As the war in Ukraine enters its second year, Catholic Charities is empowering Ukrainians to create new lives for themselves in Greater Cincinnati.
Catholic Charities added two staff members to meet the needs of the individuals and families fleeing the violence in their home country. The team helps newcomers apply for work authorization and access public benefits like Medicaid and SNAP. They also provide employment services, help enroll children in local schools and register people in English classes when needed.
Annie Scheid, Refugee Resettlement Services Director, says most of the Ukrainians coming to Cincinnati are highly educated, with college degrees or professional certifications. Many speak English proficiently and hope to find jobs in the fields where they worked back home.
Legally, Ukrainians do not have refugee status. Instead, they are considered “humanitarian parolees” for two years. Because their status is temporary, they face unique challenges trying to settle in and start over after the trauma of being forced from their homes.
To help with the transition, Catholic Charities is working to connect Ukrainian migrants with one another and with organizations like the Ukrainian Society of Greater Cincinnati & Dayton.
“Folks need a sense of community,” Annie explains.
With the help of supporters like you, Ukrainians are finding a welcoming home away from home in Ohio.
A Family Reunited
Catholic Charities recently helped reunite a Ukrainian family that had been separated upon arriving in the United States after having just fled the horrible war with Russia.
In mid-December, a married couple was traveling with the husband’s 17-yearold brother. When they landed in Minneapolis, a bureaucratic mix-up left the younger brother in detention at the airport while the rest of the family was moved on to Cincinnati, where their sponsor lived. (As humanitarian parolees, Ukrainians must have an approved sponsor to enter the U.S.)
Members of Catholic Charities’ Refugee Resettlement Services and Immigration Legal Services teams stepped in to help locate the teenager, ensure his wellbeing and work through the process alongside the family. In January, the boy was safely reunited with his brother and sister-in-law!