Communities and Families as Partners in Supporting the Well-Being of Children and Families: Highlighting our work in Uvalde, Texas
March 4, 2024
As we celebrate the 45th anniversary of the Matching Grant (MG) program from the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), it’s not just a milestone; it’s a testament to the enduring impact of an innovative approach to refugee assistance.
In 1979, when the Department of Health and Human Services was known as the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW), the matching grant program was born. The goal was to facilitate employment and family self-sufficiency for refugees from the Soviet Union and other non-Southeast Asian countries.
On March 8, 1979, Joseph A. Califano, Jr., Secretary of the HEW, signed the MG program into existence when he awarded $20 million in grants to six national voluntary resettlement agencies at a private ceremony in Washington D.C. Back then, the national agencies supporting refugees from the Soviet Union—strictly funded by donations—were motivated to request federal funds after seeing the federal response that created Operation New Life (PDF) to support evacuees from Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam after the Vietnam War ended. Special legislation was already in place for other populations. The Matching Grant program was created to help level the playing field for all the refugees (PDF) who entered the U.S.
Over time, eligibility expanded to all populations authorized by Congress to be served by ORR’s Refugee Program. The program is an alternative to traditional cash assistance programs. MG participants receive services such as case management, employment services, and housing and cash assistance support. The participating national refugee resettlement agencies must provide a match (in cash and/or in-kind services) of one dollar for every two dollars of federal direct assistance funding. The resettlement agencies work with communities to raise these matching funds and to solicit volunteer time in support of the refugees served at the local level, fostering collaboration within the community. Today, the MG program is available in 43 states and supported by 230 local service providers operating under the ten national resettlement agencies.
During the last ten years, the MG program served over 250,000 participants. In 2023, the program enrolled over 38,000 individuals and 78% of participants were deemed self-sufficient through employment by the time they exited the program at the eight-month (240-day) mark. In fiscal year 2024, ORR has enrolled 15,863 participants as of February 29.
At the heart of the MG program is resilience and potential. By providing a framework for support and empowerment, participants in the program can build sustainable livelihoods and thrive in their communities.
The matching grant program is an example of what can be achieved when compassion, collaboration and innovation come together and a great example of the benefits of public/private partnerships. Here’s to 45 years of empowerment and to many more years of making a difference in the lives of ORR eligible populations beginning their new lives in communities across the United States.
Congratulations, MG, on turning the big 4-5!
