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RESETTLEMENT
One week after the orientation at JFS, Yelena brought Svetlana and Vladimir back to the Resettlement Program for their first vocational appointment. At this appointment, the coordinator reviewed the important appointments of the week. The family had enrolled Tatyana in public school and she was off to a good start. They had applied for Social Security numbers and Medicaid and Food Stamps. Because they had a problem filling prescriptions for the girls, the coordinator called to the Department of Social Services and clarified for the family the missing information in the application for Medicaid. During the initial vocational appointment the counselor gathered information about their previous work history, education, and special skills, abilities, and interests. There was an initial discussion to assess if there might be any limitations on their activities due to health considerations. The goals, requirements, and benefits of early self-sufficiency based on employment were reviewed and emphasized. The vocational counselor took time to discuss the origins of the financial support from the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford and from the State welfare system and the goals and requirements of these programs in terms of early employment. A bilingual book on the job seeking process was presented.
Weekly vocational appointments followed during which they were guided and assisted in the following:
Vladimir had been a machine maintenance mechanic in a tool and gun manufacturing plant. He was not familiar with computerized numerically controlled (CNC) machinery, nor could he read manuals and communicate with staff in English. He was introduced to several people who worked in different manufacturing plants. He quickly interviewed in several plants with the assistance of the JFS translator. By the third month in the U.S.A. Vladimir was supporting his own family through work as a machine operator. At that point, Svetlana decided to study English and to provide child care for her baby, and to postpone her job search. After six months in the U.S.A., she attended a group workshop at JFS on career development. After one year in the U.S.A., her English was good enough to take a college course and she enrolled in an entry level computer programming class at a community college. The Resettlement Program provided a partial scholarship in addition to the partial financial aid package which the school had awarded to her.
After one month in the U.S.A., the Resettlement Program coordinator and translator had visited the home to ensure that it met basic standards of safety and to review the family's adjustment. Raisa was not attending the volunteer-run English classes for 'seniors' at Beth Israel Synagogue because she was feeling too depressed and anxious to leave the apartment. She was referred to the Russian speaking social worker at JFS and also guided to discuss her feelings of depression with her medical doctor. An American born volunteer had been meeting with Svetlana and Vladimir to practice English for one hour each week. A high school student who was fluent in English and Russian was assigned to meet weekly with Raisa in her home to encourage her to begin to learn English and to explore the community. Raisa was also guided and assisted in applying for SSI and State Supplement based on her age and income at this time. The Resettlement Program coordinator followed-up with Raisa one month later. She was complaining of many health and adjustment problems. She was receiving medical treatment for severe depression, arthritis, high blood pressure, and a stomach ulcer.The coordinator arranged for an assessment by a case manager from Connecticut Community Care Inc. (CCCI). CCCI arranged for home health care services by Russian speaking providers and also for Raisa to attend the Day Program at The Hebrew Home and Hospital. The Resettlement Program translated all documents for the family which would be necessary when applying for future INS benefits, such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, and death certificates. The translator gave Raisa the application to apply for restitution from the German government and he translated her personal story for this application for Hardship Funds.
During the family's first year in the U.S.A., The Resettlement Program congratulated them on many holidays and presented them with bilingual books about these holidays. The collaboration of various local organizations and synagogues with Jewish Family Service greatly enriched the family's sense of welcome and invitation to participate in American and Jewish holidays. The Greater Hartford Jaycees provided traditional Thanksgiving food and the Resettlement Program staff presented it to the refugee families who were celebrating their first Thanksgiving. Raisa and her family were also given a bilingual book about Reverend Martin Luther King on Martin Luther King Day and a bilingual book about voting on Election Day. The Connecticut Chapter of B'nai Brith and several synagogue sisterhoods and youth groups provided traditional food for recently arrived refugees' first Passover in the U.S.A. The Resettlement Program presented this food to Raisa's family and assisted them in attending their first Seder in the U.S.A. Likewise they were offered assistance in attending services during the High Holidays of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. For Hanukkah, The Resettlement Program had the pleasure of presenting a Menorah and candles and gifts for the children, Tatyana and Anna, donated by the Jewish Children's Service Organization (JCSO) and by Gifts of Love, a non-profit organization in Avon.
After they had resided for one year in the U.S.A., The Resettlement Program offered guidance and assistance in applying for Status Adjustment (commonly called 'Green Card') from the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). One year later when they finally received their Permanent Resident Cards, the date was incorrectly registered as one year after their arrival date in the U.S.A. As a refugee, the date of lawful permanent residence should be rolled back to the date of entry into the U.S.A.; and eligibility for U.S. naturalization is at least five years from that date. The Resettlement Program coordinator worked with the national liaison from HIAS to remedy the mistake at the Nebraska Service Center of the INS, which processes all refugee applications for Status Adjustment.
Raisa was adjusting well. She was attending the Day Program every day and studying English there and also on Thursday evenings at the Beth Israel Synagogue. On weekends she went with her daughter and son-in-law and grandchildren to the Jewish Community Center where she took a water aerobics class and participated in a club for veterans and survivors of World War II. The family joined Beth Israel Synagogue. They enrolled both girls in Hebrew school. When Tatyana turned thirteen she had a Bat Mitzvah.
After they were in the U.S.A. for four years, the Resettlement Program invited Raisa to attend a course to prepare her for her citizenship test. At the interview, Raisa, Svetlana and Vladimir all passed their tests on U.S. history and civics, demonstrated basic knowledge of English, and good moral character and allegiance to the U.S.A. The family was scheduled for the Oath of Allegiance on the day before Anna was to start kindergarten! Now Vladimir is a manager at work; and he volunteers to assist recently arrived refugees with a factory background in the production of their first resume and with an introduction to the U.S. manufacturing environment. Svetlana is working as a computer programmer; and she and Tatyana volunteer together to assist a newly arrived elderly refugee with beginning English. The family exemplifies good citizenship. Introduction | Mission | Affiliates | Services | Case
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