Grant Programs

The Kentucky Office for Refugees manages federal funding from the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), a department of the U.S. Health and Human Services. Grant funds are sub-awarded to partners across the state for a variety of programs and services. KOR partners with resettlement agencies, health providers, school districts, community colleges, and social service providers to offer comprehensive programming to the newly arrived refugee population in Kentucky. Programs range from employment services and English language training to health screenings and emotional wellness services to specialized programs for youth and the elderly. While the most intense services are offered during the first year after arrival, refugees are eligible for the majority of KOR-funded programs up to five years after their arrival in the U.S.

Refugee Support Services

Refugee Support Services funding helps refugees and other ORR populations gain economic independence by helping them find and maintain employment, preferably within a year of being enrolled in the program. Funding from this program also includes Afghan Refugee Support Services and Ukranian Refugee Services.

Service Providers

  • Catholic Charities of Louisville (Migration and Refugee Services)
  • Kentucky Refugee Ministries (Louisville, Lexington, Covington)
  • International Center (Bowling Green, Owensboro)
  • International Rescue Committee (Louisville)
  • Jewish Family & Career Services
  • Owensboro Community and Technical College
  • Bluegrass Community and Technical College
  • Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College
  • Community Action of Southern KY

Refugee Cash & Medical Assistance

RCA helps individuals meet their most basic needs, such as for food, shelter, and transportation. In addition to providing access to healthcare, RMA funds enable refugees to receive a Medical Screening upon arrival in the U.S.

Service Providers

  • Catholic Charities of Louisville (Migration and Refugee Services)

  • Kentucky Refugee Ministries (Louisville, Lexington, Covington)

  • International Center (Bowling Green, Owensboro)
  • International Rescue Committee (Louisville)

Refugee Youth Mentoring

The Refugee Youth Mentoring (YM) program funds grantees to match eligible youth (ages 15-24) with mentors, who will support their successful integration and help them thrive. Grantees also provide case management to support individual educational and career development goals.

Service Providers

  • Catholic Charities of Louisville (Migration and Refugee Services)

  • Kentucky Refugee Ministries (Louisville, Lexington, Covington)

  • International Center (Bowling Green, Owensboro)
  • International Rescue Committee (Louisville)

Service to Older Refugees

The Services to Older Refugees Program funds states and state-alternative programs to ensure that refugees aged 60 and older have access to applicable services for the aging and to provide qualifying refugees with appropriate services not currently available in the community.

Service Providers

  • Kentucky Refugee Ministries (Louisville)

  • Jewish Family & Career Services

  • Community Action of Southern KY

Refugee Health Promotion

The Refugee Health Promotion (RHP) Program funds grant recipients to provide direct services to promote newcomers’ health and well-being routinely and during times of crisis. The Refugee Mental Health Initiative (ReMHI) is also funded under RHP and seeks to build capacity within communities to address the mental health needs of refugee populations.

Service Providers

  • Catholic Charities of Louisville (Migration and Refugee Services)

  • Kentucky Refugee Ministries (Louisville, Covington)
  • International Center (Bowling Green, Owensboro)
  • International Rescue Committee (Louisville)
  • Americana Health Center
  • KY STEPS
  • Norton’s Childrens Hospital
  • Gates of Hope
  • Bluegrass Community Health Center
  • Refuge Bowling Green
  • Americana Community Center
  • La Casita Center
  • Center for Women and Families
  • See Forward Ministries
  • New Hope International

Wilson-Fish (WF) Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

The Wilson-Fish (WF) Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Coordination Program (WF TCP) funds innovative approaches to provide more customized, culturally, and linguistically appropriate integrated services and resources for ORR-eligible families with children under the age of 18. The goal of WF TCP is to strengthen these families’ abilities to navigate barriers, become economically self-sufficient, and improve their social and economic wellbeing.

Service Providers

  • Catholic Charities of Louisville (Migration and Refugee Services)

  • Kentucky Refugee Ministries (Louisville, Lexington, Covington)

  • International Center (Bowling Green, Owensboro)

Refugee School Impact

The RSI program’s goals are to promote the academic performance and successful integration of refugee youth and other youth, ages 5-18. Additional funding for Afghan and Ukrainian youth also qualifies for funding under Afghan Refugee School Impact (ARSI) and Ukrainian Refugee School Impact (URSI) and S2S (Services to Schools).

Service Providers

  • Catholic Charities of Louisville (Migration and Refugee Services)

  • Kentucky Refugee Ministries (Louisville, Covington)
  • Bowling Green Independent Schools
  • Warren County Public Schools
  • Owensboro County Public Schools
  • Jefferson County Public Schools
  • Fayette County Public Schools
  • Jessamine County Public Schools

Afghan Assistance Resources

Eligible Afghan Arrivals can request free immigration legal services.

Service Providers

  • Catholic Charities of Louisville (Legal Services)

  • Kentucky Refugee Ministries (Louisville, Lexington, Covington)

  • International Center (Bowling Green, Owensboro)
  • Catholic Charities Owensboro