Every year, LSS/NCA is proud to welcome hundreds of refugees from around the world to the United States. From the moment a new family arrives at the airport, our staff is at the gate waiting to provide guidance and encouragement. While each family’s story is different, their collective dreams are the same: to rebuild their lives in America and regain a sense of security after years of strife. At LSS/NCA, we support our clients during this important transition by mobilizing community partners and offering a comprehensive range of services to newcomers.

Refugee & Immigrant Service Programs

Refugee Resettlement

Since the first wave of Vietnamese families arrived in the 1970s, LSS/NCA has been resettling federally approved refugees to the United States in partnership with Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS). Families receive intensive case management and cultural orientation from our trained staff of diverse professionals. With the support of generous volunteers and local partners, LSS/NCA helps individuals regain their independence.

Refugee Employment Services

Once in the United States, every employable refugee adult is matched with an employment counselor to help them secure work as quickly as possible. New arrivals participate in employment orientation workshops and job skills training so they may succeed in the American workforce and support their families. LSS/NCA has helped refugees begin careers in a variety of professions from health care workers to engineers.

Special Social Programming

In addition to the essential case management and employment services, LSS/NCA also offers a range of on-going supportive programs to newcomers. The programs change depending on the needs of new arrivals, but they are all designed to reinforce self-sufficiency and community integration. Examples of programs include health education and women’s empowerment.

Immigration & Citizenship Counseling Services

Even after our neighbors resettle in their new homes and gain employment, LSS/NCA can still help. Our Immigration and Citizenship Counseling Services assists low income refugees, asylees, and immigrants residing in the Washington DC Metropolitan Area in completing, submitting, and receiving various immigration documents, such as Adjustment of Permanent Resident Status (green card), Travel Document, Temporary Protected Status, Removal of Conditional Permanent Status, Employment Authorization Documents, Naturalization, and more.

How You Can Help

LSS/NCA’s Refugee and Immigrant Services are delivered in partnership with our neighbors. From our experience, refugee integration is more successful when families have deliberate and meaningful opportunities to connect with the broader community. Learn how you can be a good neighbor to a new family.

Welcome a Family

The first few months in the United States are the most intensive for refugees and immigrants. To ease the transition, LSS/NCA matches each refugee family with a local church or group to help provide additional support for a short period of time.

Volunteer Your Time

With new families arriving nearly every week, LSS/NCA relies heavily on our network of volunteers to meet the diverse needs of our clients. From welcoming families at the airport to teaching parents how to access public transportation, our volunteers are wonderful local ambassadors.

Donate Your Dishes or Dollars

Each year, LSS/NCA resettles as many as 350-400 of refugees, asylees and victims of trafficking throughout the greater National Capital area. Arriving with nothing more than a small suitcase, families must rebuild their homes from scratch.