Refugee Career Pathways
The Afghanistan Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2022 (ASA), authorizes refugee and entrant activities in support of citizens or nationals of Afghanistan paroled into the United States under section 212(d)(5) of the INA and citizens or nationals of Afghanistan for whom such refugee and entrant assistance activities are authorized. For convenience, the term "refugee" is used in this NOFO to encompass all such eligible persons.
The goal of the RCP program is to support eligible populations in attaining the knowledge and resources needed to begin a professional career in their new communities. Existing job training programs for refugees often focus on supporting initial job placement, which may not be adequate to securing long-term self-sufficiency. The RCP program will assist recent Afghan entrants in beginning professional careers that provide not only a salary but also greater job security and the possibility of career advancement.
To achieve this goal, the program will employ the career pathways approach, which has shown promise in enabling immigrants to gain entry into career fields in the United States.
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity ACT (WIOA) of 2014 defines a career pathway as follows:
A combination of rigorous and high-quality education, training, and other services that -
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Aligns with the skill needs of industries in the economy of the State or regional economy involved;
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Prepares an individual to be successful in any of a full range of secondary or postsecondary education options, including registered apprenticeshps;
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Includes counseling to support an individual in achieving the individual's education and career goals;
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Includes, as appropriate, education offered concurrently with and in the same context as workforce preparation activities and training for a specific occupation or occupational cluster;
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Organizes education, training, and other services to meet the particular needs of an individual in a manner that accelerates the educational and career advancement of the individual to the extent practicable;
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Enables an individual to attain a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent, and at least 1 recognized postsecondary credential; and
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Helps an individual enter or advance within a specific occupation or occupational cluster.
Program Scope and Activities
The RCP program will enable recent Afghan entrants to overcome the obstacles associated with obtaining skilled and/or professional employment following resettlement. Program objectives are as follows:
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Helping Afghan entrants achieve self-sufficiency by obtaining the means to secure professional certification or skilled employment
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Increasing Afghan entrants' understanding of career pathways and equipping them with the knowledge and tools to succeed in their chosen career path
Through the RCP program, organizations will work directly with Afghan entrants to apply the career pathways approach through training and individualized technical assistance. They will assist eligible participants to identify opportunities to enter their chosen career field and make a plan to advance in this field over time. They will identify barriers to entering this field - such as lack of a recognized credential or unfamiliarity with specific workplace regulations - and provide support and resources to mitigate these barriers. Activities must be culturally appropriate to eligible populations and include accommodations for participants with limited English proficiency. As ORR anticipates that many program participants will be working, activities must provide flexible scheduling for participants who may be working during traditional or non-traditional work hours.
