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VDSS Office of New Americans
REFUGEE AND IMMIGRANT SERVICES
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April is National Arab American Heritage Month
The Office of New Americans is proud to celebrate National Arab American Heritage Month this April, honoring the rich histories, cultures, and contributions of Arab American communities across Virginia. This year, the National Arab American Heritage Month 2026 Signature Celebration, with the theme “Many Voices, One Community,” will be hosted in Alexandria, Virginia. The program will feature authentic Arab cuisine, music, dance, and storytelling, highlighting the vibrancy and diversity of Arab American cultures. The Arab American community in Virginia is estimated at over 100,000 people, with families who have immigrated over many years from across the 22 Arab countries. In Virginia, Arab Americans primarily identify as Lebanese, Syrian, Egyptian, Iraqi, Jordanian, Palestinian, and Moroccan, and also include immigrants from Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Kuwait, Libya, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
For more information and event registration click here. For ways to get involved, and resources to support Arab American communities, please click here.
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Annual Richmond Mental Health Conference on Trauma-Informed care prevention for Refugees and Immigrant communities
The Office of New Americans (ONA) and the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) warmly invite you to register for the Annual Richmond Mental Health Conference in person on April 24. This inspiring gathering will be a space for hope, learning, and connection, bringing together providers, community leaders, and advocates to uplift the mental health and well-being of refugees and immigrant communities. We encourage you to secure your spot and join us, this is a free no cost event, lunch include it; full conference details, including sessions and featured speakers, will be available after registration.
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2026 Virginia Reproductive & Maternal Health Equity Summit
Participants are invited to join a powerful conversation on fertility and maternal health, exploring outcome disparities, the laws that impact access to care, and solutions that improve health equity across Virginia. This is statewide free Summit, taking place on April 21, 2026, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM EST, will be held virtually and in person in Williamsburg, Virginia Beach, Hampton, and Richmond. Attendees will have the opportunity to listen, learn, advocate, and leave feeling empowered and inspired to drive meaningful change. Registration.
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Triumph Over Trauma Summit 2026: Leading with Resilience
The 3rd Annual Triumph Over Trauma Summit is a free, in-person event focused on bringing trauma-responsive education and awareness to the community, with an emphasis on building resilience and turning trauma into triumph. Hosted by Triumph Over Trauma: Northern Shenandoah Valley Resilience Initiative, Laurel Ridge Community College, and Northwestern Community Services Board, the summit will take place on April 30 at the Carl and Emily Thompson Conference Center in the Corron Building at the Middletown Laurel Ridge Community College Campus (173 Skirmisher Lane, Middletown, VA 22645). For more information and registration, visit here.
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Join Educational Webinar: Overview of Public benefit changes for Refugee and Immigrant Population
As part of our ongoing efforts to keep our partners informed and provide clear information about public benefits changes for refugee and immigrant populations, we recognize that there are many questions and some uncertainty in the field. Our team will be offering educational sessions to help clarify these updates. We invite you to join our upcoming webinar "Overview of Public benefit changes for Refugee and Immigrant Population" on May 5th, designed for anyone working with refugees or immigrants in community organizations, schools, clinics, or human services programs. For more information and registration access it, here. Available flyer here. Please stay tuned and save the dates for upcoming webinar sessions on May 19 and June 2.
| | Promoting your organization's services, educational webinars, or community events? We would love to help spread the word! Please reach out to liliana.penalver@dss.virginia.gov to share your initiatives and ensure that Virginians have access to valuable resources and events. Together, we can enhance awareness of resources and strengthen support for New Americans in Virginia! | | | Federal, State, and Local News | | |
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Court blocks nationwide refugee detention policy. On March 23, a federal court in Massachusetts blocked implementation of the February 18 USCIS memo that outlined plans for arresting and re‑screening resettled refugees who have lived in the U.S. for at least one year and have not yet adjusted to lawful permanent resident status.
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U.S. district court blocks the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) mass termination of parole for migrants who entered through the CBP One mobile application, and the court’s official order requires restoration of their parole status
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Virginia General Assembly Advances Immigration Bills – Lawmakers passed measures limiting when and how local agencies engage in federal immigration enforcement and restricting such actions in schools and courthouses. Details.
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Status of driver privilege cards in Virginia: Driver privilege cards remain available, and bills HB 911 and SB 446, extending the validity period for limited‑duration licenses and driver privilege cards have passed the General Assembly and are currently awaiting the Governor’s signature.
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Call for Proposals: 2026 Annual Gathering
Catholic Charities USA
The Call for Proposals is now OPEN for the 2026 Annual Gathering Catholic Charities USA, October 12–15 in Richmond, Virginia. They are seeking 75‑minute workshop ideas that share simple, practical strategies colleagues across the national network can learn from and replicate. For more information and submit your proposal click here. Deadline: Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
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New American Speakers Program: Cohort 10 Application
The New American Speakers Program is a free opportunity for refugees and immigrants in the United States who have experienced forced displacement and want to share their stories in a meaningful way. Designed specifically for newcomers, the program helps participants build confidence, develop their voice, and become powerful storytellers. The organizers especially encourage applications from veterans, business owners, and faith leaders, but anyone with a story to tell is welcome to apply. Those interested in participating are invited to submit their application by April 17. For more information about this opportunity visit, here. Available flyer here.
