DPSS ePolicy

To convert existing policy to new writing style only.

Refugee Employment Program (REP) Providers are to offer and provide or refer potential eligible refugees to Services For Older Refugees (SOR).  SOR includes Senior Networking, English-as-a-Second Language (ESL) Civics courses, Adjustment of Alien Status, and/or Citizenship Application Services.  In addition, corresponding transportation and ancillary resources are to be provided in the form of direct or referral services.  SOR needs to be offered in the language appropriate to the participant.

Note:  Contingent upon continuous SOR funds, the REP Provider is required to provide SOR, and submit proper documentation for claims after service delivery.  

Formerly known as the Older Refugee Discretionary Grant, SOR is formula set-aside funding under the Refugee Social Services (RSS) grant.  SOR funding is awarded by the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) to States.  The California Department of Social Services Refugee Programs Bureau allocates SOR funding to counties that also receive RSS funding, based on the number of refugees who are age 60 years and older and receiving aid in each participating county.  SOR services are to focus on naturalization and citizenship and other senior services for refugees that are 60 years and older.

Term

ORR

Description

The Office of Refugee Resettlement, managed by the Office of the Administration for Children and Families, provides critical resources, via programs, to new non-citizen United States (U.S.) populations to assist them to achieve their full potential and become integrated members of the American society. 

Term

USCIS

Description

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Eligibility requirements for this program are:

1. Hold one of the below refugee population statuses that is eligible for ORR services;
2. Age 60 years and older; and
3. Have a date-of-entry (DOE) in the US of 60 months or less, except for referral, interpreter, and citizenship and naturalization preparation services for which there is no time limitation.

Requirement

Individuals must provide acceptable documentation of one of the following statuses to be eligible for SOR.

Limit/Condition

1. Paroled as a Refugee or Asylee;
2. Refugee;
3. Asylee;
4. Cuban and Haitian Entrant;
5. Victim of Human Trafficking who is certified by the ORR or holds a T Visa, including derivative;
6. Amerasian; or
7. Iraqi or Afghan Special Immigrant.

Note:  Legal Permanent Residents are eligible if they previously held one of the above statuses.

Refer to the “Refugee Document Guide” and “Acceptable Documents to Verify Refugee Status” in Administrative Release No. 5337 Identification of Refugees, dated June 30, 2015, for documentation used to identify and verify the immigration status of refugees.