The Office of Refugee Resettlement supports economic development for refugees through their Microenterprise Development, Microenterprise Development-Home Based Child Care, and Individual Development Account programs. These programs equip refugees with the skills and knowledge of the American financial system so that they can become and stay financially independent.
General Economic Development | Microenterprise Development | Microenterprise Development — Home Based Child Care | Individual Development Accounts
General Economic Development
- Financial Literacy Resources: This page lists links to financial literacy and education resources.
- Recertification/Re-credentialing of Refugee Professionals Overview: Recertification or re-credentialing will allow internationally trained refugee professionals to return to their career of interest upon resettling in the U.S.
- U.S. Medical Licensing Process: This page discusses how international medical graduates, refugees, and immigrants, who want to enter an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) accredited residency must be certified by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG).
- U.S. Registered Nursing Licensing Process: Nursing licensure standards and regulations for international and domestic nurses in the U.S. are established by individual states.
Microenterprise Development
- Microenterprise Development Program Overview: The Microenterprise Development Program helps refugees develop, expand or maintain their own businesses and become financially independent.
- Microenterprise Development Grants: Grantee Listing: List of awards and grantees for the Microenterprise Development Grants program.
Refugee Family Child Care Microenterprise Development
- Refugee Family Child Care Microenterprise Development: The Refugee Family Child Care Microenterprise Development Program provides business opportunities to refugee women, focusing on childcare mentoring programs that will facilitate their integration into U.S. cultural norms and State Childcare requirements, in a market where there is a shortage of childcare providers.
Individual Development Accounts
- Individual Development Accounts Overview: Individual Development Accounts (IDA) are matched savings accounts designed to help refugees save for a specific purchase. Under the IDA program, the matching funds, together with the refugee's own savings from their employment, are available for purchasing one (or more) of four savings goals.
- Individual Development Accounts Grants Grantee Listing: List of awards and grantees for the Individual Development Accounts Grants program.
- Sample Individual Development Account Program Operating Procedures Manual: This sample Individual Development Account program operating procedures manual includes such areas procedures as intake, orientation, reporting, terminations, and more.