Refugee Resettlement Program (RRP) Referrals
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The Refugee Resettlement Program (RRP), administered by the Division of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS), provides temporary cash and medical assistance to newly arrived refugees.
Policy
Refugee Resettlement Program (RRP) Voluntary Agency (VOLAG)
Refugees are not required to contact a Voluntary Agency(g) before applying for FAA benefits. They can apply in any of the following ways:
●Online through HEAplus at http://www.healthearizonaplus.gov/
●Online through MFB at https://myfamilybenefits.azdes.gov/Home.aspx.
●Over the phone by calling the Customer Care Center (855) 432-7587.
●In person at any FAA office. All of the following apply:
To locate the nearest FAA office, click ‘Find a DES Office’ on the DES Office Locator webpage found at https://des.az.gov/find-your-local-office.
FAA office hours are weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Mountain Standard Time) except for state holidays.
NOTE Some FAA office locations observe Daylight Saving Time(g).
●By fax to one of the following:
(602) 257-7031 (Area codes 602, 480, and 623)
(844) 680-9840 (Toll Free from any other area code)
●By mailing it to DES FAA, PO Box 19009, Phoenix, AZ 85005-9009
NOTE For more information about acceptable applications for benefit processing, see Application Requirements.
When needed, the Voluntary Agency (VOLAG) sends a refugee’s application for NA and CA through email to an FAA Refugee Office. (See FAA Refugee Offices for contact information.)
The goals of the Refugee Resettlement Program (RRP) include all of the following:
●The effective resettlement of refugees
●Assist refugees to achieve economic self-sufficiency utilizing all of the following:
Supportive Services
Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA)
TANF Differential Payments
Refugee Medical Assistance Program (RMAP)
The RRP program is available to refugees of all national origins. For the purpose of the RRP program, participants with any of the following statuses are referred to as refugees:
●Afghani Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders
●Amerasians
●Asylees
●Cuban and Haitian entrants (CHE)
●Refugees
●Ukrainian refugees
●Unaccompanied Refugee minors (URM)
●Victims of severe trafficking
RRP Voluntary Agency (VOLAG) Responsibility
The VOLAG is responsible for all of the following:
●Determining Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) eligibility for adult only refugee households and issuing RCA Payments.
●Referring refugees to FAA for any of the following when needed:
NA
CA
●Sending a copy of the application via fax or email to an FAA Refugee Office to register the application and to request an interview.
●Issuing TANF Differential Payments when a refugee household receives CA from FAA.
●Ensuring that the refugee is aware of all available support services.
●Assisting the refugee to become self-sufficient through employment readiness and placement. Work program registration and participation is emphasized.
The United States (U.S.) Department of State issues Reception and Placement (R&P) grants to Refugee Resettlement Program (RRP) voluntary agencies (VOLAGs) to assist some newly arrived refugees. See Assistance Income Types for more information about the policy and procedures for R&P grants.
When the VOLAG determines that a refugee may be eligible for FAA assistance, the VOLAG staff assists the refugee in completing the official FAA application. All FAA applications for refugees during the refugee's first 12 months in the U.S. are processed at designated FAA Refugee Offices. After the first 12 months are completed, refugee application processing is no longer completed by the FAA Refugee Office.
Welcome Corps (WC) Sponsorship Program
The Welcome Corps (WC) is a United States (U.S.) Department of State program that assists Americans to welcome refugees arriving through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) using sponsorship groups.
WC matches approved sponsor groups with refugees that meet the eligibility and admissibility requirements to be approved for resettlement through USRAP. Through WC, sponsor groups are required to provide services similar to those provided by the Refugee Resettlement Program voluntary agency or Reception and Placement program.
WC provides sponsor groups with access to tools, resources, and guidance from resettlement experts, throughout the sponsorship period.
A WC sponsor group can include any of the following:
●A group of at least five individuals
●An organization or group of organizations
●A college or university through the WC on Campus Program
Welcome Corps (WC) Sponsor Group Responsibility
The Welcome Corps (WC) sponsor groups are responsible for all of the following:
●Referring adult only refugee households to a Voluntary Agency(g) for Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) eligibility and issuing RCA Payments.
●Referring refugees to FAA for any of the following when needed:
NA
CA
●Referring refugee households receiving CA from FAA to a VOLAG for TANF Differential Payments.
●Ensuring that the refugee is aware of all available support services.
●Assisting the refugee to become self-sufficient through employment readiness and placement. Work program registration and participation is emphasized.
The U.S. Department of State authorizes WC sponsor groups to provide financial assistance, equal to the Reception and Placement (R&P) grants provided to VOLAGs, to assist the newly arrived refugees. See Assistance Income Types for more information about the policy and procedures for R&P grants.
When the WC sponsor group determines that a refugee may be eligible for FAA assistance, the sponsor group assists the refugee in completing the official FAA application. All FAA applications for refugees during the refugee's first 12 months in the U.S. are processed at designated FAA Refugee Offices. After the first 12 months are completed, refugee application processing is no longer completed by the FAA Refugee Office.
FAA Refugee Offices
The two refugee offices are found at the following locations:
●In Phoenix
4324 W Olive Ave
Glendale, AZ 85302
●In Tucson
1455 S Alvernon Way
Tucson, AZ 85711
Verification
See Qualified Noncitizen Documents for refugee verification.
Legal Authorities
45 CFR 400
45 FR 59323
Section 412(a)(9) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA)
last revised 04/15/2024