, listening with curiosity, and offering supportive first responses when a youth shares a concern. For more in-depth guidance, see resources from the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants’ (USCRI) Refugee Youth Resource Center, including tools on recognizing distress, culturally responsive conversations with youth and caregivers, and connecting families to support.

Newsletter that shares community updates, announcements, and important information relevant to for California newcomers, and the caseworkers and community members who support them.

This resource explains how organizations can support refugee and newcomer families in moving from renting to sustainable homeownership, highlighting strategies that strengthen financial stability, community connections, and long-term resilience. It outlines a replicable model that service providers and community groups can adapt, including partnerships, education, and culturally responsive support to help families navigate the homebuying process. By focusing on stability and equity, it offers guidance that can help communities reduce housing insecurity and better prepare households for future challenges.