Alabama Bridge to Employment Program - The Alabama Office for Refugees (AOR), a department of Inspiritus, proposes to implement the Wilson Fish Bridge to Employment (B2E) Program to provide statewide employment services for Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR)-eligible individuals in Alabama. The program will ensure that refugees and other eligible populations have access to employment services, English language instruction, and supportive services that promote rapid employment, employment retention, career advancement, and long-term economic self-sufficiency. Alabama's refugee population is geographically dispersed across urban, suburban, and rural communities, creating varied service needs and differing levels of access to employment resources. Building on an established statewide refugee service network, AOR will coordinate employment services through a combination of direct service delivery and subawards to qualified community providers. As Alabama's statewide refugee program administrator, AOR will provide program oversight, technical assistance, monitoring, and data management to ensure consistent, high-quality service delivery across the state. Services will include employment assessments, individualized employment plans, job readiness training, job search assistance, employer engagement, employment-focused English language instruction, workforce navigation, employment retention support, and referrals to supportive services that address barriers to employment. AOR will collect and report performance data to support accountability, continuous quality improvement, and compliance with ORR requirements. The proposed project will strengthen Alabama's statewide capacity to support refugee employment while ensuring continuity of services as funding sources transition. By leveraging existing partnerships, infrastructure, and expertise, the B2E Program will help ORR-eligible individuals obtain and retain employment, increase economic self-sufficiency, and build stable, productive lives in communities throughout Alabama.
