Migration and Refugee Services (MRS) “welcomes the stranger” with open arms, helping those escapingpersecution begin new lives with dignity. Our multilingual, multicultural staff offers comprehensive services and begins assisting refugee clients pre-arrival by finding suitable housing and stocking the home with food and furnishings. Families are greeted at the airport and we work with them every step of the way to adjust to their new homes. This includes assisting with employment search and placement, school registration, English language training, and cultural orientation classes.

Most refugee families are financially self-sufficient within four months of arriving in the U.S. We also assist other immigrant populations with case management referrals, employment assistance, and English language training for up to the first five years in the United States.

We have been resettling refugees in the metro area since 1975 as Kentucky’s official representative of the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops, one of nine U.S. agencies that has a cooperative agreement with the federal government to resettle refugees.

Our case managers oversee all logistical elements of the resettlement process, refer clients to outside agencies, and assist clients with other self-sufficiency barriers.

Resettlement Case Management Services:
Pre-arrival arrangements:

  1.  Find suitable housing for families
  2. Deliver household items and furniture
  3. Purchase food and deliver it to the home

Airport arrival:

  1. Pick up families and transport them to their home
  2. Provide brief orientation and review safety considerations (electrical outlets, oven, etc.)

Core Services:

  1. Making in-house and community referrals
  2. Ongoing case management
  3. Ensure clients have social security cards and immigration documents
  4. Connect clients to public benefits
  5. Transport to cultural orientations and other initial appointments

Refugee Social Services:

  1. Apply for public benefits
  2. Provide interpretation services as needed.
  3. Arrange refugee health screenings and connect clients to Primary Care Physicians and Mental Health Resources
    1. Caseworkers work with community partners to provide incoming refugee clients and their families with an initial medical and mental assessment and Green Card vaccinations. These screenings also give clients early access to necessary medications and appointments with specialists.
    2. Our mental health caseworker makes referrals to outside agencies for mental health treatment.

Medicaid assistance

  1. Caseworkers assists clients with applying and accessing Medicaid.
  2. Connect clients to Immigration Legal Services that can assist clients with adjusting their immigration status and family reunification.

Our comprehensive English Language Training program encompasses a range of offerings tailored to adult learners seeking proficiency in English as a Second Language (ESL). These services include:

  1. Adult ESL Classes: Available from Monday to Thursday, our classes offer flexible morning and afternoon schedules to accommodate diverse needs. For eligibility and enrollment inquiries, please contact Zeljana Javorek.
  2. Cultural Orientation: Specifically designed for newly arrived refugees, our cultural orientation program equips participants with essential information and resources to navigate life and culture in the United States. Our aim is to facilitate successful integration into the local community.
  3. Family Empowerment Classes: Our curriculum focuses on empowering parents by enhancing their understanding of family dynamics and the challenges associated with enculturation. Topics covered include family relationships, physical and mental health, and fostering healthy communication patterns.
  4. Onsite Childcare: We provide childcare services for children aged birth to 5 years old to facilitate parents’ attendance in ESL classes.
  5. Computer Instruction: Integrated into ESL instruction, our curriculum includes technology training to equip students with essential digital skills. This component enables learners to navigate useful websites, apply for employment opportunities, and utilize other self-sufficiency resources. For many students, this serves as their initial exposure to technology.
  6. Driver’s Education: Our driver’s education course is designed to guide students through the process of obtaining a driver’s permit and license. Through comprehensive instruction on driver safety and the rules of the road, we aim to promote responsible and safe driving practices.

For further information or to inquire about enrollment, please reach out to us. We are committed
to providing a supportive and enriching learning environment for all our participants.

Migration and Refugee Services’ ESL School
435 East Broadway Louisville, KY 40202
ESL instructions: Mondays – Thursdays, 9:30 am to 12:30 pm
Cultural orientations: Fridays, 9:30 am to 11:00 am

A refugee is a person who has been forced to flee their home country due to a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, or political opinion.
We serve refugee and immigrant youth ages 0-24 through a holistic approach designed to provide support to the whole child and their individual needs. In addition, we offer family support and referrals to resources in other agencies.

Ways we serve:

School Registration and Orientations – We facilitate student enrollment in Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS)  up to the age of 21. Each newly arrived child receives a backpack filled with school supplies. We also hold orientations that provide parents with necessary information to participate and navigate JCPS. Our goal is to equip families with knowledge and confidence so that they can best support their children’s educational journey.
Additionally, our team provides on-going case management and acts as a “bridge” connecting youth and their families to varying resources to support each child’s education and long-term goals.

