Our collaborative structure enhances our collective knowledge, expertise, and capacity. Each member organization contributes unique skills, experience, and practices, adding value to the broader system. The Network is focused on the following five areas:
1. Communications/PR
We educate the public about the root causes that force people to seek asylum outside their home countries and the benefits to our communities and states of welcoming asylum seekers as new neighbors.
Within the collaboration, we are committed to facilitating communication between member organizations and amplifying the members’ work to increase their impact and visibility.
2. Advocacy
We advocate for asylum seekers at the state and community levels to ensure they have fair and equal access to essential resources and services regardless of the current status of their asylum claims. Our advocacy includes working for housing, language access and justice, trauma-informed care, legal services, health care, education, and employment.
3. Resource Sharing & Volunteer Training
We ensure that each organization in the collaboration has access to the most current information and training to ensure the best possible outcomes for the asylum seekers they support. This includes best practices, training opportunities, and up-to-date resources for supporting member groups’ work with asylum seekers.
We also maintain a network website to share information and resources with the public, legislators, and other communities interested in our work.
4. Measurement
We aim to create a repository of best practices that helps member organizations effectively communicate their work and impact. By developing shared approaches to measuring and discussing outcomes, we strive to support organizations in telling their stories consistently, accurately, and in a person-centered way. We believe that a shared approach strengthens our ability to secure funding and communicate our individual and shared impact.
5. Fundraising
We work to increase overall funding for our work and support asylum seekers. We do this by supporting each member group in developing and executing low-cost, high-return local fundraising plans and working collectively to secure funds to be distributed throughout the network. This work is vital since a typical asylum case takes two or more years to resolve, translating to significant financial demand on our member groups as they support asylum seekers.