Our Role

The Kentucky Office for Refugees (KOR) is a department of Catholic Charities of Louisville and is designated by the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) to administer the state refugee resettlement program and serve as the State Refugee Coordinator’s office. This office is responsible for overseeing the design, implementation and coordination of refugee services in the state. The Kentucky Office for Refugees administers federal funding received from ORR for post-resettlement services. In Kentucky the statewide refugee resettlement program is managed by a nonprofit instead of the state government.

KOR awards and manages refugee services grant programs through a number of refugee resettlement agencies, school districts, community colleges, health providers and community organizations in Louisville, Lexington, Bowling Green and Owensboro. Through sub-award agreements and contracts, KOR supports job readiness and job placement services, case management, English language training, initial health screenings, and short-term cash assistance for refugees. KOR also works with mainstream service providers to ensure that services and benefits are culturally and linguistically accessible. KOR regularly consults Kentuckians who came through the refugee resettlement program about their experience in order to identify gaps in services, strengthen existing programs, and ultimately improve the resettlement experience for refugees who have yet to arrive.

Mission

The Kentucky Office for Refugees (KOR) is federally designated to coordinate refugee resettlement services across the state, providing grants management, policy guidance and program development to promote self-sufficiency and community integration.

Vision

A Commonwealth where all refugees are welcomed to determine their own futures in solidarity with their fellow Kentuckians.

Our Staff

Becky Jordan
KY State Refugee Coordinator

  bjordan@archlou.org
  502-873-2562

Katie McWhorter Wernert
State Refugee Health Coordinator

  kwernert@archlou.org
  502-548-2756

Jennifer Ballard-Kang
Refugee Health Promotion Coordinator

  jballardkang@archlou.org
  502-873-2566 x 252

Travis White
Refugee Cash Assistance Manager

  twhite@archlou.org
  502-612-1740

Elodie Dickinson
Grants Administrator

  edickinson@archlou.org
  502-873-2533

Irene Yates
Adult Learning & Career Advancement Coordinator

  iyates@archlou.org
  502-873-2566 x 152

Dahabo Kerow
Refugee School Impact Coordinator

  dkerow@archlou.org
  502-873-2566 x 296

Thomas Wichmann
Grants Accountant

  twichmann@archlou.org
  502-873-2566 x 253

Jamie Ritchie
Refugee Health Data Coordinator

  jritchie@archlou.org
  502-636-9263