Summer Program – Students currently enrolled in the public school system are invited to participate in the 6 week long summer youth program. Students are provided with free transportation, as well as breakfast, lunch and a snack. Students practice English language skills in the morning with JCPS teachers and volunteers. Then students participate in a wide variety of hands-on and engaging activities in the afternoon. Students go on field trips to places like Bernheim Forest, Mammoth Cave, and participate in World Refugee Day.

Early Childhood Education – Our ECE program offers support for children ages 0-5 and their families. This program is designed to educate parents on developmentally appropriate activities that prepare children for school readiness. Our diligent staff emphasize skills related to social/emotional regulation, problem solving, language and literacy, and fine motor development. Families can attend the program classes either on-site or through in-home visits. Additional neighborhood events are also provided to build community and reinforce concepts. Our ECE team can also assist families in the registration process for daycare, HeadStart, and preschool.

Refugee Youth Mentoring Program-The Refugee Youth Mentoring Program matches refugee kids and young adults newly arrived to Louisville one-to-one with a volunteer mentor for six months to one year. Mentors serve as a role-model, friend, and advocate for their mentee as they access educational opportunities, develop their hobbies and interests, and acclimate to the United States. Research indicates that young people with a mentor are:

  • 52% less likely than peers to skip a day of school.
  • 55% more likely to be enrolled in college.
  • 78% more likely to volunteer regularly.
  • 130% more likely to hold leadership positions.

We are always  looking for qualified Refugee Youth Mentors! Volunteers with international/immigrant background are encouraged to apply. Volunteers must be at least 18-years-old, live in the Louisville, Kentucky area, and be able to commit to meeting with their mentee 4-6 hours per month for the duration of the program. Our new mentor onboarding process includes:

  1. Catholic Charities volunteer application
  2. In-person interview/orientation with Program Coordinator
  3. Background check and Child Abuse Registry check (SSN required), references, and two trainings

If you are interested, please contact: BeeBee Patillo, 502.545.8302, or Kait Evans, 502.308.0003.

College & Career Support and Workshops-These services are targeted for youth ages 14-24. We offer individualized support based on each student’s education and English level. Additionally, we provide college workshops centered around FAFSA, applying for college, and how to prepare for college. We also host career and life skills workshops that pertain to financial literacy, resume building, interviewing, and more.

Each year, our employment department connects hundreds of legally admitted refugees and immigrants with job opportunities throughout the Louisville area.

There are many reasons to hire refugees:
 Businesses who hire refugees and immigrants can sometimes qualify for the Work Opportunity Tax Credit.
 Refugees and immigrants contribute to a more diverse workplace and have proven to be dedicated employees, improving productivity.
 Refugees and immigrants have the documentation needed to satisfy I-9 requirements.

Our employment team works closely with employable refugee clients from the time of arrival to give them the skills they need to be successful. Training includes English classes, orientations on workplace culture and expectations, supervisor/employee relations, interview skills, understanding new hire paperwork and more.
Our refugee clients have obtained positions throughout various industries, such as warehouses, JCPS, hospitals, factories, hotels, restaurants and retail stores. We help facilitate every aspect of the hiring process, including pre-screening applicants to ensure job requirements are being met, assisting with applications and interviews, and providing interpretation and training. We also provide post-hire follow-up and support.
These services are provided at no cost to the client or employer. Quality employment is the most important factor in achieving self-sufficiency, and we are proud to have strong relationships within the business community.
Any local business or organization interested in partnering with our employment team can use this form to contact us, email MRSemployment@archlou.org or call 502-636-9263.

Employer Testimonials
“Throughout my 12-year tenure here at The Brown Hotel, I have been fortunate to work closely with Catholic Charities to help fill positions and bring diversity to our workforce. We have found that the refugee clients brought forward often display a level of maturity and ambition that makes them a true asset to our operations. As the son of a WWII refugee I have a unique perspective and clearly see that these staff members have a lot of offer us in terms of their prior work and life experiences and with a little coaching many of them have progressed into supervisory positions. Considering the high cost of turnover it has been wise for us to work so closely with Catholic Charities”—Marc Salmon, HR Director at The Brown Hotel

“Many of the refugees hired within our organization have become key players on our manufacturing plant floor.” —Amanda Harrison, HR Manager

“Mesa Foods LLC has used Catholic Charities as our primary source to fill positions at our Louisville based facility…With the help of Catholic Charities, we have been able to fill critical positions at our facility. Many of these people started in entry level positions and have now been promoted to higher paid equipment operator positions.” —Sherrie Weber, HR Manager at Mesa Foods LLC