CENTER FOR REFUGEE SERVICES

Our mission is to promote the wellness, self-sufficiency, and successful community integration of resettled refugees and their families.

Strengthening our existing community partnerships and expanding partnerships with similar nonprofits outside of our area who have an interest in creating a presence in San Antonio. We plan to increase fundraising activities through social media platforms and seek larger grants to support paid staff in order to increase the quality and quantity of our services to legally resettled refugees in San Antonio. Finally, our immediate goal involves expanding and strengthening the capacity of our Board of Directors to address the challenges of growth and sustainability.

CRS rents office space located in the heart of the refugee community. It's proximity enables refugee mothers and children to walk to the Center for needed services such as ESL, tutoring, citizenship classes, diapers, maternity support in the form of baby beds and car seats, appointment scheduling, healthcare coordination. In addition, CRS provides employment counseling, job searches, resume creation, and interpreters. Through donations CRS provides furniture and household goods to newly arriving refugees. All services are on-going and provided by 3 retiree volunteers who serve as case managers plus two grant-funded program managers.

Initially established as a 501c3 in 2010 by a small group of dedicated retiree volunteers to help legally resettled refugees navigate the American school system and promote educational success. CRS has since expanded beyond education (ESL, tutoring, college prep) to include health/wellness, employment and citizenship support. CRS has focused on refugees' on-going unmet needs, recognizing that self-sufficiency and successful community integration of legally resettled refugees is a process rather than a time limited event. Located in the heart of the refugee community, CRS serves over 900 refugees annually. CRS has 5 core staff members, of which only 2 are funded, with 30 auxiliary monthly volunteers. In 2018 for the first time CRS received grant funding for two salaried 25 hour case managers and a car seat program. Over the next five years, CRS looks to solidify funding of its existing programs and make funded staff an integral and permanent part of the organization.