Wilson Fish Bridge to Employment - Global Refuge proposes to serve as the statewide Wilson Fish Bridge to Employment (WF B2E) provider for Texas, delivering a coordinated employment advancement program that promotes rapid workforce participation, economic self-sufficiency, and long-term community integration for Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) recipients and other Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR)-eligible populations. Many newly arrived refugees face barriers to employment, including limited English proficiency, non-recognition of foreign credentials, transportation challenges, childcare needs, and limited access to workforce development resources, particularly in rural and underserved communities. To address these barriers, Global Refuge will implement a statewide, hybrid service delivery model that combines direct services, formal subrecipient partnerships, employer engagement, workforce development collaborations, and virtual service delivery. The program will provide comprehensive employment assessments, individualized employment planning, employment-focused English Language Instruction (ELI), job readiness and financial literacy training, vocational training referrals, job placement assistance, retention services, and supportive service coordination. The proposed project will track measurable outcomes including employment placement, employment retention, wage progression, improved English proficiency, increased workforce readiness, and greater economic self-sufficiency. A centralized performance management and continuous quality improvement framework, supported by Global Refuge's IRIS case management system, will monitor participant outcomes, strengthen program quality, and ensure compliance with ORR requirements. This project directly advances the Administration for Children and Families' priority of Promoting Work and Self-Sufficiency by connecting ORR-eligible individuals to employment, workforce development, and English language services that support long-term economic mobility and successful community integration.
