From Uncertainty to Confidence: A Family’s Journey Through Education and Support
Center for Immigrant and Refugee Health (CIRH), a program of Public Health Institute (PHI), is proud to highlight the efforts of our dedicated grantee, Ukrainian American House (UAH), in providing culturally responsive and accessible services to Ukrainian refugees through the Ukrainian Refugee School Impact (URSI) program. This initiative is made possible with support from the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) and the Office of Immigrant Youth (OIY).
When a family of five arrived in the United States from Ukraine at the beginning of the war in 2022, they were starting over, rebuilding their lives in a new country while navigating an uncertain future.
They first connected with the Ukrainian American House (UAH), seeking support with affordable housing. But as conversations unfolded, it became clear that housing was only one part of the challenge. Their three children were enrolled in different schools, and the family was struggling to understand how the U.S. education system worked. District rules, transfer processes, and enrollment requirements felt overwhelming.
Through the URSI Education Program, a UAH case manager provided personalized, step-by-step support. They worked closely with the family to review each child’s situation, explain school district options, and assist with transfer applications and new enrollment.
As trust grew, the parents shared another goal: continuing their own education. With guidance from the program and case manager, they successfully applied to college and completed the FAFSA process to access financial aid.
Today, the entire family is moving forward with greater confidence. All three children are enrolled in stable, appropriate schools, and both parents are pursuing their own education.
The father shared:
“We are very grateful to Ukrainian American House and the URSI Education Program for supporting our family. When we came here, we did not understand how the system works. Now we feel more confident. Our children are in good schools, and we are studying too. We know that if we have questions, we can always ask for help.”
Through integrated, community-based support—from housing guidance to education navigation and basic needs assistance—programs like URSI help immigrant and refugee families build stability, access opportunity, and move forward with confidence.
Centering Culture to Build Connection
At CIRH, we are proud to partner with the Afghan Refugee Relief in providing services that meet Afghan Refugee clients where they are, with empathy, respect, and understanding.
Through the Refugee School Impact (RSI) Program, our partners provide holistic, linguistically appropriate care that supports the well-being of refugee communities.
