Poster Session Guide

Poster Session Guide Friends in Hope: Providing a Compassionate Presence for Immigrants in Detention through Visits and Letters Authors: Taryn Arbeiter and Melanie Johnson, Lutheran Services of Georgia Description: Through visits and letters to immigrants in detention centers, LSG’s Friends in Hope provides a compassionate presence to immigrant detainees and educates the community about the U.S. Immigrant Detention System and opportunities for advocating for a more just and humane detention system and more alternatives to detention. Contact Info: For more information on Friends in Hope, contact Melanie Johnson ([email protected]) at 404-875-0201 or 1-800-875-5645.

Together on the Journey Author: Sister JoAnn Persch, Interfaith Committee for Detained Immigrants Description: The poster will present the programs, care and accompaniment we provide to immigrants in detention, in court, during deportation, and post-detention. Contact: Sister JoAnn Persch: [email protected]

Engaging Faith Communities in Welcome Author: Melanie Johnson, Lutheran Services of Georgia Description: LSG shares some ideas and events for engaging faith communities in welcoming refugees and immigrants Contact: For more information, contact Melanie Johnson ([email protected]) at 404-875-0201 or 1-800-875-5645.

Moving from Exclusion to Belonging: A Human Rights Approach to Immigrant & Refugee Integration Author: Michele Garnett McKenzie, Advocates for Human Rights Description: The Advocates for Human Rights’ new report, MOVING FROM EXCLUSION TO BELONGING: IMMIGRANT RIGHTS IN MINNESOTA TODAY, examines the human rights of refugees and immigrants in Minnesota. The report places its findings and recommendations within the context of state, federal, and international human rights law to identify what is working to promote integration and success, what is failing, and what gaps exist in public policy. The Poster Session will provide LIRS partners with the tools they need to approach immigrant and refugee integration in their community from a human rights perspective. Contact: Michele McKenzie - [email protected]

Welcoming Congregations Network Author: Rev. Alexia Salvatierra Description: The Welcoming Congregations Network is a partnership between the Lutheran Church of El Salvador and its companion Synods. Our goals are to welcome/minister to members of LCES who immigrate to the U.S. while engaging in advocacy for public policies that make a difference for Salvadoran Lutherans -- including immigration reform and trade pacts which support the development of indigenous industries. The WC network in the Southwest California Synod includes 21 congregations -1/3 immigrant congregations, 1/3 "global missions congregations" (large, moderate/conservative, no previous engagement in policy advocacy but major involvement with LCES) and 1/3 progressive congregations (advocacy but little relationship with immigrants.) Contact: [email protected]

From Africa to America Authors: Demelash Oumer and Kurtis Smith, Oromo Evangelical Lutheran Mission Society Description: Reaching African immigrants in the Americas, it is important to help them to resettle their lives and establish themselves in the American community--this includes English language training, job searching, housing, and immigration assistance. Lutheran Pastor Demelash Oumer, an Oromo Ethiopian immigrant himself, will share from his personal experience and leadership in helping other Africans immigrate to America. Pastor Oumer is the chaplain for the African Lutheran Mission in the Americas. Contact: Demelash Oumer phone 651 468 9679 e-mail [email protected]

“First Steps: The LIRS Guide for Refugees, Asylum Seekers, and Migrants Released from Detention” Author: Angela Edman, Staff Attorney, LIRS Description: The Access to Justice unit of LIRS is excited to call your attention to a forthcoming publication. The First Steps Guide provides refugees, asylum seekers and migrants who have been released from detention with information and resources critical to safely integrating into the U.S. after resettlement as a refugee, flight from persecution in the home country, or release from immigration detention. It helps them navigate the complex system of laws, agencies, and public and private systems they must master by providing important information on legal rights, responsibilities, and eligibility for services and benefits such as healthcare and education, according to immigration status. LIRS hopes case managers, attorneys, church leaders, and other service providers will use it to help migrants understand their rights and responsibilities. Shorter supplements specific to status; i.e. asylum seeker, LPR, trafficking victim, etc. will be released that are aimed specifically for client use. Stay tuned for release in late summer or early fall! Contact: [email protected], office phone: 410-230-2740, mobile: 443-253-7102

Bring the Sky: Immigration Detention Visitation Ministry Authors: Julia Coffin on behalf of LIRS Access to Justice Description: “I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’’” (Matthew 25:36 ESV) The Bible is rich with scripture that calls for compassionate action. While many of us make time to cloth the naked and care for the sick, our incarcerated brothers and sisters are often overlooked. Every day the U.S. government incarcerates more than 34,000 immigrants in over 250 detention facilities. So every day, we have 34,000 opportunities to provide hope, strength and a voice to the detained through participating in immigration detention visitation ministry. 30-60mins of regular compassionate fellowship helps to restore dignity to a broken detention system. Check out our poster to locate a visitation ministry in your community, or to learn how to launch your own. Contact Info: [email protected], 410-230-2775

URM Minor Outcomes Authors: Kerri Socha, LIRS and Virginia Fitchett, LIRS Description: LIRS began the URM program in the 1970’s when there was a need for Southeast Asian refugee minors to gain access to long term protection and safety as part of the resettlement process. Since that time the URM program has grown and now includes minors with other forms of eligibility such as SIJS, Trafficking victims, and asylum seekers, etc. For the first time, LIRS has engaged in a research initiative to better understand the outcomes of minors who have been in URM Foster Care, after they leave and are living on their own. This poster will show some of the overarching themes and successes of these resilient young adults. Contact: If you have further questions about the project please contact Kerri at [email protected].

Hope Among Undocumented Immigrant Youth in Family Reunification Authors: Dr. Jayshree Jani, PhD, Dawnya Underwood, LGSW, Jessica Ranweiler, MSW Description: LIRS Children’s Services used the Children’s Hope Scale (CHS) to investigate hope among foreign-born youth in the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) Family Reunification Post Release Services program. This study was conducted to create a baseline of information relevant to services and research that LIRS conducts. Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service – Children’s Service (LIRS-CS) conducted an exploratory study to investigate hope among foreign-born youth in the family reunification program within the LIRS-CS affiliate network. Hope has been found to be an important factor in the assessment of children’s well-being. The Children’s Hope Scale (Snyder, 1997) was used to measure hope among participating youth provided services through LIRS-CS. The Children’s Hope Scale (CHS) has been used with diverse populations as a means of evaluating goal directed behaviors and levels of resilience. Specifically it examines the agency and the pathways by which individuals are able to accomplish goal directed activities. Contact: Dawnya Underwood at [email protected]

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