Refugee and Immigrant Student Welcome Program

The purpose of RISWP is to fund activities, including, but not limited to, expanded community school activities, the provision of school supplies to incoming students, training opportunities for staff on trauma and cultural sensitivity, employment of counselors and psychologists, and parental and family engagement and support for refugee and immigrant youth.

RISWP has the following four key objectives:

• Address the serious short and long-term educational issues facing school-aged refugee and immigrant children, including those who have most recently arrived in this country
• Ease the transition of refugee and immigrant youth into the State’s elementary, middle and high schools
• Empower refugee and immigrant parents to be effective partners in the education of their children
• Support local school districts impacted by high numbers of refugee and immigrant populations, including unaccompanied minors