State Capacity and Readiness Assessment for a State-Centered Refugee Resettlement Framework

Status: Original and derived artifacts are available for this document.

Download: docx | pdf | html

Refugee Focus Group Guide
Informed Consent

Purpose of this interview
This refugee focus group is intended to gather input from a wide cross-section of current and former clients. Client focus groups represent an efficient way to gain direct end-user feedback and gauge the impacts of potential design and implementation strategies. 

How your responses will be used
Responses will be reviewed by the project team and used to identify themes and insights. The input you provide may be used to inform how the emerging State-centric refugee resettlement framework is designed including related assessment and implementation tools.

Participation is voluntary
Your participation is voluntary. You may skip any question or exit the focus group at any time. 

Time commitment
Each focus group is expected to take approximately 90-120 minutes to complete. 

Confidentiality
This is an on-the-record focus group. It is not confidential. The data and documentation collected or produced during this focus group may be shared with the Office of Refugee Resettlement in progress or final reports. Names will not be included with or connected to shared findings.

Required PRA Language
A Federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and no individual or entity is required to respond to, nor shall an individual or entity be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with a collection of information subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, unless that collection of information displays a currently valid OMB Control Number. The OMB # is 0970-0531 and the expiration date is 9/30/2028

Questions
If you have any questions about this focus group or the project, including feedback on the form or the burden estimate, please contact Welcoming Initiative for Newcomers [email protected]     

Consent
By continuing, you acknowledge that you understand the purpose of this focus group and consent to participate.


Refugee Focus Group Guide

The refugee focus groups will follow a semi-structured and facilitated format. The facilitator will ask five to 13 sets of questions:

    1. What was it like to resettle in the U.S? What was the process like from start to finish?
    2. What would have helped you to prepare for coming to the U.S.? What do you wish the service provider knew about you before you came here?
    3. What were your goals when you first came to the U.S.? What are three things that helped you with your goals? What are three things that made it harder to reach your goals? 
    4. When did you find out which state you would go to? What questions did you have about your state or community? 
    5. What programs or support helped you meet your day-to-day needs? What needs were left unmet?
    6. What was most helpful in navigating the local school system and enrollment?  What has been challenging in that process? 
    7. Have you been able to access specialized services for children and youth?  Which types of programs have been most helpful?  What are the gaps?   
    8. Has access to childcare limited your opportunities for employment?  
    9. Have you ever considered moving to another state? What influenced your decision?
    10. What interactions have you had with resettlement agencies or service providers? What interactions have you had with State Refugee Coordinators? 
    11. How would it affect you if States had more of a role to make decisions regarding the resettlement program to include deciding how many refugees could resettle into the  community ?
    12. What are the advantages and disadvantages of being placed in a state primarily based on your job skills and job opportunities in that community?
    13. What would it be like if States recognized  the needs of refugees upfront by designing specific pathways to meet specific identified needs? 
    14. What would it be like if States aligned funding and assistance levels to refugees based on the level of recognized need for services to facilitate successful resettlement? 
    15. What do you (or people you know)  like about how other countries resettle refugees? 
    16. What is your top recommendation for people who make decisions about the resettlement program? What do you wish they understood about refugees?

The facilitator may ask additional probing or clarifying questions during the focus group. Examples include:

Can you tell me more about that?
Why do you think that is?
Can you give an example?