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Invitation to Participate: Study on
Unaccompanied Refugee Minors Access to Higher Education
The University of Maryland Research Workgroup is conducting a study on the experiences of unaccompanied refugee minors (URM) accessing higher education in the U.S. They invite URM students to take part in a single Zoom interview to share successes, challenges, and ideas for improving support and resources. URM participants over the age of 18 will receive a $25 gift card. For more information visit here. For questions, please contact Morgan Pardue-Kim at mpardue-kim@ssw.umaryland.edu
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Do You Work with Latino Immigrant Teens? Share Your Insight & Get $50
Service providers who work with Latino immigrant youth in the Greater Richmond area are invited to participate in confidential focus groups about the mental health of Latino immigrant teens (ages 12–18). These discussions will explore the mental health challenges providers observe in their work and the types of support needed for youth, families, and service providers. Space is limited, and participants will receive a $50 gift card in appreciation for their time. For more information visit, here. Available flyer here. If you are interested in joining one of the five focus groups or have questions, please contact Dr. Gabriela León-Pérez at gleonperez@vcu.edu or Dr. Lorena Suárez-Cabrera at suarezcabrel@vcu.edu.
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Resource Highlight: National Immigration Law Center
We continue to highlight the National Immigration Law Center (NILC) and the following resources:
❖ Protecting Immigrant Students & Employees, developed with the American Federation of Teachers and the Presidents’ Alliance, offering guidance for higher education institutions on responding to immigration enforcement and safeguarding campus communities.
❖ What to Do If You Are Arrested or Detained by Immigration, designed to help communities prepare for potential enforcement actions.
❖ Green Card Holders: Know Your Rights & Risks, outlining deportation risks and safety planning during the current administration.
| | | Trainings and Community Resources | | VIRTUAL TRAININGS, WORKSHOPS & WEBINARS | |
Four Months In: Refugee Resettlement, Asylum, and Humanitarian Protection Trends
WeareallAmerica
April 6, 1 PM - Virtual
Keep Families Together!: Housing Rights For Immigrant Families
Protecting Immigrant Families
April 7, 2 PM - Virtual
Defending Basic Needs Programs Against Claims of Fraud
Coalition of Human Needs
April 7, 3 PM - Virtual
Building Trust and Reducing Barriers: Implementing Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Behavioral Health Services for Latino Communities
Hispanic and Latino Behavioral Health Center of Excellence
April 7, 1 PM - Virtual
Strengthening Support for Unaccompanied Children Experiencing Family Separation
USCRI
April 8, 12:30 PM - Virtual
Empowering Trainers: Teaching Immigrant Rights
Creshendo
April 8, 6:30 PM - Virtual
Legal Q&A session for social service providers working with unaccompanied children
USCRI
April 9, 2 PM - Virtual
Cross-Movement Solidarity: Building Coalitions for a Stronger and united America
WeareallAmerica
April 9, 5 PM - Virtual
Monthly Informal Conversation
Peace Corps Community for Refugees
April 9, 8 PM - Virtual
Stress, Resilience and Syndemic Health Outcomes in Latinos
La Mesita
April 10, 12 PM - Virtual
Motivational Interviewing for Unaccompanied Refugee Minor (URM) Service Providers
Switchboard
April 15, 1:30 PM - Virtual
Health Network: A Way to Keep Your Patients in Care
Migrant Clinicians Network
April 23, 1 PM - Virtual
Place Matters: The Influence of Geographic Location on Foreign-Born Americans’ Integration Outcomes
Rockefeller Institute of Government
April 23, 2 PM - Virtual
Family Engagement in Uncertain Times
The Immigrant Learning Center
April 28, 4 PM - Virtual
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The National Immigration Project (NIPNLG) has relaunched its Find an Attorney Directory to better help individuals and families connect with trusted immigration lawyers when they need support most. The new and improved directory makes it easy to search by location, area of expertise, and even payment or pro bono options. Private attorneys and law firm members can now join or update their listings for free, helping to expand access to reliable legal representation for our communities.
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Migration Policy Institute released a spotlight article on Frequently Requested Statistics on Immigrants and Immigration in the United States. It provides an up-to-date overview of immigrant communities, how many immigrants live in the U.S., where they come from, and current trends in work, income, and pathways to citizenship. This is a helpful resource for service providers, advocates, and community members who want to base their work and conversations on reliable data.
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The Presidents Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration (PAHEI) has a new resource that provides best practices and guidance for higher ed institutions to help them support students who may be impacted by immigration enforcement. Access it, here.
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A new fact sheet from the RAPID Survey Project at the Stanford Center on Early Childhood, titled “Listening to caregivers of young children about immigration enforcement,” shares what parents and child care providers are saying about immigration enforcement. It uses national survey data to show how intensified federal actions in fall 2025 have affected families, with findings broken down by immigration status to highlight the impact of the largest mass deportation effort in U.S. history.
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Protecting Immigrant Families published a toolkit on the proposed rule change from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development that would deny federally subsidized housing to mixed-status families. Access the toolkit here.
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EnCircle is now offering free counseling for immigrant children without insurance in Central Virginia, providing a much needed mental health resource for our community. Bilingual, trained therapists are available to support children who are struggling with school, family issues, or adjusting to life in Virginia, through both in-person and virtual sessions. Families and community partners are encouraged to share this opportunity widely so that those who may benefit know these services are available. To refer a child or learn more, please contact enGage@enCircleAll.org or call 804-802-2767. Available flyer with additional program details.
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Virginia Fresh Match doubles SNAP dollars on fruits and vegetables at participating farmers markets, grocery stores, mobile markets, and farm stands. Customers can participate in the program by visiting any VFM location and paying with SNAP to get the discount. To find a location near you and learn more, visit here. Available Flyer here. For questions or if you would like to connect about shared outreach opportunities email Jess McClelland at jess@virginiafreshmatch.org
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Click on each region for a listing of cultural festivals, mobile clinics, information sessions, job fairs, networking meetings and other local events: | |
| | | The resources and organizations shared in this newsletter are provided solely for informational and educational purposes. References or links to external entities within this Newsletter do not imply the endorsement of the Commonwealth of Virginia, Department of Social Services or the Office of New Americans. | | | | |
