This office provides support and services to federally-recognized refugees and political asylees to ease their integration into American society.
MORA has helped more than 40,000 refugees make Maryland their home, aiding their transition from “displaced persons” to independent, contributing members of the national economy and the local community. We work through a network of public and private service providers, to plan, administer, and coordinate transitional services aimed at helping refugees become self-sufficient as quickly as possible. Key areas for aiding refugees in adjusting to American life include cultural orientation and career training.
Our service providers instruct refugees on life skills, familiarizing them with such daily routines as how to shop at the supermarket, manage a budget, take public transportation, open a savings account, prepare for a job interview or call 911 for emergencies.
Information for Asylees:
MORA’s Programs
Refugee Resettlement Program
The Refugee Resettlement Program provides cash, medical assistance, health screenings, and social services to refugees resettled in Maryland. Services are available for the first five years after arrival to the U.S.
Refugee Health Screening
As part of their refugee medical assistance program, states provide medical screenings to refugees within the first 90 days after date of entry into the United States.
Refugee Employment Services
Employment services promote refugee employment and ultimately, self-sufficiency targeting success by the first eight months of residence. Services are still available to refugees for up to five years after arrival.
Refugee English Language Instruction
Employment services strive to place employable refugees in jobs within their first eight months of residence. Clients can access services for up to five years after arrival.
Refugee Youth Program
The Refugee Youth Project is an after-school enrichment program designed to acculturate refugee teens to appropriate behaviors and to help strengthen their academic skills.
- For more information about the Project visit this link- http://refugeeyouthproject.org
Citizenship for Elderly Refugees
This program provides specialized English language instruction and U.S. civics and history content to elderly refugees who wish to take the naturalization test and become citizens.
Public Private Partnership (PPP)
Located at two sites in Maryland, the Baltimore Resettlement Center in Highlandtown (Baltimore), and the Suburban Washington Resettlement Center in Silver Spring, the PPP brings together the local affiliates of national resettlement agencies, local departments of social services staff and others whose aim is to help refugees become self-sufficient in their new communities.
Maryland’s Resettlement Centers
The Baltimore Resettlement Center (BRC) and the Suburban Washington Resettlement Center (SWRC) provide a wide array of resettlement services.Their locations are:
The Baltimore Resettlement Center (BRC)
Contact Information:
3516 Eastern Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21224
Main Phone: 410-327-1885
Fax: 410-327-1941, 410-558-3199
Services available in:
Baltimore City and Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Harford and Howard counties.
The Suburban Washington Resettlement Center (SWRC)
Contact Information:
Suburban Washington Resettlement Center
8719 Colesville Rd, Third Floor
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Main Phone: 301-562-8633
FAX: 301-562-8585; 301-562-8586
Services available for refugees/asylees residing in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties.
Contact Us
If you have general questions about our program or need assistance contact:
Maryland Office for Refugees and Asylees
Family Investment Administration
Department of Human Resources
311 W. Saratoga Street
Baltimore, MD 21201-3521
Telephone: (410) 767-7514
Staff Contact Information
Edward Lin, Director, edward.lin@maryland.gov
Martin Ford, Associate Director, martin.ford@maryland.gov
Janice Stucke, Program Manager, janice.stucke@maryland.gov
Asnake Yeheyis, Data and Network Manager, asnake.yeheyis@maryland.gov
Elizabeth Chernin, Administrative Officer, lisa.chernin@maryland.gov
Ella Zabrovsky, Administrative Specialist, ella.zabrovsky@maryland.gov
Joseph Augustyniak, Communications Specialist, joseph.augustyniak@maryland.gov
