CBO Spotlight: Nationalities Service Center (NSC)

Nationalities Service Center

NSC provides comprehensive trauma-informed and client-centered services to immigrants and refugees. Our dedicated staff is committed to ensuring that each of our clients receives high-quality holistic care. Our mission is to welcome and empower immigrants to thrive in our communities and pursue a just future.

One of NSC’s key program areas is education and employment, comprising of four interconnected components to improve and provide self-sufficiency among vulnerable newcomers. As the program is designed to make clients self-sufficient, the challenges and success varies. A client with more sophisticate skills and stronger U.S ties will help them better assimilate and become more successful, and these skills are mainly; English language, education and work backgrounds, having immediate family member has in U.S., and other unique skills that are needed in U.S. 

On the other hand, lack of some of the mentioned skills will affect a client’s success, but this does not mean that the program cannot provide enough support for a client to succeed. NSC experience shows majority of clients do not have enough skills and strong U.S ties to become self-sufficient at first few months, so the program has been designed in three phases; Matching Grant, Employment Readiness, and Youth Career Readiness. In the year 2021 which marks the second largest evacuation of Afghans allies to U.S after Vietnamese evacuation, NSC has provided support to over 700 of Afghan evacuees.

Before enrolling a client into education and employment program, case managers will need to know the following about a client; background such as education and work experience, health condition, family members, motivation and objective. Please see the information below on who to contact for enrollment.

MATCHING GRANT (MG) helps enrollees attain economic self-sufficiency through the provision of comprehensive case management and services leading to employment within 180 to 240 days after their date of eligibility for the program. The client must achieve self-sufficiency without accessing public cash assistance. Enrollment is available to all Office of         Refugee Resettlement (ORR) eligible populations meeting the minimum employability requirements; this includes refugees, asylees, Cuban and Haitian entrants, Afghan Humanitarian Parolees, certain Amerasians from Vietnam, victims of severe forms of trafficking, and Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders. Refugee clients must be enrolled within 31 days of becoming eligible – and all other eligible populations, within 90 days – to ensure adequate services are provided and self-sufficiency is achieved and maintained within the period of eligibility. Contact: ktan@nscphila.org

NESS PROGRAM(ERP) extends post-resettlement services to refugees and asylees

who have been in the United States within 5 years. Enrollment is available to all Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) eligible populations meeting the minimum employability requirements. Clients collecting RCA/TANF will work with the County Assistance Office to garner a referral. The program provides case management, ESL, job placement, career coaching and upgrade support.  Contact: bgebre@nscphila.org

YOUTH CAREER READINESS PROGRAM (YCRP) assists youth with or without their high school diploma in achieving their goals, earning a family sustaining wage, and excelling in Philadelphia. The program is geared specifically towards youth who have at least an intermediate English proficiency level and who are ready to immediately start postsecondary education or occupational skills training program. YCRP is available to youth ages 16-24 who reside in Philadelphia, are currently not enrolled in school, and are work authorized. YCRP clients receive case management support and financial assistance.  Contact: mjenkins@nscphila.org

REFUGEE CAREER PATHWAYS PROGRAM (RCP) assists clients to launch successful careers beyond their first jobs in the US. Clients enrolled in RCP receive many benefits including individualized career planning, industry specific vocational English, occupational training, job readiness, employment placement assistance and client incentives. Clients will be able to design a personalized career map and enroll in a training or certification program that will help them achieve upward mobility. Eligibility requirements: ORR eligible, arrived in the US on or after March 2015 and have an intermediate to advanced English level. Contact: ebaylin@nscphila.org