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The United Nations High Commission for Refugees has determined that there are 11 to 15 million refugees worldwide. In order to be designated as refugees, persons must have a well-founded fear of persecution in their country of origin because of their race, religion, nationality or political opinion.
The number of refugees admitted to the U.S. each year is determined by the President in consultation with the Congress. In fiscal year 1992, about 132,000 refugees were admitted to the U.S. for resettlement.
The major goal of the Administration for Children and Families/Office of Refugee Resettlement is to provide assistance in order to help refugees achieve economic self-sufficiency within the shortest time possible following their arrival in the U.S. In FY 1993, approximately $381.5 million is available through five different programs: cash and medical assistance, social services, preventive health services, the voluntary agency matching grant program, and the targeted assistance grant program.
In 1975, in accordance with its tradition of humanitarian values, the state of Iowa accepted a request to assist with the resettlement of the Indochinese. There are now an estimated 13,000 refugees living in Iowa and representing diverse ethnic and cultural groups.
The Iowa Bureau of Refugee Services has had a two-fold mission: to provide for the effective resettlement of refugees by offering a home and a future for those who have been persecuted; and to assist refugees in becoming self-sufficient as quickly as possible, thus enabling them to enrich the state through the sharing of their talents, skills, gifts and culture.
The Iowa Bureau maintains a philosophy that refugees need to become self-sufficient as quickly as possible. Therefore, the agency's focus is on placing refugees into jobs that promote economic independence, generate tax dollars and help local economies.
The Bureau serves as both 1) the designated refugee employment and social service provider for the state of Iowa, and; 2) a national voluntary refugee resettlement agency that provides for the reception and initial placement of refugees. The Bureau provides services directly to clients instead of contracting for services.
A PROFILE OF TWO FAMILIES
Highlighted on the following pages are the accounts of two Vietnamese refugee children who settled in Iowa with their families. In their own words, Hoang Bui and My Le describe their families'...