| Fact Sheet Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration Washington, DC April 4, 2005 Refugee Reception & Placement ProgramEach refugee case approved for admission to the United States is sponsored by one of ten voluntary agencies participating in the Reception & Placement (R&P) program under a cooperative agreement with the Department of State. The sponsoring agency is responsible for placing the refugees included in a case with one of its affiliated offices in an appropriate location in the United States and for providing initial services, which include housing, essential furnishings, food, clothing, community orientation and referral to other social and employment services, for the refugees’ first 30-90 days in the U.S. The R&P program is a public-private partnership, which anticipates that voluntary agencies will contribute significant cash and/or in-kind resources to supplement U.S. Government per capita grants. Although refugees receive public assistance when they first arrive, the U.S. Government emphasizes early economic self-sufficiency to speed their integration into American society. During the refugees’ initial transition period, programs funded by the Department of Health and Human Services/Office of Refugee Resettlement and administered by the states provide cash and medical assistance, employment, training and other support services. After 12 months of residency, refugees are required to return to DHS "for inspection and examination for admission to the United States as an immigrant…" After five years in the U.S., refugees may apply for citizenship. The voluntary agencies participating in the Refugee R&P Program in FY 2005 are:
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