VOLAG
Encyclopedia
VOLAG, sometimes spelled Volag or VolAg, is an abbreviation for "Voluntary Agency". This term refers to any of the ten U.S. private agencies and one state agency that have cooperative agreements with the State Department
to provide reception and placement services for refugee
s arriving in the United States. These agencies use funding from the State Department's Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration
(PRM) along with self-generated resources to provide refugees with a range of services including sponsorship, initial housing, food and clothing, orientation and counseling. VOLAGS may also contract with the Office of Refugee Resettlement (part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
) to provide job placement, English language training and other social services.
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
to provide reception and placement services for refugee
Refugee
A refugee is a person who outside her country of origin or habitual residence because she has suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because she is a member of a persecuted 'social group'. Such a person may be referred to as an 'asylum seeker' until...
s arriving in the United States. These agencies use funding from the State Department's Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration
The Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration is a bureau within the United States Department of State.It has primary responsibility for formulating policies on population, refugees, and migration, and for administering U.S. refugee assistance and admissions programs. The Bureau is headed by...
(PRM) along with self-generated resources to provide refugees with a range of services including sponsorship, initial housing, food and clothing, orientation and counseling. VOLAGS may also contract with the Office of Refugee Resettlement (part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
United States Department of Health and Human Services
The United States Department of Health and Human Services is a Cabinet department of the United States government with the goal of protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services. Its motto is "Improving the health, safety, and well-being of America"...
) to provide job placement, English language training and other social services.
List of VOLAGs
- Church World ServiceChurch World ServiceFounded in 1946, Church World Service is a cooperative ministry of 37 Christian denominations and communions in the United States, providing sustainable self-help, development, disaster relief, and refugee assistance around the world...
- Episcopal Migration Ministries
- Ethiopian Community Development Council
- Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society
- International Rescue CommitteeInternational Rescue CommitteeThe International Rescue Committee is a leading nonsectarian, nongovernmental international relief and development organization based in the United States, with operations in over 40 countries...
- Kurdish Human Rights Watch
- Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service
- State of Iowa, Bureau of Refugee Services
- U.S. Committee for Refugees and ImmigrantsU.S. Committee for Refugees and ImmigrantsThe U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants is an international advocacy and domestic refugee resettlement organization, headquartered in Washington, DC...
- United States Conference of Catholic BishopsUnited States Conference of Catholic BishopsThe United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is the episcopal conference of the Catholic Church in the United States. Founded in 1966 as the joint National Conference of Catholic Bishops and United States Catholic Conference, it is composed of all active and retired members of the Catholic...
- World ReliefWorld ReliefWorld Relief is an international relief and development agency. Founded in 1944 as the humanitarian arm of the National Association of Evangelicals, World Relief offers assistance to victims of poverty, disease, hunger, war, disasters and persecution. Headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, the...