News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, June 22, 2004 |
Contact: HHS Press Office
(202) 690-6343
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HHS Provides States Funding to Help Resettle Hmong Refugees
HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson said today that the department would provide financial assistance to states to support resettlement costs for 15,000 Hmong refugees that will be coming to the United States beginning this year, including to Wisconsin.
The refugees will be coming to the United States from Wat Tham Krabok, Thailand, and will settle largely in Wisconsin, Minnesota and California -- the three states that have primarily become home to Hmong refugees since the 1980s.
Secretary Thompson said HHS is prepared to spend millions in the affected states to support their costs to resettle the Hmong refugees, as well as other refugees they might receive, and will look to reallocate more resources if necessary. The department, through its Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), has been working with the states to prepare for the refugees and providing technical assistance.
"Wisconsin certainly has opened its arms to the Hmong, who have become part of the state's fabric and its diverse ethnic culture," Secretary Thompson said. "The Department of Health and Human Services will be active in helping Wisconsin and other states resettle the refugees as smoothly as possible. We will provide financial and technical assistance to the states, as well as assist with health care and social services for the refugees."
The department is making resources available to the three states for all refugee resettlement needs, including the Hmong, in the following ways:
Reimburse states for 100 percent of Refugee Cash Assistance and Medical Assistance costs for single and childless couples during their first eight months following U.S. arrival. Provide $4.2 million in school impact grants to offset the costs associated with refugee children for the three affected states. Award $12.8 million in social services formula grants for the three affected states, based on the estimated three-year refugee population residing within each state. Provide $690,000 in funds for preventive health and medical screening for the three affected states. Provide Targeted Assistance continuation discretionary funding at approximately $2 million to the three affected states.
In addition, ORR funds discretionary programs, on a competitive basis, for ethnic organizations, refugees with special needs and newly arriving refugees. In these categories, ORR has reserved roughly $3.3 million to offset the impact of the refugees in these states.
To help facilitate preparations for arrival of the refugees, the department set up a work group among the states, the Hmong National Development, various Hmong Mutual Assistance Agencies and volunteer agencies. The work group is meeting in Washington this week.
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Last Revised: July 23, 2004
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